Meet

Bill Cooper

Bill Cooper is a long-time water professional having worked for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for 40 years. During that time, he has held various posts including Water Treatment Section Manager, overseeing the operations and maintenance of all five Metropolitan Water Treatments plants that supply half of all water to the 19 million people living in Southern California. 

While continuing to manage some of the largest water treatment plants in the United States, Bill also served as an adjunct professor at the College of the Canyons, teaching an environmental technologies water treatment program for several years while continuing to work full time at Metropolitan Water. 

In 2018, Bill played a key role in bringing together all three of the Santa Clarita Water agencies to form one agency, thereby saving over time, millions of dollars for the residents of Santa Clarita. Bill served as the inaugural President of the newly formed SCV Water Agency for two years. Prior to the formation of the new agency, he served on the previous CLWA Board for several terms and was Board President for five years. 

Bill has served on numerous water committees and boards over the years and continues to chair the Planning and Engineering Committee, providing oversight of the agency’s multimillion Capital Improvement Program. Bill is also a member of the SCV Groundwater Sustainability Agency, which is charted to develop a plan for long-term use of our local groundwater. 

Bill is now currently serving as the Vice-President of the Association of California Water Agencies in the Los Angeles region representing water agencies throughout LA County. He is an active member of the American Water Works Association and the Association of California Water Agencies. 

A veteran of the US Navy, Cooper served 5 years aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bennington CVS-20 with 3 tours of duty to Vietnam between 1965-1969.

In 1972, Bill and his wife moved to Santa Clarita and raised two children who, along with three grandchildren, also reside here. Bill has a long commitment to our community and believes responsible water management is vital to our quality of life. He was instrumental in the formation of a partnership with the city to provide the residents with Central Park. He is currently also a member of the Board of Directors for the SCV Child and Family Center, providing mental health services, and currently serves as the board’s Vice-Chair.