Cástulo R. Estrada, Coachella Valley Water District Board Vice President, has received a national award honoring his leadership in providing safe drinking water to disadvantaged communities.
He was selected for a 2022 Impact Award from the WaterNow Alliance for his work in forming CVWD’s Disadvantaged Communities Task Force and his role in implementing California’s Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience Program.
Water Now Alliance is a network of local water leaders who advance sustainable, affordable, equitable, and climate resilient water strategies in their communities.
Under Estrada’s leadership and with grant funding, several disadvantaged communities and an elementary school have been linked to CVWD’s domestic water or sewer systems.
“Your passion for helping your community plan for a resilient water future and collaborating between federal, state and local officials is inspiring,” said Cynthia Koehler, WaterNow Alliance Executive Director. “We hope your innovative thinking and holistic approach to equitable water management will serve as a model nationwide.”
Coachella Valley political leaders offered congratulations.
“Cástulo Estrada is a homegrown leader in the Coachella Valley who lives, breathes and navigates the water world to assist residents who struggle every day with a lack of access to clean drinking water,” said Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “Thanks to his dedication and his vision and organization efforts over nearly a decade as our water district representative, we now have a roadmap for getting the needed infrastructure to make safe water available to all.”
California State Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy, noted Estrada’s leadership and groundbreaking work with CVWD’s Disadvantaged Communities Infrastructure Task Force.
“His innovative approach, engaging directly with residents to achieve a strategic regional vision, is well-deserving of national acclaim and has been making waves beyond our area, inspiring how other underserved communities address water infrastructure disparities and pursue resources.”
Estrada received the award at the Alliance’s 2022 Tap into Resilience Summit, held April 13 and 14 at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Clarence Anthony, CEO for the National League of Cities, presented the award.
Coachella Valley Water District is a public agency governed by a five-member board of directors. The district provides domestic and irrigation water, agricultural drainage, wastewater treatment and reclamation services, regional stormwater protection, groundwater management and water conservation. It serves approximately 108,000 residential and business customers across 1,000 square miles located primarily in Riverside County, but also in portions of Imperial and San Diego counties.