Episode 68: Engineering Safer and Cleaner Water
“Operators are key to making sure that our systems work correctly and delivering safe and affordable drinking water to residents. On the wastewater side, operators are key to ensure that the water when it is goes back out into the environment is safe.”
A conversation with Nichole Morgan (civil engineer, California State Water Resources Control Board) about implementing programs and policies to steward water resources and infrastructure. Released January 31, 2025.
guests on the show
Nichole Morgan
Nichole Morgan was appointed as the civil engineer to the State Water Resources Control Board by Governor Gavin Newsom in June 2021. Ms. Morgan most recently served as an Assistant Deputy Director in the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Financial Assistance, where she worked on projects providing funding for drinking water, wastewater, storm water and groundwater infrastructure improvements. During this time Ms. Morgan also managed a variety of additional programs including the Lead in Child Care Centers, Fish Advisories, and Drinking Water and Wastewater Operator Certification programs.
From 1999 to 2009 Ms. Morgan worked for public agencies and engineering consulting firms. Her responsibilities included planning, designing, and overseeing the construction of drinking water, wastewater and recycled water treatment and conveyance facilities throughout California. Ms. Morgan joined the State Water Resources Control Board in 2009 where she worked as staff in the Division of Financial Assistance, Delta Water Master’s Office, and the Division of Water Rights. Ms. Morgan worked as a manager at the Central Valley Regional Water Board from 2012 to 2018, where she managed the region’s NPDES program. She returned to the State Water Board in 2018 as the head of the Office of Sustainable Water Solutions and was promoted in 2019 to an Assistant Deputy Director with the Division of Financial Assistance. Ms. Morgan has a Bachelor in Science in Civil Engineering from California State University, Sacramento.
TRANSCRIPT
Sam Sandoval
Bienvenidos! Today, we’ll be talking with Nichole Morgan, a board member of the California State Water Resources Control Board. I'm really excited to have this conversation with her, as this is part of a series where we’ve spoken to water board members and decision-makers who shape water policies in California.
The Water Board consists of five members who make decisions on water rights, quality, and related regulations in California. While preparing for this episode, I listened to previous interviews we did with Felicia Marcus, Joaquin Esquivel, and Laurel Firestone. These discussions provided great insights, like Joaquin's focus on the Division of Financial Assistance, which emphasizes funding for water-related projects. Laurel discussed the SAFER program, which is used to address the human right to water in California. We’ll also explore that with Nichole today.
For our national audience, the California State Water Resources Control Board oversees surface water rights and water quality. The five board members meet publicly to discuss these issues and occasionally even fund water projects. Nichole Morgan has been at the helm of the financial assistance department and now serves as a board member, making decisions across the board. I’m excited to dive into her career, learn about her experience as an engineer on the board, and hear her insights on water policy.
Mallika Nocco
Yes, Sam! I always find it fascinating to talk with members of the State Water Resources Control Board. I think people may refer to it as the State Water Board or the California State Water Resources Control Board, but it's essentially the agency responsible for managing water policy in the state. Today, I’m especially interested in Nichole's role as the engineer member of the board. We’ve touched on the SAFER program before, and I’m eager to hear more about it from her.
SAFER is a drinking water program that addresses California’s 2012 Human Right to Water law, the first of its kind in the U.S. The law declares that all Californians have the right to safe, clean, and affordable water. I’m interested in hearing about the challenges of this program and the overall state of water quality in California. It’ll be exciting to hear about Nichole’s experience with these issues!
Sam Sandoval
Exactly! Let’s get started and talk to Nichole. Bienvenidos to Water Talk! We’re thrilled to have Nichole Morgan, civil engineer and board member of the California State Water Resources Control Board. Nichole was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021, after serving as Assistant Deputy Director in the Division of Financial Assistance at the Water Board. She has a wealth of experience in public service, having worked in both public agencies and private engineering consulting firms. We can’t wait to dive into her career and the important work she’s doing at the Water Board.
Nichole Morgan
Thank you for having me! I'm excited to be here today.
Sam Sandoval
I gave a brief overview of your impressive career, which spans engineering, consulting, public service, and now as a board member. Can you walk us through your journey to becoming a Water Board member?
Nichole Morgan
Thank you for the warm welcome, Sam. My journey began in elementary school when my mom would buy me workbooks to keep me busy during the summer. Many of them were math books, so by the time I reached junior high and high school, I was already in advanced classes. In high school, my math and science teachers both approached me and told me about a special after-school program called MESA, which stands for Mathematics, Engineering, Science, and Achievement. That was my first exposure to engineering. I like to say that my mother, who is very artistic, is to blame for me becoming an engineer! It’s a good reminder of how important it is to expose young people to careers they may never have considered. That early exposure sparked my interest in engineering.
I eventually earned a degree in civil engineering and began my career at the largest inland surface water discharge wastewater facility west of the Mississippi River. I thought it would be exciting to work at such a large facility with such a significant impact on the Bay Delta. However, I was assigned to smaller, outlying facilities. One of the projects that stood out to me was a small facility in the Delta that discharged to land. It had a lot of challenges due to high groundwater levels, and I got to work on finding design solutions for those problems. It was fascinating to see how engineering decisions could have such a profound effect on the environment and communities.
After that, I decided to work in the private sector for a while, wanting to see both the public and private sides and determine where I could have the most impact. Over the next decade, I worked in both sectors, moving into leadership roles and managing offices and projects in several states. I had the opportunity to work on a drinking water project in Saipan and learn about the interrelationship between wastewater treatment and drinking water systems. The regulatory side of engineering also piqued my interest, and I eventually became the expert in my company on navigating the regulatory permitting process.
My involvement with the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) started during this time as well. I ended up volunteering for them for over 12 years and even became the government affairs chair. I was asked to sit on a panel at the 35th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, which was a huge honor. Fast forward to the 50th anniversary of the Act, and CWEA asked me to be the guest editor for their magazine. Over time, the Clean Water Act became something I deeply cared about and worked hard to understand.
In 2009, I returned to California to join the State Water Resources Control Board. I had worked with the state before, and I felt it was time to focus on water policy and work with the agency that implements the Clean Water Act. I was fortunate to work in various roles, including as the NPDES compliance enforcement supervisor and program manager for the Central Valley Water Board, which was one of my favorite jobs.
Mallika Nocco
Can you tell us about the difference between the State Water Resources Control Board and the regional boards like the Central Valley Regional Water Board?
Nichole Morgan
Certainly! The State Water Board oversees the entire state and sets most of the policies. The nine regional boards are semi-autonomous and are based on major watersheds in California. They implement the policies set by the state board, though some exceptions apply. For example, the Division of Drinking Water, Water Rights, and the Division of Financial Assistance all fall under the State Water Board.
Mallika Nocco
That helps a lot, thank you! And for our national audience, you mentioned NPDES, which stands for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Could you explain how this connects to the work you did on a regional board?
Nichole Morgan
Of course! The NPDES program, established by the Clean Water Act, requires discharges into federal waters to be permitted and to meet specific standards to prevent water quality degradation. The goal is to ensure that our waters are swimmable, fishable, and drinkable. It also protects sources of drinking water and water for agricultural irrigation.
Mallika Nocco
Right, keeping that fresh water clean is so critical!
Sam Sandoval
Nichole, as we follow your career path, you’ve mentioned your work at the State Water Resources Control Board and your role in the Division of Financial Assistance. In 2019, you led initiatives like the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) program. Can you tell us more about the role of the Division of Financial Assistance and share some examples of your work there?
Nichole Morgan
As you mentioned, Sam, this division is different. Its primary goal is not regulatory, but to administer funds. Some of these funds are tied to the Clean Water Act and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which provides loans or principal forgiveness for loans. There's also a similar program for drinking water. Additionally, there are programs that administer grants, like the SAFER Program. The SAFER Program was developed following a drinking water needs assessment, where it was identified that there was a gap in funding. Our general fund and state bonds approved by voters did not cover needs like operation and maintenance, and only covered limited technical assistance. We found that there was a greater need in those areas, so the SAFER funds helped address that gap. This allowed us to move projects through design and construction more quickly, as it was taking too long to complete them.
When SAFER was passed, approximately 1.6 million people didn’t have access to safe drinking water. Today, over 900,000 people have received safe drinking water through the SAFER Program. Collectively, about 12 million Californians will benefit from the Board's funding of 395 projects that will improve water, increase water supplies, and protect the environment. This really shows how a program like SAFER can advance projects and make a difference for many Californians, especially in areas like the Central Valley, the desert, and parts of Southern California.
I recall when I first started with the program, there was a project in the LA area, in the community of Sativa. They didn’t have safe drinking water, and it shows how programs like SAFER can address such issues. We identified reasons why some communities don’t have safe water, like nitrate and arsenic contamination, or failing systems due to lack of maintenance. The SAFER Program helped bridge this gap by focusing on areas like operation and maintenance.
One example was the Sativa system, which had failed and was producing brown water, considered a secondary contaminant. Through various funding sources, including SAFER funds, we were able to bring in an administrator to help manage the system. This led to the creation of the administrator program under SAFER. Now, this system is undergoing consolidation, improving billing, and bringing in technical assistance to ensure the system is properly managed.
Sam Sandoval
Nichole, one thing to highlight is that we've made progress in reducing the number of people without access to drinking water. We went from 1.6 million to around 600,000-700,000 people without access. While it’s progress, we need to get it to zero because it’s unacceptable for people to lack safe drinking water. It’s been five years, and we still have work to do. You’ve also led other important programs, including the lead sampling program in childcare centers. Can you tell us more about the goals and impact of this program?
Nichole Morgan
Yes, the Child Care Center Lead Sampling Program is critical. As we've discussed, providing clean drinking water is essential, especially for the next generation, who are the most vulnerable. In 2018, all licensed child care centers in buildings constructed before January 1, 2010 were required to test for lead in their drinking water by January 1, 2023, and every five years after. The State Water Board administered a funding program so that centers could have the testing done for free and be reimbursed for replacing fixtures with elevated lead levels. This reassured parents, like myself, that our children weren’t drinking contaminated water while at daycare. Children spend about 80% of their day in child care centers, so this is a vital program.
The Water Board also provides a website where parents can check the status of a center before enrolling their child. Centers are required to provide this information as well. For me, ensuring that children have access to safe drinking water is one of my most important roles. When this program came to the State Board, I was still an Assistant Deputy Director, and it was very important for me to work with the Department of Social Services to establish this program, ensure funding, and provide the necessary technical support to childcare centers.
Sam Sandoval
Thank you. Another program you worked on was introduced during the COVID pandemic. It involved computer-based testing for drinking water and wastewater operator certification programs. This goes back to some of your earlier work, right? Can you talk about the importance of innovations like this in the water sector?
Nichole Morgan
Yes, this definitely ties back to my earlier career working with operators. I've been working with operators for over 25 years and understand how critical they are to our systems. Operators ensure safe drinking water, and they also make sure wastewater is treated properly before being released into the environment. The importance of operators cannot be overstated.
Before COVID, we offered exams twice a year in person. Operators had to travel to Northern or Southern California, sit in large banquet rooms, take a paper test, and then wait months for their results. If they didn’t pass, they had to repeat the whole process. This led me to ask, why aren't we doing this better? How can we offer more opportunities for operators to become certified?
So, we took on the challenge of transitioning to computer-based testing within a year, even though we were told it couldn’t be done. But we made it happen. We worked with partners, testing centers, and operators to figure out how to convert our paper tests into a computerized format. Testing centers are now available statewide, and even during COVID, operators could safely go to a location nearby, take the test, and get their results quickly. This system has greatly improved efficiency, reduced barriers for operators, and accelerated the certification process.
Mallika Nocco
It's clear from our conversation today that California faces many water challenges—droughts, groundwater management, climate change, and the human right to water. Where do you see the greatest potential to make a positive difference in California's water future?
Nichole Morgan
This is always an interesting question. We've come a long way over the last 50 years, especially with the Safe Drinking Water Act celebrating its 50th anniversary. Fifty years ago, there wasn’t a federal law defining what was safe for drinking water. Now we have that law, but we still have much further to go. Not everyone can turn on their faucet and trust that the water is safe, even though in many areas it is.
Mallika Nocco
Can you elaborate on why some people don’t trust their water? Is it because it doesn’t look safe, or is it due to a longer history of mistrust?
Nichole Morgan
There is some mistrust, unfortunately. In some areas, the water may be safe, but misinformation spreads, leading people to question whether their water is truly safe. Misinformation can be damaging and perpetuate doubt. However, all water agencies are required to send out consumer reports to show that the water is safe.
Mallika Nocco
So, this misinformation can create long-lasting doubt in communities, even where the water is safe?
Nichole Morgan
Yes, exactly. One of the greatest challenges in our industry is rebuilding trust. We must continue educating the public and providing clear outreach. It’s key to ensure that people know when and where their water is safe and know who to ask if they have concerns.
Sam Sandoval
For our audience, it’s important to recognize that public agencies should submit their water quality test results for review. I live in Davis, and I receive a water quality report at least once a year. I read through it to check for parameters and water quality. It’s a good practice for everyone to take a look at these reports.
Nichole Morgan
Yes, educating the public and keeping open lines of communication are vital to reducing mistrust. Water agencies should make these reports easily accessible, and the public should actively engage with them to stay informed.
Mallika Nocco
As we wrap up, are there any final thoughts you’d like to share about your work, or how people can support your efforts?
Nichole Morgan
As I mentioned earlier, education and outreach are crucial. We must continue to provide opportunities for people to learn about water issues and to engage with their local water agencies. Everyone can contribute to making a positive impact by staying informed and involved in water-related issues in their communities.
Nichole Morgan
Thank you so much for the opportunity today to come talk to you and spread the word about what I believe is a great industry. So the other thing is, I, myself love to get out and talk about water. So I ask others, please, if you are a water geek or you're just emerging, please get out talk about water. Spread the word. Ask questions, because the more that we do, the more learn about water, the more we share our experiences, the more we all can grow, the more knowledge that each of us have, the closer we will get to achieving the human right to water and the human right to sanitation for all. So I thank you.