MISSION VIEJO : Program on Water Shouldn’t Be Dry

City officials know that for years people assumed that water flowed cheaply and freely from their faucets and never gave it another thought.

Then, in more recent times, drought struck and all of a sudden, people were washing their cars on alternate days of the week. Last year, the bureaucracy of water got big headlines when it was discovered that two local water officials were taking money from the contractors to whom they were awarding contracts.

Water has become a substance people want to know more about. On Wednesday, Mission Viejo will sponsor a free Water Quality and Issues Workshop in the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Oso Viejo Road, at 10 a.m.

Representatives from the three water districts serving the city will be on hand to explain the meaning of odd-sounding phrases like “hard water” and answer many other questions about rates, where water comes from and what is put into it.

“We’ve got some heavy hitters coming in for this workshop,” said Nancy Herrman, director of senior center. “We’re looking for people in our area with interest and questions about their water.”

Appearing at the workshop will be a chemist, operations manager and general manager from the Santa Margarita Water District, Moulton-Niguel Water District and the El Toro Water District.

Herrman said the program will include slides, presentations from water experts and water information pamphlets, but will leave time for questions from the community.

For more information about the workshop, call (714) 348-2062.