💧 H2O INTRO 👤 Meet Lily Lopez, External Affairs & Sustainability Director at Walnut Valley Water District

When devastating wildfires swept through Southern California, Lily Lopez saw more than a disaster response. She saw a communications challenge that every water utility should be preparing for.

As a regional network of 21 Southern California water agencies mobilized to support a utility affected by the Eaton Fire, Lopez watched mutual aid work exactly as planned. But she also watched misinformation spread faster than many utilities could respond.

For Lopez, the experience reinforced that emergency preparedness isn't only about crews, equipment, and water systems. It's also about having trusted communicators ready to provide timely, accurate information before confusion and misinformation fill the gap.

That's why she believes utilities should invest in storytellers, designers, and communications professionals alongside engineers and operators. Building public trust starts long before a crisis—and it can make all the difference when one arrives.

Her message is clear: if water utilities don't tell their own story, someone else will.

H2O INTRO is sponsored by Human Capital Solutions, Inc., an executive search, recruiting, and leadership advisory firm. Visit https://humancs.com/

Chapters

00:00 – Wildfires and Water Utilities
00:32 – Mutual Aid in Action
01:05 – The Misinformation Challenge
01:42 – Why Utilities Need Storytellers

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability. Visit https://www.waterloop.org/

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