RIVERSIDE, CA – On Wednesday, Oct. 20, Western Municipal Water District (Western) was presented with the prestigious Excellence in Information Technology (IT) Practices Award by the Municipal Information Systems Association of California (MISAC). This is the seventh year that MISAC has recognized Western since 2007, and this is its third consecutive award. 

Western was joined by Mitch Cochran, MISAC Education Committee member and chairman of the MISAC awards program. He presented the award to Western's Board of Directors alongside Western's IT Manager.

"Evaluation criteria is updated every year to meet and incorporate new standards and best practices, so applicants are held to the highest standards," said Cochran. "And this year, we had a major revision requiring a significant effort. Not only are we are more stringent and focused on government and operations, but also how IT impacts the entire organization. The [more difficult] to obtain excellence award signifies practices that exceed the local government standards."

MISAC's Excellence in IT Practices Award requires a rigorous review of strategic planning and budget, purchasing, operations and staffing, customer performance management, internet, technology and project management, professional development and training, disaster preparation and recovery, security controls, audit compliance, regulatory compliance and geographic information systems – including more than 100 unique audit criteria.

"As the work environment transitions to a more digital realm, Western is very fortunate to have a recruitment program that commits to securing highly skilled and trained staff across all facets of our organization," said Western's General Manager, Craig Miller. "This IT team remains customer-focused and continues to find innovative and successful solutions that improve operational efficiency, support customer satisfaction efforts, and institute the highest levels of network security."

Information and communication technologies play a vital role in water supply planning, operations optimization, and digital customer support. Adopting forward-thinking technologies equips Western with the necessary information, security, and the opportunity to more effectively plan for today's water and wastewater needs and future generations.

MISAC was founded in 1980, with a membership base of more than 1,100 IT professionals from more than 400 cities and special districts. The organization strives to promote leadership, education, and access to resources for local agency technology professionals to enhance local government services and effectiveness using its Four Pillars: education, member resources, relationships, and advocacy. 

To learn more about Western, visit wmwd.com. Stay updated on Western's latest projects and happenings by following the district on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  

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Western Municipal Water District is one of the largest public agencies in Riverside County, providing water and wastewater (sewer) services to nearly a million people, both retail and wholesale customers who live, work and play within 527 square miles in one of California's most populous regions. Learn more: wmwd.com.