Tackling tough challenges in Oxnard

摘要

Drive 48 km (30 mi) west of Los Angeles on the 101 Freeway and you'll soon (depending on traffic) find yourself in the City of Oxnard, one of the jewels of coastal Ventura County. The city is home nearly 200,000 citizens and numerous commercial, industrial, and agricultural users, and is also a popular tourist destination. As with similar-sized cities across Southern California, Oxnard's Public Works Department is in charge of providing potable water, wastewater, recycled water, and stormwater services to its customers. That similarity extends to the challenges that public agencies face in their efforts to provide high levels of service with dwindling resources. In Oxnard's case, these challenges include 1. responding to drought conditions, 2. planning for long-term water supplies, 3. reducing dependence on expensive imported water, 4. supporting aging infrastructure, 5. meeting stricter regulatory requirements, and 6. pursuing aggressive energy efficiency and sustainability goals across the city.