Spotlight: Shawn Syphers' Passion for Water Runs Deep

For Shawn Syphers, an early interest in water conservation sparked a lifelong commitment to protecting our natural resources-and ultimately led him to a career at the Santa Margarita Water District.

His journey began in junior high school, when a school assembly first introduced him to practical water-saving habits: turning off the tap while brushing teeth, sweeping instead of hosing down driveways, air-drying towels, taking shorter showers, and keeping lawns longer to retain moisture. Inspired by what he learned, Shawn and his friends-who were responsible for mowing their lawns-eagerly began putting these new ideas into action.

"I was excited, and my dad was impressed," Shawn recalls. "That conversation at the dinner table was just the beginning."

As he grew older and spent more time outdoors surfing, fishing, and hiking, his concern for water quality deepened. He witnessed firsthand the impacts of pollution and poor water management-beach closures from runoff, broken pipes, and oil spills were all too common. "The constant threat of getting sick after surfing due to runoff was never pleasant," he says.

That early awareness turned into a clear sense of purpose: to make a difference. Today, Shawn does just that as a meter reader at the Santa Margarita Water District. His role not only supports essential water service for the community, but also gives him a front-row seat to the inner workings of the water industry-knowledge he's eager to expand.

In addition to his job, Shawn is actively pursuing his college degree and taking industry-related courses to grow within the field. "Since I was young, I've wanted to find a way to help. Working at the District, I can," he shares.

With a foundation rooted in service, curiosity, and a love for the environment, Shawn is turning his passion into impact-one drop at a time.