The Otay Water District will appoint a new board member following the resignation of Tim Smith.

Board members voted to make an appointment rather than hold a special election at a meeting earlier this month. Officials are accepting applications for the position until Aug. 26.

Smith joined the board in 2014, representing Division 1, which stretches west of Otay Reservoir, and served as its president three times.

“As I reflect on my time in the water industry and my service alongside my colleagues on the Otay Board, I am extremely proud of our accomplishments,” Smith’s resignation letter states. “Together, we have diligently served our ratepayers and fostered greater cooperation among water agencies in the region and the state.”

Prior to joining Otay, Smith worked at the San Diego County Water Authority and the Helix Water District. He also taught at San Diego State University, where he earned a master’s degree in civil engineering.

Future plans developed during Smith’s tenure include the Otay Water District obtaining water from a recycled water plant in Santee, which is scheduled to open in 2026.

The Otay Water District is a public utility that serves communities south and east of San Diego, from Chula Vista to Jamul to border communities along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The agency purchases desalinated water from the county water authority and relies largely on tap water from Northern California and the Colorado River.

This story comes from notes taken by Alex Blood, a San Diego Documenter, at an Otay Water District meeting this month. The Documenters program trains and pays community members to document what happens at public meetings. Read more about the program here.