SoCal water district fires general manager after months-long investigation

CALIFORNIA – The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) board of directors announced, January 29, that they have exercised its contractual right to terminate MWD general manager Adel Hagekhalil’s employment.

MWD provides water for 19 million people in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties.

The termination comes after MWD placed Hagekhalil on paid administrative leave in June to investigate various allegations that included harassment and creating a hostile work environment.

The allegations were made by the MWD’s chief financial officer, Katano Kasaine, who made the complaint confidentially, but was published by Politico.

Kasaine alleged that Hagekhalil had created a “toxic” work environment at MWD. Kasaine said she believes “that I’m being pushed out of my position and possibly out of Metropolitan altogether.”

MWD takes allegations of discrimination seriously

Although no reasons for the dismissal were given, MWD hinted that the decision was related to the allegations.

“Metropolitan takes all allegations of discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment seriously,” said MWD board chair Adán Ortega, Jr.

Ortega said with a more than 80% vote, the board took decisive steps to stabilize the organization and workforce, while doubling down on climate action and long-term water supply sustainability.

The board also voted to appoint Deven Upadhyay as general manager and will consider his employment contract in February.

Is firing connected to Delta Conveyance Project?

Former MWD board member and Los Angeles City councilmember Paul Koretz questioned the timing of Hagekhalil’s placement on administrative leave back in June.

“The most questionable element in this situation is related to the State’s plan to spend (an always-shifting sum) $16-20 billion dollars on more infrastructure to move water from the Bay Area to Southern California,” said Koretz.

The Delta Conveyance Project is an initiative to modernize California’s water infrastructure by building a tunnel system to improve water supply.

The Project has faced significant controversy due to concerns over its environmental impact, particularly the potential harm to the Delta smelt and other native fish species.

In addition, the project has been challenged legally, with a Sacramento County Superior Court halting certain investigative activities, citing non-compliance with legal requirements.

Critics also argue that the project’s $20 billion cost is excessive and that alternative, less disruptive methods could be employed to enhance the state’s water infrastructure.

‘Costly and questionable rabbit hole’

Koretz said Hagekhalil was taking a realistic view of the project and pushing back against jumping down this ‘costly and questionable rabbit hole.’

“It should also be noted that Ms. Kasaine’s accusations come while she is the treasurer of the Delta Conveyance Design & Construction Authority, the organization that would be carving this costly infrastructure project through the Bay Delta” said Koretz.

Koretz said having worked with him for years in LA city government, he found Hagekhalil to be bright, hard-working, ethical, environmentally focused, and incredibly well-respected by those who worked closest with him.