Press Releases

The Scotts Valley Water District today announced Wade Leishman was appointed July 17 and sworn in on July 20 to fill a vacancy on its Board of Directors. As a director, Mr. Leishman will also have an opportunity to serve on board committees and represent the District regionally and statewide. The appointment is to complete a partial term that will last until November 2018.

“In joining the Scotts Valley Water District Board, Wade is taking the long view on water resources and the future of our community,” said Board President Ruth Stiles. “I’m confident this district and our customers will benefit greatly from Wade’s perspective and commitment to the community.”

“I have the sincere desire to help manage, maintain, protect and sustain our vital resources in hopes that my daughters may one day be able to raise their families in Scotts Valley,” said Mr. Leishman in applying for appointment to the board.

The Board of Directors has oversight over Scotts Valley Water District and appoints the General Manager to handle day-to-day operations. The Directors have the power to set the budget, set water rates and establish policies that support the vision and mission of the District. The Board meets monthly to provide direction to the staff on matters such as groundwater sustainability, statewide mandates, and regional conjunctive use projects.

Mr. Leishman is currently employed as a senior IT manager for a global technology manufacturing company. He also owns and operates his own small business.  Mr. Leishman has lived in Scotts Valley for more than 10 years with his wife, Dewana and twin daughters, Jennifer and Emily.

The Board of Directors vacancy was created when longtime District Director Ken Kannegaard died May 27 following a courageous battle with cancer. Director Kannegaard had served on the board since 2006 and was a highly dedicated public servant.

ABOUT SCOTTS VALLEY WATER DISTRICT

Scotts Valley Water District is a public agency providing water service over six square miles including most of the City of Scotts Valley and a portion of the unincorporated areas north of the city limits. The community of Scotts Valley places a high value on livability, innovation, and planning for the future. Scotts Valley Water District is proud to play a vital role in supporting those efforts by providing a reliable, sustainable, high-quality water supply. Through a partnership with our community, strategic investment in resources and pursuit of new ideas, Scotts Valley Water District is redefining its historic role in order to meet future challenges and turn them into opportunities.

Scotts Valley Water District is putting the final touches on the project

(FEB. 7, 2017) SCOTTS VALLEY, CA – The Scotts Valley Water District (SVWD) announced today its new groundwater recharge system at the Scotts Valley Transit Center is operational and has been percolating runoff from recent storms into the ground. Click here to view project information including a photo gallery.

Funded by a “low impact development” retrofit grant from the State, the project allows the capture and treatment of stormwater from the Scotts Valley Transit Center parking lot. The District has received more than 51.62 inches of rain as of Monday, Feb. 6, which began Oct. 1, 2016.

The aim of this project is to help recharge the aquifer. Once captured and treated, the water seeps through the soil into the aquifer that Scotts Valley Water District draws on to provide water to customers. It takes years for water to travel through layers of soil and sandstone into...

CUSTOMERS CAN TAKE STEPS TO PREPARE FOR HEAVY RAINFALL

SCOTTS VALLEY — Dec. 1, 2015 — In preparation for a strong El Niño event that could bring major rainfall to the region this winter, Scotts Valley Water District is taking steps to ensure safe and reliable water service to customers during severe storm conditions.

Heavy rainfall and high winds often lead to power outages and debris that can affect the infrastructure of our groundwater system, including wells, booster pumps and stations, and reservoir tanks.

In December, the District will update its emergency response plan and conduct a full training for all operations staff to review roles and responsibilities during emergencies. The District is taking these specific steps now to safeguard against storm impacts:

• Testing backup generator power to support wells and pump stations during an outage.
• Ensuring battery backups at remote tank sites and booster stations will allow operation up to a week without power.
• Ordering extra parts to prepare for the possibility of a high number of repairs to water mains and individual service lines.
• Making sure all drainage is clear around tank sites and roads leading to District infrastructure.

“There has been a lot of talk about El Niño and the big storms,” said David McNair, District Operations Manager. “We’re working to ensure the district is prepared.”

Scotts Valley Water District announced today it will receive two awards from the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce at the annual awards dinner on November 7. As part of the Scotts Valley Community Awards 2015, the Scotts Valley Water District has been named Organization of the Year and Board of Directors Member David Hodgin has been named Man of the Year.