Longtime EMWD Director Randy Record Honored with Water Champion Award by Eastern Municipal Water District Nov 21, 2024 Member Submitted News PERRIS — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) today presented its Water Champion Award to longtime Board Member Randy Record in honor of his nearly quarter-century of leadership on local, state, and Western United States water issues. The Water Champion Award is presented to an organization or individual who demonstrates exemplary service and dedication in assisting EMWD achieve its mission of delivering value to the diverse customers and communities it serves by providing safe, reliable, economical, and environmentally sustainable water, wastewater and recycled water service. Record received the honor during his final EMWD Board Meeting and is the first EMWD Board Member to receive this recognition. “One of the greatest professional honors of my life has been representing the residents of the San Jacinto Valley on EMWD’s Board of Directors,” Record said. “The industry-leading work we have accomplished during my time at EMWD will benefit our customers for generations. “I look forward to watching EMWD’s future successes in serving the community that has meant so much to me throughout my life and career.” Record began serving on EMWD’s Board of Directors In 2001 and has become one of the most respected water policy officials in California. In 2003, he was appointed as EMWD’s representative to The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) Board of Directors, where he served until 2023. He was the Chairman of Metropolitan from 2014 to 2018, during which time he helped the wholesale water navigate a historic drought. The impact of Record’s tenure at EMWD will have a lasting impact on the region’s water supply future. As a longtime farmer, he has been a leading advocate for the expanded use of recycled water, which now accounts for more than one-third of EMWD’s total water supply portfolio. Record was also a leading advocate to replace nonfunctional grass with climate appropriate landscaping in public spaces, such as streetscapes and commercial properties. Among the most significant accomplishments during Record’s tenure is the coordination between all water users in the San Jacinto Valley – including the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians. Because of these efforts, the Tribe and municipal users are well-positioned for a more secure water supply future. “During his time at EMWD, Director Record has been one of the most influential voices in California water policy and a champion for progress,” EMWD Board President Phil Paule said. “Our region and our state have a better water supply future because of his leadership. I can think of no person more well-deserving of this honor than Director Record.” Past winners of the Water Champion Award include: The County of Riverside, the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, former United States Senator Dianne Feinstein, Congressman Ken Calvert, Congressman Mark Takano, former Assemblywoman and current State Senator Anna Caballero, former State Senator Bill Emmerson, former Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley, retired United States Bureau of Reclamation area manager Bill Steele, and former California Gov. Jerry Brown. # # # Eastern Municipal Water District is the water, wastewater service and recycled water provider to nearly one million people living and working within a 601-square mile service area in western Riverside County and northern San Diego County. It is California’s sixth-largest retail water agency, and its mission is “To deliver value to our diverse customers and the communities we serve by providing safe, reliable, economical and environmentally sustainable water, wastewater and recycled water services.” More information can be found at www.emwd.org.
