Looking to the Future

 

His goals are strategic and long-term. His sights are set on a resilient future for Santa Ana. 

 

Ask Nabil Saba how he views his role as Santa Ana’s Water Resources Division Manager and his answer goes beyond just maintaining day-to-day operations. He actively champions long-term sustainability. That means looking at new technologies and projects to better manage water resources, improve customer service, curb water rate increases and help keep water available and affordable for generations to come.

In the next few years, he is focused on strengthening the reliability of Santa Ana’s water infrastructure by replacing aging pipelines and upgrading and modernizing the water distribution and storage system. These capital improvement programs include drilling two new wells, upgrading the division’s supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA), a $3 million project, and replacing five miles of pipeline each year.

Upgrading to an Automated Meter Infrastructure (AMI) is another way he looks to reduce operational costs, improve service and prepare for the Santa Ana’s future needs. He spearheaded this initiative and, after conducting a thorough study, the City received $4 million in funding from the State of California to implement its first phase. A new a special taskforce and project manager will oversee the process.

He advocated for Santa Ana’s support of the California WaterFix, a $17 billion project that will protect our state’s water supplies from climate change through upgrades to the State Water Project and habitat restoration in Northern California’s Delta. It is the single most cost-effective, large-scale projects to ensure Orange County’s long-term water supply.

 

“The decisions we make today will impact our long term sustainability and quality of life.”

 

“We won’t see the benefits from this project until 20 years from now, but that’s when we’ll need it most. It will ensure a reliable water supply for our children’s future,”
he explains.

At the same time, Santa Ana has supported the expansion of Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), which purifies wastewater before it is injected into our wetlands and groundwater basin, which supplies high quality water for 2.4 million residents in north and central Orange County. The GWRS expansion will reduce the region’s dependency on imported water while protecting environmental habitats and natural resources.

Looking to the future, Nabil Saba envisions all water devices, systems and appliances will be more efficient, designed with smart controllers, and available to everyone. Storm water capture will become a way of the future with climate change and recycling water to replenish our groundwater will become a standard.

 

“The decisions we make today will impact our long term sustainability and quality of life,” he adds. “Santa Ana and other regional agencies have shown exceptional leadership in this regard. Together, we must all commit to a cooperative stewardship of our national resources and to put into place water-smart plans to mitigate the growing impact of climate change.”