Date: Sept. 30, 2004

Santa Clara Valley Water District honored by state association for its innovative business program

SANTA CLARACOUNTY — A comprehensive effort by the Santa Clara Valley Water District to improve the quality of service to Santa Clara County was honored by the California Special Districts Association during its annual conference this week.

The Water District received CSDA’s Innovative Program Award, an annual honor to a special district promoting innovative ideas and programs that serve as a model to other special districts.

“This is the first step in an ongoing commitment to provide greater value and return on investment to our customers,” said Water District CEO Stan Williams, who, with Director Rosemary Kamei, accepted the award Wednesday on the behalf of the District. “We continue to find creative and effective solutions to improve the way we do business.”    

The Water District is the primary water resources agency for Silicon Valley, responsible for providing wholesale water supplies to retail agencies serving more than 1.7 million people, managing the local groundwater basins, providing flood management services and serving as environmental steward for the county’s more than 800 miles of streams.

CSDA’s Innovative Program Award is based on the originality of a special district’s program; its success achieving tangible, positive results; demonstration of a decrease in costs or improvements in the quality of service provided without significantly increasing costs, and adaptability for implementation by other districts.

The Water District’s program was developed by what are known as SMART business initiatives; SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-limited. Development included instruction through the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Awards program; employee efforts to identify and implement cost-containment and efficiency strategies; pursuit of “Green Business” practices, such as energy conservation programs, and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification for two of the District’s key divisions.

CSDA Executive Director Catherine A. Smith said, through a letter, that the organization’s “judging team was delighted” by the Water District’s “wonderful program.”

“I would like to congratulate the Santa Clara Valley Water District for being selected as the winner for the Innovative Program Award,” Smith wrote. “The program you touted was exemplary....”

The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages Santa Clara County's wholesale drinking water resources, coordinates flood protection for its 1.7 million residents and provides stewardship for the county's 10 reservoirs and more than 800 miles of streams.