Western Municipal Water District installs new board members

Western Municipal Water District (WMWD) recently installed its new elected five-member Board of Directors for 2017. Thomas P. Evans, a WMWD board member for the past ten years, was sworn in as the district’s 2017 Board President.

“It is an honor to continue to represent Western’s constituents as the 2017 Board President,” said Board President Evans.  “Western’s Board has a long-standing history of working together to achieve our water management goals. Together the Board continues to seek regional opportunities focused on water reliability for our customers. Utilizing local resources minimizes Western’s dependency on costly imported water, keeps our customer’s rates as low as possible and creates opportunities for more independence as a water agency.”

Western’s board members serving with Evans includes:

• Vice President Brenda Dennstedt, who has served on the Board since 2007. She represents the cities of Temecula, Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar and Murrieta as well as properties located south of Lake Mathews Drive in Riverside and west of Interstate 215.
• Board Secretary –Treasurer Robert Stockton, who has served on the Board since 2014 and represents Western’s Riverside Division, north of the 91 freeway to the San Bernardino County line.
• Director Donald D. Galleano, who has served on Western’s Board since 2005. He represents the areas of Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Norco and portions of Mira Loma, Rubidoux and Glen Avon.
• Director S.R. “Al” Lopez, who was re-elected for the current term after serving on Western’s Board since 2001 and represents Corona, Home Gardens, El Cerrito and portions of Temescal Valley.

Board President Evans represents the city of Riverside located south of the 91 freeway, March Air Reserve Base as well as portions of Lake Mathews, Woodcrest, Mission Grove and Orangecrest. President Evans also serves as Western’s commissioner on the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority

The WMWD Board’s 2017 goals will focus on local water reliability projects and less dependency on imported water. The District has a groundwater supply in its Murrieta Division, which is combined with imported water for the region’s residents. Western also has rights to groundwater in the Bunker Hill Basin, which is transported into our Riverside Division through an agreement with the city of Riverside.

Western is a member agency of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the state’s largest water supplier. The district covers 527-square miles in western Riverside County.