FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sherri Seitz
May 17, 2016 949-837-7050 x239
Lake Forest, CA — El Toro Water District (ETWD) was reaccredited with the District of Distinction by the Special District Leadership Foundation (SDLF).
The District of Distinction award is one of the most prestigious awards in local government in the State of California. The accreditation signifies that El Toro Water is operating at a high level of excellence in governance and is committed to ethical and sound operating practices.
For over 50 years, the El Toro Water District has exercised tremendous foresight and planning. Last year the District completed a major infrastructure project called the Recycled Water Expansion Project, a $34.4 million project which significantly improves the treatment of existing recycled water that enabled the District to expand the availability and access to recycled water to its customers. Most impressively, the project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, representing a savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars to water customers.
El Toro Water District’s dedication and achievements have not gone unnoticed. In addition to receiving the District of Distinction Award, the SDLF presented ETWD with the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence in recognition of its transparency in operations and governance. The transparency certificate is one requirement of the District of Distinction accreditation process.
According to Robert R. Hill, General Manager for El Toro Water District, “This District of Distinction award and accreditation is significant to our El Toro Water District family. From our frontline staff, to our engineering and planning team members, to our accounting folks, to our board members and management team, we work hard, every day to lead by example. We take the duty of managing our most valuable resource (water), seriously. We’re committed to striving for excellence and to good stewardship – and it seems to show. Our customers, elected officials and our community have been encouraging and appreciative of how we serve them.”
The District has received the District of Distinction Award in 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2016. Out of 3,400 special districts in California, ETWD was the first independent special district to receive this important accreditation.
Robert R. Hill, General Manager, El Toro Water District
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El Toro Water District
The mission of El Toro Water District is to provide its customers a safe, adequate and reliable supply of water and wastewater service in an environmentally and economically responsible way.
The El Toro Water District was formed in 1960 to cost effectively and reliably finance, construct, operate and maintain a water and wastewater system. The district’s service area covers about 5,430 acres including all of the city of Laguna Woods, and portions of the cities of Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest and Aliso Viejo serving a total population of 49,000. The district is also governed by a five member Board of Directors.
Website: etwd.com
Special District Leadership Foundation (SDLF)
The Special District Leadership Foundation is a collaborative effort of eight special district organizations dedicated to excellence in local government. The Foundation was formed to provide educational opportunities to special district officials and employees to enhance service to the public provided by special districts in California.
Website: sdlf.org
Special Districts
Special districts are independent public agencies that deliver core local services to communities, such as water, fire protection, parks and recreation, healthcare, sanitation, mosquito abatement, ports, libraries, public cemeteries and more. Districts formation and funding is approved by voters in order to meet specific needs through focused service. They can be specially molded to serve large regions or small neighborhoods depending on the need.
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