Water industry veteran Raymond Jay was seated today as Torrance’s new representative on the board of directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Director Jay brings 35 years of experience in water resources to the board. He has served on Torrance’s Water Commission for eight years, including two years as chair, where he focused on keeping water rates affordable and expanding local water conservation. He succeeds Russell Lefevre, who represented Torrance on Metropolitan’s 38-member board since 2013.
Director Jay retired from Metropolitan earlier this year after working for 18 years in local water supplies and grants, primarily within the Water Resource Management Group. Before joining Metropolitan, he worked for 17 years with water regulatory agencies in California and Virginia. He also served as president of the Los Angeles Chapter of WateReuse California for five years, promoting recycled water and providing support to local agencies.
“Director Jay brings diverse expertise from his time in the regulatory arena, as well as from his experience at Metropolitan and his years serving on Torrance’s water commission,” said Metropolitan board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. “I look forward to working with him to ensure a reliable, sustainable water supply for Southern California.”
Director Jay holds a master’s degree in biology, specializing in environmental science, from George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Old Dominion University. He also earned a certificate in contract management from University of California, Los Angeles. He and his wife, Carol, have been Torrance residents for 25 years.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative that, along with its 26 cities and retail suppliers, provides water for 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.
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