California’s largest drinking water supplier named Shivaji Deshmukh as its new general manager Tuesday, seeking to move past turmoil at the top in time for major decisions on water supply and costs. … The 38-member board had preliminarily selected Deshmukh last month, as POLITICO reported, but only formally appointed him Tuesday after negotiating his contract. … The move comes after years of instability at the top of the state’s — and the country’s — largest supplier of drinking water. In January, the board voted to fire General Manager Adel Hagekhalil, following an investigation into claims of harassment. Hagekhalil was only narrowly voted in by the board in 2021.

Other water agency leadership news:

• New Times (San Luis Obispo, Calif.): SLO County takes over San Simeon CSD amid leadership shortage​