Third in a series. 

Re: “Houston Sees Drought as Opportunity” 

After he was elected to the board of the West Basin Municipal Water District six months ago this week, Scott Houston had no chance to warm or ease into his new complex of responsibilities.

The record drought was on, and he was warned “Run. Never walk.”

“This is a really key time to become involved in water management, both locally and as part of the statewide water system,” Mr. Houston said.

“West Basin is a leading agency in Southern California. We have assets a lot of other districts do not have. Former board members, and I am thinking of (the late) Ed Little (who retired a year ago this month), were so forward thinking.”

Mr. Houston, who may have been the only one of last November’s candidates who actually had attended Water Board meetings, said “we are blessed because of that kind of thinking. What if we did not have the capacity we have today? This is a good time to go onto the board, to make a difference, to play a leadership role. I am talking about how we are helping in the statewide effort to save water.”

He is grateful for Gov. Brown’s attitude. “When he has talked about water in the past year,” Mr. Houston said, “he has put a lot of authority in the hands of local jurisdictions. He said they know best how to manage their resources.”

“Forward thinking” is not just a snappy slogan, said Mr. Houston. “A lot of folks come to our plant from different agencies, even from around the country and the world,” he said, “to see what we are doing with recycled water. We are a role model.”

(To be continued)