LOS ANGELES (February 28, 2025) – The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) recently honored the Valero Wilmington Refinery last month with the 2024 Recycled Water Customer of the Year Award for adopting the use of Advanced Treated Recycled Water (ATRW) in its industrial operations.
The refinery’s use of ATRW in its four industrial cooling towers – crucial for cooling various chemical processes – is anticipated to save an impressive 300 million gallons of water annually. This saving will help meet the water needs of 12,000 Angelenos each year. The ATRW used for the cooling towers is supplied by the Terminal Island Water Reclamation Plant, a facility in the Harbor Gateway area, owned and operated by the Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation, which treats wastewater to high standards suitable for industrial use.
“Valero’s commitment to environmental sustainability and water conservation exemplifies leadership in our industry. By partnering with major corporations like Valero, we drastically lessen our dependence on potable water, significantly bolstering the city’s sustainability efforts,” said Anselmo Collins, Senior Assistant General Manager of LADWP’s Water System.
In partnership with LADWP, LA Sanitation and Environment, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the Valero Wilmington Refinery stands as the first customer in the city to utilize ATRW specifically for cooling tower operations. It is the second largest recycled water project in Los Angeles, after the Dominguez Gap Recycled Water Project in Wilmington.
LADWP’s Recycled Water Customer Award recognizes recycled water customers for their achievements in water conservation and sustainability. The award aims to increase awareness of water recycling best practices and their benefits to organizational operations, finances, and the environment.
“Water is one of our most precious resources, and Valero is committed to ensuring its responsible use. Over the last year, we’ve completed the implementation of a Recycled Water project at our Wilmington Refinery, aimed at reducing water consumption, increasing efficiency, and enhancing the sustainability of our operations. This award is a testament to how we can work hand in hand with local governments to develop innovative solutions in water management and conservation,” said Christine James, V.P. and General Manager, Valero Wilmington Refinery. “We are honored to receive the Recycled Water Customer of the Year Award.”
As Los Angeles moves to a more sustainable future, LADWP will continue developing utility-scale recycled water projects while assisting customers to identify projects to save them money and further conserve water resources.
More information about LADWP’s Recycled Water can be found at www.ladwp.com/recycledwater.
Front row (left to right): Tene Bonds, Controller, Valero Wilmington Refinery; Marvin Schober, Senior Utility Services Specialist, LADWP; Christine James, V.P. & General Manager, Valero Wilmington Refinery; Natalie Irwin, Director of Environmental Health & Safety, Valero Wilmington Refinery; Matthew Gonzalez, Civil Engineering Associate, LADWP; and Ui An, Director of Technical Services, Valero Wilmington Refinery.
Middle row (left to right): Brissa Sotelo-Vargas, Director of Government Affairs & Community Relations, Valero Wilmington Refinery; Raymond Harper, Utility Services Specialist, LADWP; Brandon Torres, Civil Engineering Associate, LADWP; and LeiLani Lemle-Macias, Utility Services Specialist, LADWP.
Back row (left to right): Tim Tadler, Director of Human Resources, Valero Wilmington Refinery; Robert Brown, Superintendent, Operational Excellence, Valero Wilmington Refinery; Jim Leary, Director of Operations, Valero Wilmington Refinery; Ty Carlson, Director, of Maintenance, Valero Wilmington Refinery; and Daniel Blyskal, Sr Refinery Scheduling/Blending Engineer, Valero Wilmington Refinery.
About Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the nation’s largest municipal utility, serving an average of 447 million gallons of water and 8,058 megawatts (MW) of electric power capacity per day to the 4 million residents of the City of Los Angeles, its businesses, and visitors. For more than 120 years, LADWP has provided the city with reliable water and power service in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.
About Valero
Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries (collectively, Valero), is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products and sells its products primarily in the United States (U.S.), Canada, the United Kingdom (U.K.), Ireland and Latin America. Valero owns 15 petroleum refineries located in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.2 million barrels per day. Valero is a joint venture member in Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC, which produces low-carbon fuels including renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with a production capacity of approximately 1.2 billion gallons per year in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. See our Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information on SAF. Valero also owns 12 ethanol plants located in the U.S. Mid-Continent region with a combined production capacity of approximately 1.6 billion gallons per year. Valero manages its operations through its Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol segments.
