Water Agency Feted for Interactive Kiosk

The Castaic Lake Water Agency received an environmental award Thursday from the Assn. of California Water Agencies.

Castaic won the Theodore Roosevelt Environmental Award, which recognizes agencies that promote or protect the environment while managing the public’s water needs, said Jennifer Persike-Becker, director of communications for the association.

The association has 450 member agencies, which combined are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered statewide.

The Castaic agency won for its use of computer technology in setting up an interactive kiosk that promotes the use of drought-resistant water-saving plants, Persike-Becker said. The kiosk helps the agency meet its goal of reducing water use by 10% over the next decade.

Although other water agencies provide similar information in pamphlets, Castaic’s kiosk and Web site really engage customers by being colorful and interactive, Persike-Becker said.

The Central Coast Water Authority won in the $100,000-or-more budget category for its construction of the Central Coast Aqueduct, an extension of the State Water Project into San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, according to the association.