Richard W. Atwater is executive director of the Southern California Water Committee; previously he was general manager of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency for over a decade. Before participating in a panel on how Angelenos can learn to live with less water, he talked about the body of water he loves, the animal that fills him with terror, and the best place to eat in the Inland Empire in the Zócalo green room.
If you could have a beer with anyone, living or dead, who would you choose?
Abraham Lincoln.
What’s the best present you’ve ever been given?
A tie from Segovia, Spain—because it was a tie of a Roman aqueduct that was built 2,000 years ago, and it still operates.
What was your worst subject in school?
I didn’t like Spanish very much.
Do you have any recurring dreams or nightmares?
That it’s going to rain too much or too little.
What’s your least favorite household chore?
Picking up the dog poop.
What’s the best place to eat in the Inland Empire?
Centro Basco. It’s a historic Basque restaurant in Chino.
What animal fills you with terror?
Grizzly bears. I was in Alaska last year.
What’s your favorite body of water?
The Colorado River.
What TV shows do you watch?
Rick Steves’ travel show on KCET. Huell Howser’s California Gold.
What’s your favorite energy drink?
I don’t usually drink them. Coffee’s what I like to drink. It is an energy drink I guess—it’s got caffeine in it.