LADWP CEO steps down leaving legacy of groundwater and reuse infrastructure

LADWP CEO steps down leaving legacy of groundwater and reuse infrastructureJanice Quiñones departs the Los Angeles utility after a 22-month tenure that advanced key water reliability facilities, as the board also signs off on a historic watershed land sale to the Bishop Paiute Tribe.

Outgoing CEO Janice Quiñones oversaw the advancement of the L.A. Groundwater Replenishment Project and the North Hollywood West Groundwater Treatment Facility.

LADWP is actively investing in the Tillman groundwater recharge project and is in the planning phases for Pure Water LA.

The board unanimously approved the $57,500 sale of 11.24 acres of watershed land to the Bishop Paiute Tribe, addressing early 20th-century land acquisitions made for the city's water system.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is navigating a leadership transition as CEO and Chief Engineer Janice Quiñones steps down after a 22-month tenure. The Board of Commissioners formally honored Quiñones during its March 24, 2026, meeting ahead of her departure to take on a utility leadership role in Puerto Rico. During her time at the helm of the largest municipal utility in the United States, Quiñones oversaw the advancement of several major water reliability and treatment projects. A board resolution highlighted her direction in the construction of the L.A. Groundwater Replenishment Project, the North Hollywood West Response Action Groundwater Treatment Facility, and the Fairmont Sedimentation Plant Project. Quiñones was also credited with launching a comprehensive Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) program for the water system to improve operational resilience. The utility's strategic focus on water reuse was also emphasized during the meeting. Anselma Collins, COO and head of the water system, noted LADWP's recent participation in a regional water reuse symposium, underscoring the city's capital commitments. "The City of LA is investing significantly in the groundwater recharge project over at Tillman, and we're also in the planning phases for Pure Water LA," Collins stated. In a separate decision tied to the historical footprint of the city's water network, the board approved the sale of 11.24 acres of LADWP-owned land in the Owens Valley to the Bishop Paiute Tribe for $57,500. The parcel, which will be used to expand a tribal cemetery, was part of the tens of thousands of acres acquired by Los Angeles in the early 20th century for watershed protection to support its expanding water infrastructure. The land sale was unanimously approved as part of the meeting's consent calendar following years of negotiations and environmental review.