Soquel Water District Honored by WateReuse

SAN DIEGO — Soquel Creek Water District has been named the Medium Agency of the Year by WateReuse California as part of the prestigious 2025 WateReuse California Awards for Excellence.

This honor was presented Monday, Sept. 22, during the Awards Luncheon at the 2025 WateReuse California Annual Conference in San Diego, recognizing the District’s leadership and innovation in advancing sustainable water reuse solutions.

The WateReuse California Awards for Excellence celebrate individuals, projects, and agencies making meaningful and measurable contributions toward greater adoption of water reuse throughout the state. The District stood out among many other medium-sized agencies for its transformative initiative,

Pure Water Soquel—an advanced water purification project to replenish the overdrafted Santa Cruz Mid-Country Groundwater basin, prevent further seawater intrusion of the water supply, and provide a new, drought-resistant source of drinking water for the community.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from WateReuse California,” said General Manager Melanie Mow Schumacher. “This award reflects the collective commitment of our Board of Directors, staff, and our community to protecting groundwater, advancing reuse, and securing a resilient water future for our region.”

This distinctive award recognizes the District’s comprehensive approach to water reuse, community outreach, and water efficiency, and its position as a model for sustainable water management.

From innovative capital investments to fresh and exciting public engagement campaigns, Soquel Creek Water District continues to demonstrate leadership in addressing California’s complex water challenges.

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The Soquel Creek Water District is a not-for-profit local government agency that provides water resource management within its service area to deliver a safe and reliable supply of high-quality water to meet present and future needs in an environmentally sensitive and economically responsible way. To learn more about the District’s projects and achievements, visit www.soquelcreekwater.org.

TOP PHOTO: FROM RIGHT — Melanie Mow Shumacher, General Manager; Carla Christensen, Director; Dr. Tom LaHue (Vice President), Jennifer Balboni, Director; Rachél Lather, President; Dr Bruce Jaffe, Director; Rebecca Gold Rubin, Public Outreach Coordinator; Cameron Kostigen Mumper, Water Resources Associate Manager