Desert Water Agency’s Board of Directors President Paul Ortega was elected to serve as Vice Chair of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Region 9 Board.

Ortega will serve for the 2026 – 2027 term of office, beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

In this key leadership position, Ortega will help shape the future of ACWA and the water community it serves. As part of his role, Ortega will also serve on the ACWA statewide Board of Directors, representing the region and helping guide the association’s direction on critical statewide water issues.

ACWA is the largest statewide coalition of public water agencies in the country, with approximately 470 public agency members from across California.

ACWA’s membership is organized into 10 hydrologic regions. Region 9 covers Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial counties. Each region plays a key part in supporting ACWA’s goals, engaging in local outreach efforts, and educating ACWA’s membership through tours and events.

For more information on ACWA, go to www.acwa.com. To learn more about the DWA Board of Directors or to read President Ortega’s bio, click the Board of Directors page link below.