Commentary: Drought has resulted in water-agency accountability

Our historic drought has brought important public scrutiny to the agencies that are responsible for delivering water to our homes and businesses.

With the encouragement and support of organizations such as the Orange County Business Council and the Orange County Taxpayers Assn., I decided to run for the Orange County Water District (OCWD) after serving 10 years on the Newport Beach City Council. Water quality has been one of my highest priorities and points of focus.

As I complete my last term, I’m turning my attention to the most important water issue of our time — the potentially devastating impact of drought on our community and the need for us to develop and implement new measures to assure a long-term supply of clean, affordable and abundant water to meet the diverse needs of a healthy, functioning city.

I learned that you must stick to the core mission, stay focused on new ways to achieve favorable results and not get distracted.

In this drought, it’s particularly important to Irvine and Newport Beach that OCWD is run well. Sixty-five percent of our water comes from OCWD. But the district is in turmoil and distracted from its core mission.

Two years ago, the district announced a plan to access more water from Prado Dam — the storage reservoir near the 91 Freeway at Green River Road. The plan would have generated 35,000 acre-feet of additional water — enough to serve OCWD’s entire service area for a year — but the district didn’t follow through to secure necessary agency approvals, and the project has stalled.

Meanwhile, the district focused on giving a sole-source contract to locate a power plant in a residential neighborhood near Angel Stadium.

I’m scratching my head too.

What does that have to do with increasing water supply from Prado Dam for Irvine and Newport?

Gov. Jerry Brown just signed legislation (Senate Bill 36) to force OCWD to disclose its power-plant scheme the next time it tries to slip it by the public.

I’m running because OCWD needs reform and focus. Sadly, it has strayed from its core mission. It’s squandered over $20 million in legal settlements after losing lawsuit after lawsuit.

The drought gives me the chance to return OCWD to basics — providing a reliable supply of clean and affordable water.

I am asking for your support to make water — not power plants or feckless lawsuits — the highest priority of OCWD.

LESLIE DAIGLE is a member of the Newport Beach City Council and candidate for water board.