In many ways, 2005-06 was a year like any other year at Metropolitan—notable for providing a reliable supply of high quality water, continuing to upgrade and improve the delivery and treatment
systems, working with statewide interests to ensure continued investments in water infrastructure through state and local funding initiatives, and partnering with other states to ensure that the
Colorado River remains a stable source of supply into the future. In other words, 2005-06 presented new challenges and old problems. Population growth continued in Metropolitan’s service area, with about 220,000 new people added to Southern California in the past 12 months. The $800 billion Southern California economy is supported by the more than 2 million acre-feet of water provided by Metropolitan each year. In order to reliably continue meeting the region’s demands, Metropolitan will continue to not only expand infrastructure, but to also rebuild and maintain its 75-year-old system.

But, it is no longer sufficient to simply build new pipelines, reservoirs, and treatment plants.
Metropolitan is an organization dedicated to innovation and leadership. As such, during the past year Metropolitan invested more than $25 million in conservation and recycling projects with our member agencies, we increased incentives for innovative conservation practices like high-efficiency toilets, cooling tower controllers and connectionless food steamers and spent more than $1.5 million in the California Friendly® education campaign. Metropolitan also worked with water agencies and legislators around California to support Propositions 1E and 84 to help build and maintain California’s infrastructure for the future.

In my early tenure as the 13th General Manager of the Metropolitan Water District, I am struck by the robustness of the institution and the importance of our task. Metropolitan’s five-year capital investment program will be more than $2.2 billion through 2010-11. This program includes upgrading water treatment to ozone at all five of our treatment plants—
no small task when you recognize that we will continue to treat more than 1.5 million acre-feet of water, while simultaneously changing the treatment technology. Work also continues on the Inland Feeder Project, a major pipeline that will tie Metropolitan’s delivery system together and provide needed flexibility to deliver large quantities of State Project water to Diamond Valley Lake during short windows of opportunity. During the next five years, we intend to spend more than a half-billion dollars on repair and replacement projects, which range from fixing leaking roofs to repairing transformers in the electric distribution system.

As we head into the next fiscal year, Metropolitan will be taking steps to change the way we look at our business to measure the impact that our actions have on the environment, including an evaluation of Metropolitan’s carbon footprint and contribution to greenhouse gases. Following the lead of the state Legislature and the governor, Metropolitan will be
a leader in the water community as we confront these important issues, while continuing to develop sustainable water supplies for the future.

I am proud to be a part of an experienced, committed group of people who believe in the mission of the Metropolitan Water District. From the board of directors to the pump mechanics, operators, analysts, and engineers—Metropolitan has recruited and developed leaders in their fields. One of the great challenges of the next five years will be retaining this experience, passing on the education and traditions to the workers of the future, and building on the traditions of the past. I am certain that Metropolitan will rise to future challenges, both known and unknown, because of these people. Metropolitan has a tradition marked by innovation and leadership. The coming years will surely test that tradition—and I know that Metropolitan will meet those challenges. This annual report highlights many of the accomplishments of 2005-06, as well as the strength and stability of the organization.

Jeffrey Kightlinger
General Manager