Articles
News
Viejas Receives Award for Water System
SAN DIEGO-(Business Wire)-January 29, 2008 - The Viejas Tribal Government has been recognized as having one of the best water systems among small utilities in the region. The California Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association has awarded Viejas the Small Utilities Award for the accomplishments the reservation's small utilities water system has had on its community.
The current water system on the Viejas Reservation is comprised of three potable water and three reclaimed water storage tanks, nine wells and a waste water treatment plant totaling 40 miles of water and sewer piping. The entire system is monitored with a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system that allows an operator at a master or remote facility to monitor and control levels and processes of various sites. This SCADA system saves time and money by eliminating the need for service personnel to visit each site for inspection and to be able to respond quicker in case of a water or sewer emergency.
"Viejas is proud to be the recipient of this prestigious award," said Viejas Public Works Director Jim Reed. "This award reflects Viejas Tribal Government's commitment to being an industry leader and providing its tribal members with the best infrastructure and services possible. Developing and maintaining the highest quality water system benefits our tribal community as well as surrounding communities."
The American Water Works Association looks for outstanding leadership and pioneer spirit within the water industry and is dedicated to leading, educating and serving the drinking water community to ensure public health and to provide safe and sufficient water for all. Today, the California Nevada Section of the Association has a membership of 8,000. The small utilities award is given to those systems serving less than 10,000 people.
About the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians
The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians is a sovereign nation whose people have inhabited the San Diego County area for thousands of years. The 1,600 acre Viejas Indian Reservation is located near Alpine, California, approximately 35 miles east of San Diego. Viejas Enterprises operates the Tribe's business entities, including the Viejas Casino; Viejas Outlet Center; Viejas Entertainment & Production; Three Fires LLC and Four Fires LLC, two partnerships that have developed hotels in Sacramento, California and Washington, D.C.; Borrego Springs Bank; three radio stations and two RV parks. For more information, visit www.viejasbandofkumeyaay.org.
