*This news release was originally published and distributed by the California Urban Water Agencies (CUWA)
WALNUT CREEK, Calif., (October 26, 2023) — Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s Senior Assistant General Manager of the Water System, Anselmo Collins, is stepping in as the board chair of California Urban Water Agencies (CUWA), a non-profit corporation that aims to provide a unified voice for urban water solutions that keep our environment and communities thriving. LADWP is one of the 11 member agencies that make up CUWA, a unified coalition of California’s largest urban water agencies, who collectively deliver drinking water to two-thirds of the state’s population. CUWA aims to advance strategies that keep communities thriving and build public trust in California’s water systems by collaborating with state agencies, the Governor’s administration, educational and research institutions, non-governmental organizations, and local communities. Collins is joined on the CUWA Executive Committee by Valerie Prior, General Manager of Zone 7 Water Agency, as Vice Chair and Juan Guerreiro, Director for the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, as Secretary/Treasurer.
“Anselmo’s leadership and experience providing safe and reliable water through one of the largest and most complex municipal water systems in the world, help inspire solutions that address California’s most complex water challenges – for large urban communities and disadvantaged communities alike,” said CUWA Executive Director Wendy Broley.
CUWA has established itself as a trusted partner within our industry, informing state policy on climate resilience, supply reliability, and conservation as well as becoming a new Technical Assistance (TA) Provider under the State Water Boards’ Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) program in June 2023.
“CUWA’s impact is in its unified voice and that comes from our agencies’ shared commitment toward a vision – that California is where everyone can rely on safe and accessible water. I’m excited to help lead CUWA’s efforts this year, with a focus on infrastructure investment, affordability, workforce development, and trust in water quality,” said Anselmo Collins, CUWA Board Chair.
Collins has served as Senior Assistant General Manager of the Water System at LADWP since 2021. He is responsible for serving more than 4 million LA residents. Over his 28 years with LADWP, Anselmo has held leadership roles throughout the enterprise, with a consistent dedication to servant leadership, diversity, mentorship, and environmental stewardship.
About CUWA
Established in 1990, the California Urban Water Agencies (CUWA) is a nonprofit corporation of 11 major urban water agencies that are responsible for delivering drinking water to about two-thirds of California’s population. As the collective voice for the largest urban water purveyors in California, CUWA provides technical perspective to promote common understanding and consensus solutions among the urban water community. CUWA agencies include Alameda County Water District, City of Fresno, Contra Costa Water District, East Bay Municipal Utility District, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, San Diego County Water Authority, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Valley Water, and Zone 7 Water Agency. For more information, visit www.cuwa.org
