News
DERWA Names Richard Sykes as Interim Authority Manager, Opens Recruitment for Permanent Manager
DUBLIN, CA (January 25, 2024) – As of January 1, 2024, Richard Sykes assumed the role of Interim Authority Manager for DERWA, the regional effort which provides recycled water to the Bay Area’s San Ramon Valley. Sykes replaces DSRSD’s Jan Lee, who served as DERWA Authority Manager from June 2023 until her recent appointment as DSRSD General Manager. Sykes will serve as Interim Authority Manager while DERWA conducts a recruitment for the next permanent Authority Manager.
Sykes brings over 35 years of experience serving the Bay Area’s water industry to the role, including 10 years as the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s (EBMUD) Director of Water and Natural Resources, where he managed EBMUD’s participation in DERWA. Currently Sykes serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority. Sykes holds a master’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a licensed professional engineer.
Sykes’ DERWA Interim Authority Manager duties include facilitation of DERWA Board meetings, coordination with member agencies, implementation of a recycled water demand management program, development of supplemental recycled water sources, and oversight of DERWA’s operational and administrative functions.
In her communication naming Richard Sykes’ as Interim Authority Manager, Lee stated that DERWA is “in excellent hands with Richard Sykes during this transition period.” The recruitment for the permanent DERWA Authority Manager is open now through May 7, 2024. Interested parties are encouraged to learn more about the contracted position by visiting the DERWA website at http://www.srvrwp.org/.
About the San Ramon Valley Recycled Water Program
The DSRSD-EBMUD Regional Water Authority, DERWA, a joint powers authority formed in 1995, is the governing body of the San Ramon Valley Recycled Water Program (SRVRWP). The program was created to provide a safe, reliable, and consistent supply of recycled water for irrigation in Dublin, San Ramon, and Danville. The City of Pleasanton is also a customer of the recycled water program.
The keystone DERWA recycled water plant, the Jeffrey G. Hansen Water Recycling Plant in Pleasanton, can produce up to 16.2 million gallons per day of recycled water to irrigate parks, school grounds, sports fields, golf courses, roadway medians, and business parks. For more information, visit www.srvrwp.org.
Central San Wastewater Diversion's Temporary Demonstration Project
San Ramon, CA (August, 2021) - The San Ramon Valley Recycled Water Program (SRVRWP) is getting a temporary boost to their wastewater supply from Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Central San), a neighbor with whom their service area overlaps.
Located "up-hill" from the water recycling plant, Central San is diverting about 700,000 gallons a day of wastewater to the DERWA (Dublin San Ramon Services District, East Bay Municipal Utility District Recycled Water Authority) plant that is owned and operated by Dublin San Ramon Services District. The San Ramon Valley Recycled Water Program (SRVRWP) then turns this wastewater into irrigation water.
Yes, DERWA wants Central San's wastewater. It enables DERWA to recycle more wastewater into much needed irrigation water for landscaping in the San Ramon Valley, just in time for the drought.
The diversion is in response to maxed-out supply: On hot summer days, the DERWA Water Recycling Plant uses every drop of wastewater coming into the plant to recycle into irrigation water for school grounds, parks, golf courses, and roadway medians. Wastewater from Central San provides a temporary supply during consecutive hot summer days, so we can make more irrigation water when it is needed most.
The temporary diversion also enables DERWA to promote conservation of our limited supply of recycled water and to develop other sources.
History of DERWA Authority Managers
Through the years, EBMUD and DSRSD employees, as well as consultants, have served as DERWA's Authority Manager. Previous appointees include Bert Michalczyk (beginning Sept. 18, 1995, Technical Services Manager at DSRSD at the time); Laura Johnson (beginning Aug. 27, 2001, Senior Civil Engineer at EBMUD at the time); Robert Whitley (beginning July 22, 2002, consultant); Robert Baker (beginning Dec. 3, 2002, consultant); James Bewley (starting Feb. 27, 2006, consultant); Michael Tognolini (Starting April 1, 2016, Manager of Water Supply Improvements at EBMUD at the time)); and John Rossi (starting May 20, 2019, consultant).
Post Date: 06/30/2022
Media Contacts:
DSRSD: Erin Steffen, (925) 875-2295
EBMUD: Laura Luong, (510) 287-0138
More Information
Contact
EBMUD
Laura Luong
Community Affairs Rep II
Office of Water Recycling
375 Eleventh Street, MS 407
Oakland, CA 94607-4240
Phone: (510) 287-1631
E-mail: laura.luong@ebmud.com
www.ebmud.com
DSRSD
Erin Steffen
Public Affairs Program Administrator
7051 Dublin Boulevard
Dublin, CA 94568
Telephone: (925) 875-2295
Email: steffen@dsrsd.com
www.dsrsd.com
Meetings
Board meetings shall be held on the first Monday in February, fourth Monday in April and September, and the second Monday in December of each year at 6 p.m. at the Dublin San Ramon Services District, District Office, 7051 Dublin Boulevard, Dublin, California 94568.
Next Meeting
April 22, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.