OCWD’s Important Water Resources
Orange County Water District (OCWD) manages two of Southern California’s most important water resources – the Santa Ana River and a vast groundwater basin that underlies north-central Orange County from Irvine to the Los Angeles border. The basin holds one million acre-feet of water (one acre-foot is 326,000 gallons) that provides most of the water for north-central Orange County. The Santa Ana River flows are essentially free to OCWD, less the expense to capture and percolate the water, resulting in groundwater that costs about half of water imported from Northern California and the Colorado River. Valued at $60 million to $75 million every year, the Santa Ana River flows are percolated into deep aquifers by OCWD. By naturally filtering the water through the ground, OCWD also saves ratepayers millions of dollars each year in water purification costs. Groundwater, which is unseen until pumped out, is the most difficult water resource to manage, but the engineers, geologists, chemists, scientists, and water quality and health specialists at OCWD take this responsibility very seriously and are proficient in meeting the challenge.
One County - Two Water Sources
Orange County is two counties when it comes to water. From Irvine north to the Los Angeles County border, most of the water used by the county comes from OCWD’s reliable groundwater basin. However, the cities south of Irvine are almost entirely dependent on water imported from Northern California and the Colorado River. One water purification plant and two major pipelines feed south Orange County with imported water. Occasionally, south Orange County must conserve its water due to maintenance or improvements to its water purification or delivery systems. In the past, OCWD has drawn down the basin to free up imported water for south Orange County.
OCWD’s Value to the Community
OCWD is committed to appropriate investment in water reliability, water quality and environmental enhancements that provide additional water. In addition, OCWD is committed to sound financial management, innovation with local benefits, and proactive public outreach.
Benefits to Orange County
Thanks to OCWD’s focus on water quality and reliability, the environment, sound financial management and innovation, Orange County enjoys a sustainable, reliable water supply in an arid and expanding region. For the District’s 2.3 million groundwater users this translates into a low-cost, high quality water supply that supports a healthy economy and our very enviable Orange County lifestyle. |