Water Industry Professionals and Elected Officials Convene at San Diego Women in Water Event Hosted by Sweetwater Authority
CHULA VISTA, CA – On April 28, 2026, Sweetwater Authority (Authority) welcomed water professionals and elected officials from across the region to its Robert A. Perdue Water Treatment Plant for a meeting of the San Diego Women in Water. The event, co-sponsored by the Authority, Otay Water District, Santa Fe Irrigation District, and Olivenhain Municipal Water District, hosted 125 attendees to share ideas and connect with industry professionals.
The event featured keynote speaker Celeste Cantu, who serves as Chair of the Water Foundation. Ms. Cantu shared about her career and journey in the water industry. She previously served as the General Manager of the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA), where she led the award-winning Crest to Coast, Corner to Corner Integrated Regional Watershed Management Project known as One Water, One Watershed. Before her tenure at SAWPA, Ms. Cantu served as the Executive Director of the California State Water Resources Control Board from 2001 to 2007. She was also appointed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development State Director for California under U.S. President Bill Clinton. Ms. Cantu holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning and Policy from Yale University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.
“We were proud to welcome industry leaders and professionals to the Women in Water event, which highlights the importance of advancing women in leadership roles across the water sector,” said Governing Board Chair Ditas Yamane. “Events like this strengthen partnerships, encourage the exchange of ideas, and support collaborative solutions to regional water challenges.”
San Diego Women in Water is organized by the California-Nevada American Water Works Association Women’s Leadership Committee, which was formed with the goal of developing a supportive platform for water professionals.