On Wednesday, July 22, the Sweetwater Authority (Authority) Governing Board was presented with the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO) Award of Distinction for excellence in public information and communications. The Authority received the award earlier this month for its innovative communication for the Hydro Station Education Experience.
Located at the Authority’s Richard A. Reynolds Groundwater Desalination Facility, the Hydro Station hosts learning exhibits and hands-on activities to introduce 4,000 local students annually to the ecological cycle of water, water conservation, water quality, and careers in the water industry. The Hydro Station is made possible through a partnership between the Sweetwater Authority, Chula Vista Elementary School District, and the Otay Water District.
Governing Board Chair Steve Castaneda said, “It is exciting to be on a Board that values the importance of strategic partnerships. We are working with the Chula Vista Elementary School District and the Otay Water District to provide educational opportunities for students in our service area and to expose local children to a career path that could position them as tomorrow’s water leaders.”
The program opened in August of 2019 after months of planning and collaboration amongst the partners. The Authority’s Communications Committee Chair, José F. Cerda, is a long-time advocate of the partnership. Cerda said, “As a former Chula Vista Elementary School District educator, I have seen the impacts that these sort of innovative classroom experiences can have on students and their families. I am so proud of the work that we are doing at the Authority and being an industry leader in creating and developing experiences for the children in our community.”
The Hydro Station will resume in a virtual format for students in the Chula Vista Elementary School District next month.