The Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District hosted its Splash Water Festival on May 2 at its Lake Elsinore facility, bringing residents together for a morning of entertainment and water education.
Held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the annual event offered interactive exhibits, water reclamation facility tours, water activities, free food, and other giveaways.
“It’s important that we bring the community together and that we bring the community in so they can see what we do behind the scenes here at the Water District,” said Sylvia Ornelas, EVMWD community affairs supervisor and public information officer.
Booths were set up throughout the event covering topics such as water treatment, delivery, wastewater systems, and conservation. Free items, including water-efficient devices and plants, were also handed out.
Andrew Salcedo, a water production operator, used multiple interactive models at his booth to break down how water travels from underground wells to residential taps.
One model showed the treatment process through a pipe system, while another let attendees activate a pump to see how water moves between reservoirs at different elevations.
“It’s a lot easier when you have a visual item to look at rather than a straight explanation without being able to see it,” he said.
Nearby, Javier Gomez with the preventive maintenance department showed how the district responds to emergencies such as wildfires or major pipeline breaks using mobile water tanks.
“We have two 3,000-gallon tanks, and we have two 1,600-gallon tanks,” Gomez said. “We set these tanks up in a park in the area, and then we set up manifolds. The public can bring a receptacle and get fresh water, clean water, until we’re able to restore service into the area.”
He pointed to fires near Ortega Highway last year as an example of when the district used the equipment to supply water to both residents and firefighters.
The Wyland Foundation’s Mobile Learning Lab also took part in the event, offering hands-on exhibits that teach kids about watersheds, ecosystems and sustainability.
“We teach the science of water, but also conservation and just the practice of taking care of our environment,” said Steve Creech, president of the Wyland Foundation.
With informational booths and demonstrations, the event highlighted the district’s role in serving the community and providing essential water services.
According to Ornelas, the district serves about 169,000 people across roughly 45,000 connections and employs about 190 people.
“Water is super complicated and the process to receive water, to treat water and to deliver water is very extensive,” she said. “We hope that the community understands how much work goes behind it. We have this annually to show people what we do and connect with them.”
