|
OTAY'S PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
|
On an overcast summer day in 1955,
a plumber, a civil engineer, an attorney, a
newspaper publisher, and two owners of large tracts
of land gathered for lunch at Christie's Restaurant
in Chula Vista. They
met to discuss how they could bring life-giving
water to an arid region of southeastern San Diego County.
By the end of
the day, they had a common vision, a few thousand
dollars to spend, and the framework for what later
became the Otay Municipal Water District.
When compared to most water
agencies, the Otay Water District is a youngster.
During this
relatively short time span, however, the
availability of water helped transform the
districts 125.5 square mile service area of mostly
scrub and cactus-covered backcountry, into a
wonderful blend of diverse environments shared by
both people and nature.
|
|
|
Today, the District
serves the needs of
a growing population
by purchasing
imported water from
the Metropolitan
Water District of
Southern California
and the San Diego
County Water
Authority. Otay
takes delivery of
the water through
several connections
to large diameter
pipelines owned and
operated by the San
Diego County Water
Authority. The Otay
Water District also
purchases treated
water from its
neighbor the Helix
Water District.
The Otay Water
District of today is
the result of the
merger of two small
water districts: the
Otay Municipal Water
District established
in 1956, and the
smaller La Presa
County Water
District.
La Presa
formed in 1957 to
provide water
service to the
communities of La
Presa and south
Spring Valley.
Since the two small
water agencies
shared a common
service area, in
1962 they entered
into a Joint Powers
Agreement to make
the best use of
equipment, labor,
management and
operations. The
consolidation worked
perfectly resulting
in savings for water
customers and the
construction of a
joint use facility.
Due to the
success of the
combined operations,
the two boards of
directors voted
unanimously to
officially dissolve
La Presa in 1969,
with the Otay Water
District taking
control of all of La
Presas assets and
resources.
|
|
|
Otay's
first headquarters circa 1956.
This small office on the left was at
427 Third Avenue
in Chula Vista.
|
 |
La
Presa County Water District headquarters
circa 1957.
Located in
Spring Valley
near the intersection of Sweetwater Springs
and Jamacha Blvd., this building was close to
the District’s current administrative
offices. |
|
Otay's
second headquarters circa 1961.
The slightly larger upstairs office
was at 737 Third Avenue in Chula Vista. |
 |
Otay
and La Presa’s joint headquarters dedicated
in 1962 (photo taken in 1963).
Located
at the District’s present location, the
office was later demolished as part of a
building expansion. |
 |
Otay's
fourth headquarters (1974).
Located at the District’s present
location, this office was remodeled as part
of the expansion. |
 |
Otay's
current headquarters at 2554 Sweetwater
Springs Blvd, Spring Valley, CA.
The facility was constructed in 1997. |
|
For almost as long as it has been
delivering potable water, the Otay Water District has
collected and recycled wastewater generated within the
Jamacha drainage basin and pumped the recycled water
south to the Salt Creek basin in eastern Chula Vista.
There it is used for irrigating parks, golf
courses, parkways and road medians.
For the Otay Water District, the next
years promise to be as eventful and interesting as the
early years.
Responsible resource planning, sound fiscal management,
respect for the environment, and paying close attention
to our customers' needs will all be necessary to ensure
Otay's future looks as good as its history.
|
| |
|
|
