Marking a Year of Achievements While Setting Bold Goals for the Future by Rowland Water District Jan 2, 2025 Member Submitted News ROWLAND HEIGHTS — Rowland Water District (RWD) staff recently delivered its annual State of the District presentation to the Board of Directors on October 22, 2024, highlighting key moments and accolades from the District’s previous fiscal year. Throughout the past year, the District has made significant strides, demonstrating financial responsibility, investing in its staff through hiring, promotions, and development, giving back to the community through outreach, mentorship, and educational programs, enhancing customer tools and communication, and advancing regional partnerships – all while maintaining a forward-looking vision. The District’s long-term credit rating was upgraded from AA- to AA by S&P Global Ratings, which is among the highest ratings possible for smaller Districts. S&P anticipates long term stability, driven by RWD’s fully cash-funded five-year capital improvement plan. The District also saw higher revenues and lower expenses than forecasted, which is a testament to its rigorous commitment to fiscal integrity. “Our commitment to financial responsibility is rooted in transparency and accuracy,” said Director of Finance Myra Malner, CPA. “By upholding rigorous reporting standards, we ensure a solid foundation that supports sustainable growth and continued excellence in serving our customers.” In July, RWD released its annual Water Quality Report in a new interactive format on its website to complement the traditional printed version. This approach was more cost-effective for the District and provided a measurable boost to community engagement. The digital report included embedded videos, a rollover glossary, and animated portions to educate its customers about the District’s ongoing rehabilitation projects and advancements in water quality. On the operational side, the District has invested in significant infrastructure upgrades, including a $2.9 million rebuild of its Cuatro Booster Station. This project will feature two new pumps, advanced electrical controllers, new piping, and enhanced communication systems. The District has also completed numerous reservoir rehabilitations, building remodels, electronics upgrades, and other improvements to enhance daily operations and service efficiency. “Our infrastructure upgrades and repairs over the past year have significantly improved our ability to serve customers with greater reliability while providing our staff with the tools and resources to perform their jobs more efficiently,” said Assistant General Manager Dusty Moisio. Earlier this year, RWD launched its community outreach initiative, Caring For Our Neighbors, to provide essential support and resources to our customers. . The District hosted a series of charity and volunteer events that included raising more than $2,000 to outfit students with fully equipped backpacks for school, supporting Rowland Unified School District’s Family Resource Center’s ‘Fresh Start’ event to provide 147 students with school supplies for the year, as well as partnering with local churches for food bank distribution events. “The Caring For Our Neighbors program has been a tremendous success, both within our team and throughout the community,” said Marketing and Social Media Coordinator Brittnie Gildea. “We’re thrilled to continue growing the program and discovering new, impactful ways to give back for years to come!” In October, the District also provided unprecedented overseas support to Norzagaray Water District in the Philippines to educate its staff and provide guidance for servicing a community of more than 100,000 residents. Looking towards the future, the District is planning to conduct a rate analysis, further expand its community education and outreach programs, increase legislative tracking and strategies, and focus on water conservation while enhancing resiliency across its service area. Rowland Water District’s FY 2023-24 Annual Report is now available in print or as a digital download for all customers. You can find the Annual Report here: rwd.org/annual-report ### About Rowland Water District Rowland Water District was formed 70 years ago to provide water service to 200 ranchers and farmers in a rural, agricultural community. Over the years, the District has evolved to meet the changing needs of a dynamic and rapidly growing customer base. Rowland Water currently delivers 14 million gallons of safe drinking water to about 55,000 people every day. The District maintains 150 miles of potable water pipeline and 25 miles of recycled water pipeline to serve 13,800 customer connections across 17.2 square miles in southeast Los Angeles County, including portions of Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights, La Puente, and the cities of Industry and West Covina.
