Linking International Communities Through Water by City of Santa Ana and Rowland Water District Sep 23, 2025 Member Submitted News From Mexico to the Philippines, California water agencies are forging international partnerships that are improving water quality, strengthening operations, and building lasting relationships rooted in shared expertise. In November 2024, the City of Santa Ana’s Water Resources Division traveled to its sister city, Sahuayo, Mexico, advancing a collaboration that began with a Sister City Agreement in 2022. The trip began with a joint press conference at Sahuayo’s municipal presidency, where officials outlined a water quality and treatment project as a step toward long-term sustainability. Over several days, Santa Ana’s team worked closely with Sahuayo’s public works and drinking water staff on leak control, treatment plant efficiency, and system reliability. “This visit brought together the skilled expertise of both cities, demonstrating how collaboration across borders can deliver real solutions for utility services,” said Cesar E. Barrera, Santa Ana Acting City Engineer. “By combining strengths, we identified practical strategies that will enhance operations in Sahuayo while strengthening our own commitment to service excellence in Santa Ana.” Santa Ana City Manager Alvaro Nuñez emphasized the importance of leadership in building momentum for the future. “With new leadership, Santa Ana is bringing fresh vision and strong partnerships that open doors to innovation. Our collaboration with Sahuayo is not only improving water service today but also shaping a brighter future for both communities.” While Santa Ana was working in Mexico, Rowland Water District (RWD) in Los Angeles County launched its own exchange with Norzagaray Water District (NorWD) in the Philippines. Supported by the Asian Development Bank’s Water Organizations Partnership for Resilience (WOP4R), RWD staff worked on operational and financial strategies to strengthen service in an area where safe drinking water is scarce. A reciprocal visit to California in early 2025 cemented that partnership with a formal Memorandum of Understanding. For RWD General Manager Tom Coleman, the trip was just as valuable for his own staff as for NorWD. “When our team saw firsthand the dedication and resourcefulness of our colleagues in the Philippines, it deepened our commitment to public service,” Coleman said. “It’s a reminder that water connects us all, no matter where we live, and that by helping each other we all grow stronger.” Though half a world apart, these efforts share the same goals: improving infrastructure, boosting efficiency, and ensuring reliable access to safe water. They reflect a growing trend in the water sector, with international collaboration emerging as a powerful way to elevate local service. As Santa Ana and its partners continue to engage globally, the benefits flow both ways. From Sahuayo to Santa Ana, and from Norzagaray to Rowland Heights, water professionals are proving that collaboration across borders creates solutions that ripple outward, strengthening communities worldwide.
