It’s a pivotal time for water in Southern California — and Shivaji Deshmukh is at the center of it. Deshmukh took over last month as general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, a sprawling, aging system that pipes water hundreds of miles to 19 million people in Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire and San Diego. … Deshmukh must figure out how to keep this delicate water puzzle together, all while dealing with the politics of a 38-member board and regional power struggles both inside and outside of California. He spoke with POLITICO about the balance between affordability and reliability and his early priorities in the wake of leadership tumult at the agency.

Other water management news:

• SJV Water (Bakersfield, Calif.): New Kings County Water District board comes with experience, layered connections
• KOAA/NBC5 (Colorado Springs, Colo.): Super Bowl bets may be funding improvements to waterways like Fountain Creek
• The Sacramento Bee (Calif.): Opinion: Why does water cost more in some parts of California than others?