Newhall County Water District President B.J. Atkins and Vice President Maria Gutzeit have been re-elected to their respective positions for the year 2015, NCWD officials announced Saturday.

The NCWD board of directors determined their 2015 leadership at a meeting held Thursday.

“There is no more important issue to our quality of life, economy and well-being than a reliable and available public water supply,” Atkins said. “I am humbled that my colleagues continue to entrust me with the great responsibility of leading the Newhall County Water District board of directors in 2015.”

Atkins has overseen the district during the worst drought in California and the Santa Clarita Valley’s recorded history, which forced state-driven regulations on the community’s customers and caused the district to take action to reduce local water consumption. 

District officials are calling the 200 million gallons of water preserved as a result of Atkins’ “education first” campaign “historic reductions in water consumption” by the district’s customers.

His 2014 presidency was also marked by successful legal and regulatory victories, such as the district’s repeal of what a judge deemed a special tax on NCWD customers imposed by the Castaic Lake Water Agency, the region’s water wholesaler.

Related Article: Newhall County Water District Files Suit Against Castaic Lake Water Agency

In 2015, Atkins will oversee the launch of a new water conservation tool called the personal water efficiency target, which is set to be available to NCWD customers early next year.

Additionally, Atkins will lead the district as it works to secure funds for water reliability projects under Proposition 1, the $7.5 billion California water bond approved by voters in November.

“Our challenges with this drought are great, but the opportunities are greater,” Atkins said. “We can continue to position the NCWD as a statewide leader in conservation and finally bring new sources of water to the region, including groundwater recharge and recycled water.”

“These two opportunities are invigorating and I am honored to lead the board during this dynamic period,” he added.

Vice President Gutzeit is an environmental engineer and “longtime Santa Clarita Valley leader,” most recently serving as NCWD president in 2012, district officials said.

She was elected to the NCWD board in 2003 and has also served as its president in 2005, 2006 and 2009.

Atkins and Gutzeit are joined on the board of directors by Dan Mortensen, Kathy Colley and Lynne Plambeck, all of whom were elected directly by Santa Clarita residents and live within the NCWD service area.