Sandy Kerl

Sandra L. Kerl is general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority, which provides wholesale water supplies to serve 24 member agencies, 3.3 million people and a $240 billion regional economy. Kerl joined the Water Authority as deputy general manager in 2009 before being appointed by the Board of Directors to her current post in 2019.

Kerl’s priorities include enhancing relations with the Water Authority’s member agencies, minimizing rate increases, concluding litigation with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and ensuring long-term water supplies for the semi-arid San Diego region.

Kerl’s career highlights in the water industry include leading the effort to secure financing for the nation’s largest seawater desalination plant, a public-private partnership that is protecting the San Diego region from drought.

Kerl currently sits on the board of the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and the California Urban Water Agencies, which represents the water suppliers that serve more than two-thirds of California’s population. Throughout her career, she has been active in the International City Management Association.

Kerl received her Bachelor of Political Science from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo and her Master of Business Administration from the University of Redlands.