Jerry Vilander is the General Manager of the Serrano Water District, a role he was appointed to in September 2013. With over 32 years of comprehensive experience in the water industry, he provides extensive expertise across political, institutional, regulatory, and operational management.

Career Progression and Expertise

Mr. Vilander's career exemplifies dedication to public service, beginning in 1993 as a meter reader for the City of Westminster. He methodically advanced through the ranks, serving as a maintenance worker, then as a lead and supervisor in water conservation and cross-connection control. While managing these responsibilities, he pursued and obtained a Master's Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach through evening courses.

His executive leadership trajectory continued as Water Utilities Manager for the City of La Habra (2006-2008), followed by a five-year tenure as Water Operations Manager at Mesa Water (2008-2013). At Mesa Water, he was key in transitioning the Water Reliability Facility from ozone treatment to nano-filtration.

Current Leadership and Compliance

As General Manager of Serrano Water District, Mr. Vilander has been instrumental in ensuring the District's compliance with Federal and State PFAS/PFOS regulations. Under his leadership, the District partnered with OCWD to launch the second operational PFAS plant in Orange County. He actively contributes to regional water quality excellence by assisting in the leadership of the Orange County PFAS Working Group, a consortium focused on the continual monitoring and performance improvement of PFAS filtration.

He holds extensive industry certifications, including D-5, T-3, Cross Connection Specialist, and Water Conservation Practitioner II.