excellence in service
since 1977
When Sweetwater Authority took over operation of a
privately owned water system in 1977, the focus of the agency became
very local, and the long-term health of its infrastructure became a top
priority. Locally elected and appointed directors, and the experienced
management team of Garry Butterfield and Al Sorensen, determined that
the agency must fulfill its mission to provide safe, reliable water.
These four words, "provide safe, reliable water," have guided every
policy decision at the agency in its history.
Today, residents and business owners reap the benefits
of local control. Sweetwater Authority has invested its revenues into
local infrastructure and capital improvements.
In its first year of operation, Sweetwater Authority
repaired more than 200 main leaks. In recent years, that number has
dropped to 38, due to the investment of more than $60 million in
pipeline replacement projects. Large portions of the service area today
also have improved water pressure from new pumps and tanks installed in
the system. Sweetwater Authority also leads San Diego County in the
diversity and reliability of its local water sources. The Sweetwater
River, high-quality groundwater, and reverse-osmosis-treatment of
brackish water are combined to provide 70 percent of the Authority's
average annual water demands. Connections to both treated and untreated
imported water provide 30 percent of average annual demand, as well as
security for emergencies, and allow the Sweetwater Authority to use
Sweetwater Reservoir as a storage facility, a practice that saves the
agency millions on purchased water last year.
|
|
