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Fallbrook water manager appointed to serve on Metropolitan board

Posted by: Maven on March 9, 2009 at 4:58 am

From the North County Times:

As general manager of the Fallbrook Public Utility District, Keith Lewinger has weathered his share of crises, from pipeline closures to drought to budget disasters handed down by state lawmakers.

But the self-made water guru braced for a different kind of challenge last month, when he was appointed to serve on Southern California’s most powerful water board —- that of the Metropolitan Water District. “It’s a very challenging time to be walking into that board room,” Lewinger said last week. “They’re talking about 75 percent chance of mandatory cutbacks in July, and rate increases in the magnitude of 20 percent.”

Because Metropolitan delivers water to all of the region’s agencies —- including Fallbrook Public Utility —- those painful adjustments will trickle down to ratepayers throughout Southern California, including Fallbrook and all of North County. “Of course, I’m going to try to represent the best interests of San Diego County, and those things which benefit San Diego County will, by and large, benefit Fallbrook,” he said.

Specifically, Lewinger said he plans to represent the thousands of Southern California farmers whose needs often take a back seat to the demands of urban populations.

“I’m going to try to make sure the same kinds of incentives that are offered to urban customers are offered to agricultural customers,” he said, adding that perhaps only one or two other members of the Metropolitan board share his acute concern for the farming industry.

Read more from the North County Times by clicking here.

March 9, 2009 · Filed Under Water Agency News

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