[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 23, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN HONOR OF KEITH ISRAEL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 23, 2015

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable public 
service career of Keith Israel, who is retiring as the General Manager 
of the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA), after 
27 years. Under Mr. Israel's leadership, the MRWPCA has grown to serve 
250,000 people and treat 18.5 million gallons each day.
   After obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a 
Masters in both Environmental Engineering and Business Administration, 
Mr. Israel worked for five years as General Manager of the Victor 
Valley Wastewater Reclamation District. In 1988, Mr. Israel came to the 
Monterey Peninsula and immediately began to revolutionize the work of 
the MRWPCA. In the 1990's, MRWPCA constructed the Regional Treatment 
Plant (RTP) near Marina under his leadership. The efficiency and new 
treatment plans spearheaded by Mr. Israel and brought about by the 
RTP's development led to increased economic opportunity and business 
and housing development in the Monterey region. Also in the 1990's, Mr. 
Israel began collaborating with the Monterey County Water Resources 
Agency to begin a project to reduce groundwater withdrawal and allow 
for the use of recycled water for 12,000 acres of farmland in the 
Salinas Valley.
   Throughout his tenure at the MRWPCA, Mr. Israel has served as a 
visionary, coordinating the Salinas River Diversion Project and Pure 
Water Monterey Project, all while working tirelessly to facilitate 
collaboration between local leaders to advocate for sustainable water 
resources. Because of Mr. Israel's dedication to reducing the MRWPCA's 
carbon footprint, the agency has made great strides in the 
implementation of environmentally progressive processes, leading to 
recognition such as the Breathe California Central Coast Clean-Air 
Award and a partnership with ENERGY STAR. Mr. Israel has also built a 
personal reputation of excellence in the industry; throughout his 
career, he has served on the Boards of American Water Works Association 
and WateReuse Association and maintained leadership positions in the 
California Association of Sanitation Agencies.
   Mr. Speaker, I know that I speak for the whole House in sharing our 
gratitude to Keith for a job well done and extend our best wishes to 
him and his family this next chapter of life. I know that even in 
retirement, he will still find himself involved in the community and 
continue to better the Monterey Peninsula just as he has done through 
his work at the MRWPCA these last 27 years.

                          ____________________