Moulton Niguel Water District Honored for Regional Resiliency & Wildfire Mutual Aid by Moulton Niguel Water District Oct 28, 2025 Member Submitted News Moulton Niguel Water District is being honored for its leadership in regional resiliency and providing mutual aid during this summer’s Rancho Fire. Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi recently presented Moulton Niguel Water District President Duane D. Cave with a Certificate of Recognition honoring his leadership in building regional partnerships to strengthen Orange County’s wildfire preparedness. Moulton Niguel Water District provided critical support for Orange County Fire Authority’s response to the Rancho Fire, which threatened homes in Laguna Beach. “We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from the City of Laguna Beach,” said Board President Cave, who brings more than four decades of public utilities experience to his leadership role. “Every second counts during an emergency. Moulton Niguel’s outstanding team took actions to ensure water flows were available to Orange County firefighters when they needed it most.” Moulton Niguel partnered with the Orange County Fire Authority, and in collaboration with the County of Orange, City of Aliso Viejo, and Aliso Viejo Community Association, to install the Aliso Viejo Helicopter Hydrant. The critical pipeline and fire hydrants recently installed by Moulton Niguel provided firefighters with a rapid refueling system for aerial firefighting operations in the region. When the Rancho Fire threatened Laguna Beach homes in July 2025, the Aliso Viejo Helicopter Hydrant system became a lifeline for aerial firefighting operations. The specialized infrastructure enabled Orange County Fire Authority helicopters to: Complete 34 rapid refills during firefighting operations Deliver 42,350 gallons of water to suppress the blaze Fill 7,500-gallon helicopter tanks in just 5 minutes “Our local helicopter hydrant system provided fast and reliable water access to keep our community safe,” said Cave, who currently serves on the Orange County Business Council Board of Directors. Under President Duane Cave’s leadership, Moulton Niguel has made substantial investments in its water infrastructure. The District maintains 28 potable water reservoirs and has access to more than 150 million gallons of regional water storage for firefighting and emergency needs. Moulton Niguel Water District provides high-quality drinking water, recycled water and wastewater treatment services to customers in Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point. A leader in environmental protection, Moulton Niguel maintains the lowest average bill in South Orange County. ###
