Projects & Partners

SOCWA is proud of its service to South Orange County. Our projects and partnerships have been recognized for their safe operation and efficiency as we seek to provide our communities with exceptional service.

 Awards Earned by SOCWA

  • J.B. Latham Plant Operator Ernie Leal named CWEA/SARBS Supervisor of the Year Gold Award - 2025
  • OC Taxpayers Rose Award for SOCWA's Reorganization - 2024
  • CWEA/SARBS P3S Person of the Year Gold Award to Katie Greenwood - 2023
  • CWEA/SARBS Mechanic of the Year Award to Phil Peters - 2023
  • CWEA/SARBS Mechanical Technician, Person of the Year Award to Gage Gesiriech - 2020
  • CSRMA Workers Compensation Excellence Award to SOCWA - 2020
  • GFOA Award of Financial Reporting Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting - 2020
  • CWEA/SARBS Laboratory Person of the Year Award to Laura Watson - 2019
  • CWEA local chapter’s Plant of the Year Award to SOCWA’s J.B. Latham Water Treatment Plant – 2018
  • J.B. Latham Plant Operator Bob Kallberg named CWEA Operator of the Year Silver Award - 2018
  • J.B. Latham Plant Operator Ernie Leal named CWEA Supervisor of the Year Award - 2016
  • NACWA Peak Performance Award
    • Aliso Creek Ocean Outfall
      – Seven years of NPDES compliance – 2009
      – Six years of NPDES compliance – 2008
      – Five years of NPDES compliance – 2007
  • CWEA/SARBS Plant of the Year Award to J.B. Latham Treatment Plant – 2009
  • SARBS SPOTLight Award to SOCWA – 2007
  • Target Safety Leadership Award – 2007
  • CWEA P3S Person of the Year Award to Paul D. Schmidtbauer – 2007
  • CWEA/SARBS P3S Person of the Year Award to Paul D. Schmidtbauer – 2007
  • CWEA Award of Excellence to JBL Treatment Plant – 1987
  • CWEA/SARBS Plant of the Year Award to JBL Treatment Plant – 1987

These achievements are done through collaboration with our region’s leading environmental and water quality organizations, including:

 Ocean Disposal

  • San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board Staff
  • Orange County Health Care Agency
  • Southern California Coastal Water Research Project
  • Region Nine Kelp Survey Consortium
  • Collaborative, Integrated Regional Ocean Water Quality Monitoring Program for Orange County, partnering with:
    • OC Health Care Agency
    • OC Watersheds
    • Orange County Sanitation Districts
    • SOCWA

 Recycled Water

  • SOCWA Member Agency Recycled Water Retailers
  • San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board Staff
  • California Department of Public Health – Santa Ana Office
  • Recycled Water Use Site Owner/Operators
  • South Orange County Integrated Regional Watershed Management Participants Group
  • Orange County Chapter of WateReuse

 Biosolids

  • Contract Compost Company – Synagro
  • San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board Staff
  • EPA Region Nine Biosolids Coordinator
  • Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
  • Contract Biosolids Hauler – Terra Renewal
  • Orange County Integrated Waste Management
  • SOCWA Member Agencies

 Other