Rain threatened to disrupt OpExpo this year, with forecasts for a half-inch to an inch the morning of the event. Fortunately, while the day dawned a little drizzly, it soon turned sunny and the festivities were underway.

This year’s Operator Expo had everything the Orange County water community has come to expect from OCWA: a well-received training session, a wide array of spirited competitions, and a delicious barbeque lunch. Everyone had a great time as they interacted with dozens of vendors, and enjoyed watching or partici­pating in the contests. Plans are already underway for next year’s event.

Special thanks are due to the many Sponsors and Exhibitors who participated in this year’s event. Thirty-one Exhibitors joined us to display their products, demonstrate their uses, and answer all the operator’s questions. In addition, Eighteen Sponsors stepped forward to help ensure the success of the day. The names of all our Sponsors and the Vendors can be found here. Without the generous support of our Sponsors, and the dedicated attention of the Exhibitors, our event would have been nowhere near the success we all enjoyed. We are especially indebted to Irvine Ranch Water District for once again generously hosting our event at Rattlesnake Reservoir.

Photos of all the days events,
and a listing of all the Sponsors and Vendors,
are available on the OCWA website.
Click here for the photos
and click here for Sponsors and Exhibitors.

There was lot to learn and even more fun to be had at this year’s annual event. We had over 230 operators, representing 25 water agencies from Orange and Los Angeles counties, sign-up for the event.

Unfortunately, we had a last minute cancellation of our first training presentation. However, our second presenter stepped up to fill the gap.

Felipe Da Silva, the Southern California Regional Manager for longtime OCWA supporter DN Tanks, provided the group a thorough overview of the intricacies of Extending the Life of Your Concrete Tank. Attendees thoroughly enjoyed the comprehensive look at all the issues that can occur and the remedies available.

At the conclusion of the class, it was time for the day’s competitions.

For this year’s Pipe Tapping Competition, five teams were prepped and ready to go. Remarkably, in almost a repeat of what happened in last year’s competition, the top two teams scored with times which placed them in the top rankings of OCWA’s all-time Championship Rankings!

Our First Place team was a repeat champion from 2024, the L.A. Tappers from the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, finished with a blistering time of 1:13. This was good enough to earn them third place on our all-time leaderboard, behind last year’s top two finishers. Close behind them, in Second Place with a great time of 1:23, were the HB Tappers from the City of Huntington Beach. Their score tied them on the all-time leaderboard with themselves! In 2022, the HB Tappers won the tournament with the same 1:23 time.

Other teams that competed included City of Santa Ana, a second team from City of Huntington Beach, and a team from City of Anaheim.

Special thanks to Boyd Schultz with Laguna Beach County Water District who organized and ran the Pipe Tapping Contest. He was ably assisted by a crew of seasoned Pipe Tapping judges: Robert Aranda, Laguna Beach County Water District; Andy Chang, Walnut Valley Water District; Joey Castina, Jr., LADWP; Oscar Salas, LADWP; and Hector Caldarone, City of Westminster. All of these judges are on the American Water Works Association’s Competition Committee.

Set up for the event was done by a crew from LBCWD, ably assisted by a whole lot of people who pitched in when they saw the need. Afterwards, we were grateful to the many attendees who stayed behind for a few minutes to assist with the dismantling and cleanup of the event. It was very appreciated.

In the morning’s other competition, almost two dozens teams signed up for what turned into a spirited Horseshoe Competi­tion. Ably organized and run by a crew of eight from Yorba Linda Water District, the event was a real crowd pleaser, with many close matches. First Place was taken by a team from City of Seal Beach, while Second Place went to a team from City of Santa Ana.

The morning’s educational session and competi­tions were capped off with a delicious lunch catered by Blake’s Place of Anaheim, followed by an opportunity drawing for prizes donated by the sponsors and vendors.

All agreed it was a great day of education and compe­ti­tion, and every­one left look­ing forward to 2026’s event. Should you have suggestions for improving next year’s OpExpo, contact anyone on the OCWA Board. And be certain to make plans now to attend next year’s event!