WVWD Board President Channing Hawkins Speaks at United States Conference of Mayors Panel

Mayors Water Council Draws State, Federal and Local Leaders, Emphasizes Regional Cooperation

RIALTO, CA — Understanding the need for collaboration among water industry leaders to ensure water resiliency in the region, West Valley Water District (WVWD) Board President Channing Hawkins joined City of Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson to participate in a United States Conference of Mayors’ Mayors Water Council panel on solutions, government cooperation and the future of water security.

“I’m honored to have been invited by Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson to speak on the future of our region and how government agencies can work together to build a resilient, equitable water system,” Hawkins said. “I strongly believe that together, with our neighbors’ combined resources and talent, we can overcome any water challenges facing our region.”

The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), a nearly century-old non-profit institution representing more than 1400 cities across the United States, created the Mayors Water Council (MWC) in 1995 to assist local governments in providing high quality water resources in a cost-effective manner. The MWC serves as a forum for local governments to share expertise and knowledge and coordinate their efforts across financing, lawmaking, and infrastructure development.

The Mayors Water Council event featured leaders from several government levels, including City of Ontario Mayor Paul S. Leon and City of Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, as well as representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Interior, the California State Water Resources Control Board, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency and San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District.

“Cultivating meaningful relationships with our water leaders at every level of government allows us to leverage the strength of our whole nation towards meeting the Inland Empire’s water infrastructure goals,” said Hawkins. “Regional events like these are crucial for building inter-agency ties that develop into the diverse, wide-reaching partnerships the Inland Empire needs to sustainably remain one of the strongest growing regions in our state.”

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^{The West Valley Water District has proudly served the Southern California communities of Bloomington, Colton, Fontana, Rialto, San Bernardino, and Jurupa Valley since 1952. Through name changes and consolidation, the mission has always remained the same: to provide customers with safe, high quality, and reliable water service at a reasonable rate and in a sustainable manner. The District provides water for about 97,000 customers and is overseen by a five-member, publicly elected Board of Directors.}