Kavounas Joins Southern California Water Board

Glendale water official Peter Kavounas was seated trecently as the city's representative on the board of directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, officials announced on March 10.

Kavounas, assistant general manager of Glendale Water & Power, replaces James M. Rez, who had served as the city's representative on Metropolitan's board since August 1988.

In his Glendale position, Kavounas manages the planning, engineering, construction, maintenance, and operation of the city's water production, transmission, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities. Prior to joining Glendale as water services administrator in April 2004, he worked for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for 17 years, where he managed the department's Eastern Sierra environmental group.

Born in Minneapolis, Minn., Kavounas serves on the board of directors of the Castaic Lake Water Agency. He also is a member of the Association of California Water Agencies, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, and the American Water Works Association.

A registered civil engineer in California, he holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota and master's degrees in civil engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and water resources from the University of Southern California.