News for the Valued Customers of Las Virgenes Municipal Water District

The Current Flow

A timely and informative newsletter that provides LVMWD customers with updates on conservation, rebates, environmental stewardship, easy to use water-saving ideas, landscaping tips and more. 

To explore a number of topics in detail,  you can review the most recent issue (below) or select the View Archived News link to see back issues.  

LVMWD & Oceanwell Go 'Beyond the Surface' With New Desalination Technology

Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD), together with tech start-up OceanWell, launched a first-of-its-kind fresh water harvesting system at the District’s Las Virgenes Reservoir on March 21. The event showcased OceanWell's proprietary submerged water filtration technology, which may potentially provide a stable, scalable and climate-resilient source of water in the near future.

The launch event was highlighted by the full attendance of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District Board of Directors, with Board President Andy Coradeschi and Vice President Jay Lewitt delivering remarks that brought the significance of the OceanWell partnership into sharp focus. Elected officials, environmental groups, fellow water agencies, with regional and state leaders also gathered to witness this milestone. Guests experienced a live demonstration by OceanWell engineers and had the opportunity to view the innovative OceanWell pod submerged and producing water. LVMWD General Manager David W. Pedersen and OceanWell CEO Robert Bergstrom toasted to the occasion and enjoyed a taste of the product water.

Speaking from his experience as the LVMWD representative to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and his time as President of the LVMWD board, Lewitt offered that "the asnwer is not to fight over water, to have some people get less and have winners and losers, the answer is to add more water and that is what this represents."

OceanWell is developing deep-sea water farms comprised of pods that harness the natural weight of the ocean at depths of 400 meters (1,300 feet) to drive the reverse osmosis process. Each purification pod has the potential to harvest up to one million gallons of fresh water daily from both saltwater and freshwater bodies, which made the Las Virgenes Reservoir an ideal location for the pilot.

This technology produces ultra-clean water by filtering out salts, bacteria, viruses, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and PFAS, while its components are engineered for durability in harsh deep-sea environments. Unlike traditional industrial desalination that is energy-intensive and can harm marine life, OceanWell's technology reduces energy consumption by up to 40%, while protecting marine life and eliminating a concentrated brine stream.Testing the technology in a reservoir demonstrates the effectiveness of the system’s LifeSafe™ intake in highly bio-active conditions, which are more challenging than in the deep ocean. This phased approach helps fine-tune each stage of the system, paving the way for reliable, and scalable deployment in the ocean.

“Access to abundant clean water is critical to the vitality of our communities,” said Robert Bergstrom, CEO of OceanWell. “We’re thrilled to have an opportunity to partner with Las Virgenes to take the first step in building climate-resilient water supplies in the U.S. and abroad. This will enable us to make significant progress towards commercial readiness and serving millions of people.”

The technology is particularly promising for the Las Virgenes – Conejo region, which experienced record drought in recent years, and disproportionate impacts on water supply availability, due to the reliance on imported water. On the heels of unprecedented outdoor water use restrictions, the LVMWD Board of Directions pledged to pursue any and all sources of new water supply for the region.

“During the last drought, we fielded countless questions about why we weren’t looking to the ocean as a source of drinking water, and I’m proud to say that we’ve found an environmentally sensitive path to ocean desalination with OceanWell,” stated LVMWD Board President Andy Coradeschi. “This partnership is the next step in ensuring that we will continue to thrive in our region in the face of increasing climate variability.”

OceanWell has redesigned sourcing fresh water from the ocean into a clean, elegant solution that harvests affordable, abundant, fresh water. Its modular deep-sea water farm technology uses hydrostatic ocean pressure at depths of 400 meters to naturally power the reverse osmosis process and make fresh water. Recently garnering $11 million in Series A funding – with participation from Kubota Corporation – OceanWell is supported by a working group of 25 municipal water agencies in California and aims to build 15 water farms across the globe in the next decade.

Free Irrigation Upgrades

Spring is the perfect time to upgrade your outdoor spaces, and we can help!

LVMWD residential customers can qualify for up to $1,500 in efficient irrigation system upgrades professionally installed - now including free smart irrigation controllers. Commercial customers, including HOAs, can qualify for up to $3,000 in eligible upgrades and repairs. In addition to the controllers, the upgrades include drip irrigation, high-efficiency nozzles, and capping of unneeded spray heads.

“There was an overwhelmingly positive response from customers when we launched the pilot program back in December 2023,” commented LVMWD Resource Conservation Manager Craig Jones. “Our customers understand the value of efficient irrigation systems and landscapes and as we expected, they’ve stepped up by implementing these best practices. We are excited to be able to build on that with the full-scale program.”

With this update, even more LVMWD customers will be able to have a certified irrigation professional examine and retrofit their existing irrigation system to maximize water use efficiency. This service begins with a free water efficiency landscape evaluation through MWD, where a highly trained WaterWise consultant visits the home to determine if the landscape qualifies for the program. Once the project is deemed qualified, the customer is contacted to schedule the retrofit installation by a WaterWise professional.

Funding for the Irrigation Efficiency Retrofit Program (IERP) is limited and provided to residential and commercial customers on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a limit of one retrofit per customer. For more program information, visit the Irrigation Efficiency Retrofit webpage.

Hey Doc! What Do You Think of Pure Water?

 In a recent special edition of the Full Circle Podcast, host Mike McNutt, LVMWD Public Affairs and Communications Manager, welcomed leaders from two key regional medical associations to discuss the intersection of public health and sustainable water. Dr. Brian Barry, Executive Director of the Ventura County Medical Association, Dr. Sion (Shy) Roy, past president of the Los Angeles County Medical Association, and Andy Coradeschi, President of the LVMWD Board of Directors, joined the conversation to explore how the Pure Water Project is addressing regional water challenges while protecting public health.

Medical associations like the Ventura County Medical Association and the Los Angeles County Medical Association serve as trusted voices for physicians, patients, and public health professionals. Their missions include advancing quality healthcare, supporting medical professionals, and guiding policy decisions that affect community well-being.

On the podcast, both Barry and Roy endorsed the Pure Water Project, emphasizing the critical role clean, reliable water plays in public health—from preventing disease to ensuring hospitals and clinics can provide safe
care. Their support didn’t come lightly; it was grounded in a review of the project’s science, data, and transparency. "The proof is in the process," said Roy, referring to the demonstration facility in Calabasas.

The medical associations were impressed by the facility’s ability to show, in real time, how wastewater is purified to exceed state and federal drinking water standards. The ability to see and test the results firsthand played a major role in their decision to publicly back the project. The episode underscores the importance of trust, transparency, and public engagement in moving forward with innovative water solutions. With climate change continuing to strain California’s traditional water sources, the support of respected medical institutions provides a strong vote of confidence in the safety, necessity, and science behind the Pure Water Project.

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