Scotts Valley Water District (SVWD) today announced it has named David McNair as General Manager, succeeding longtime General Manager Piret Harmon. SVWD also announced Nate Gillespie has been named as Operations Manager, succeeding McNair.

McNair has served as Operations Manager for the District since 2014, leading key projects such as the Orchard Run Water Treatment Plant upgrades, the construction of the new Orchard Run Well and the intertie project that links the Scotts Valley Water District with the San Lorenzo Valley Water District to provide a more resilient water supply during emergencies. McNair previously worked at the Santa Cruz Water Department and got his start in the water industry at the San Lorenzo Valley Water District 40 years ago. 

Gillespie comes to SVWD from the Soquel Creek Water District, where he managed the water system’s day-to-day operations, including water production, treatment, water system maintenance and emergency response. Gillespie has also worked at the Santa Cruz Water Department and the San Lorenzo Valley Water District.

Piret Harmon, who has been the District’s general manager since 2012, will step back to manage special projects. During Harmon’s tenure, the District has become a regional leader in innovation, water efficiency and sustainable planning. Scotts Valley Water District was among the first water agencies in Santa Cruz County to install “intelligent” water meters and implement WaterSmart, an online platform that provides hourly water use updates, high water use alerts and other tools to empower customers to monitor their water use. Water efficiency has greatly improved as the District has educated customers and implemented incentivizing programs, such as the Turf’s Up! lawn replacement rebate. Harmon also played a key role in the establishment of the Santa Margarita Groundwater Water Agency, which oversees groundwater management activities in the Santa Margarita Groundwater Basin.