In his 21 years with Soquel Creek Water District, Ron Duncan has been integral to the District’s transformation from a water provider into a recycled water purification / groundwater replenishment / water delivery agency. Now, upon his retirement from the District at the end of September, Ron modestly notes that, “It’s been quite a journey!”
Ron’s tireless efforts at each stage of his journey at the District – from Conservation Coordinator to Conservation Manager to General Manager – have become the very foundation supporting that transformation which was necessary to preserve and enhance the District’s sole source of water.
“When I started here, my role was all about working with the community to use less water,” says Ron. “I quickly found out that there was, and is, an extraordinary water conservation ethic among the customers we serve. It’s very gratifying that by engaging with this community, sharing understanding and knowledge about water issues, and providing tools for saving water, they achieved a remarkable level of conservation — today one of the lowest per-capita water use levels in the state.”
Ron’s early conservation work at the District was highly effective, but it was just the beginning of the journey. As General Manager, his key focus became identifying and implementing a supplemental water supply to replenish the overdrafted groundwater basin. That developed into the Pure Water Soquel Groundwater Replenishment/Seawater Intrusion Prevention Project, to purify and reuse treated wastewater. And, it connects back to his earlier work – after all, he says, “What is water reuse, but the highest level of water conservation!”
With Pure Water Soquel now nearing completion, Ron looks back at his journey with gratitude to the District and the people with whom he worked and collaborated. He points out that, “The essence of achieving Pure Water Soquel is really the strategic partnerships and the cooperation among the many agencies involved. Combined with, of course, the work of our visionary Board of Directors and wonderful, talented staff. It’s been a privilege to work with so many intelligent, dedicated people at every level here at the District, to bring this remarkable project to the community, while carrying on with our core service of water delivery.”
Along with his Board of Directors and his staff, Ron successfully navigated the complex issues involved with Pure Water Soquel – ranging from social, technical, and political matters to financial, legal, environmental, and many other areas. How did they do it? Ron says that it’s all about the people. “Collaboration and building consensus among individuals, the agencies and entities involved, local businesses, and many other groups. I like to say my job has had a lot of building bridges and mending fences! Without a high level of cooperative effort at every level, Pure Water Soquel may not have happened - or it certainly would’ve been much more difficult to achieve.”
Ron notes that it’s been an exciting, gratifying journey, with all of those complex elements having to come together in order for a solution to be developed and implemented. He’s particularly proud that the District was the first water agency to use the innovative SkyTem technology to accurately identify impending seawater intrusion before it reached a point beyond recovery. “What a gift to have gained that knowledge, enabling us to work proactively to prevent further seawater contamination of our water supply.” says Ron.
Another area of achievement led by Ron and his colleague and incoming GM Melanie Schumacher was gaining over $95 million in federal and state grant funding for the Pure Water Soquel Project, supplemented by substantial amounts of low-interest loans from state and federal sources. This remarkable level of funding, especially for a small agency, put Soquel Creek Water District on the map within the water industry, and enhanced the District’s profile, and Ron’s reputation as a leader among local and state water providers.
Throughout his Soquel Creek Water District journey, Ron has been a tireless champion for water conservation, water delivery, and water reuse with Pure Water Soquel. He notes that in his career prior to the District he’s been a geologist, a hydrologist, and a technical consultant. But since then, his path has evolved into what he calls the science of the people - an area where he has found his greatest fulfillment. “It’s been so rewarding to lead an organization, mentor and help its individuals to thrive and move upwards in their potential, support them to succeed both professionally and personally – all in the context of protecting and enhancing what is absolutely our most precious resource – water. Those are the things that have inspired and motivated me, and really what I’m most grateful for in my journey with Soquel Creek Water District.”
On the eve of his retirement, it’s fitting to acknowledge that Ron consistently performed at the highest professional level with his characteristic integrity, authenticity, creativity, unwavering commitment, and gifted leadership. His outstanding efforts in fulfilling the vision of Pure Water Soquel, and his many other accomplishments during his tenure with the District, comprise a remarkable and meaningful legacy to the entire region.