News from: Valley Sanitary District

Valley Sanitary District (VSD) welcomed more than 100 community members Saturday, April 5 at its Community Open House, a free, family-friendly event at VSD’s headquarters in Indio. The event marked the start of the District’s year-long celebration commemorating 100 years of service and was a first-of-its-kind event for the agency.

Guests received a behind-the-scenes look at how VSD treats wastewater to protect public health and the environment. The event featured equipment demonstrations, interactive lab activities, face painting, facility tours, a photo booth and booths hosted by local community partners. Many children also participated in a stamp quest to win prizes while learning about VSD’s infrastructure projects and sustainability efforts.

“We are proud to celebrate 100 years of dedicated service with the community we serve,” said Jason Dafforn, VSD General Manager. “Today’s event was a wonderful opportunity to connect with our community and highlight the essential work our team does every day to protect public health and the environment.”

Event Highlights Included:

• Facility tours offering a behind-the-scenes look at wastewater treatment
• Equipment demonstrations featuring a Vactor truck and other machinery
• Hands-on, kid-friendly activities
• Giveaways and prizes, including the popular stamp quest
• Face painting and a photo booth
• Community partner booths featuring the City of Indio, Indio Water Authority, Desert Recreation District, Coachella Valley History Museum, Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District

The Community Open House is the first of several events VSD will host this year as part of its centennial celebration. A formal 100-year anniversary event is planned in Nov. 2025.

Learn more about Valley Sanitary District at http://www.valley-sanitary.org/