Orange County Water District

  • Rely on us for high-quality groundwater

    OCWD is committed to ensuring a safe and reliable supply of groundwater for today and for future generations.  Learn more about the District.

  • Making the most of what we have

    OCWD takes the limited water supply found in nature and supplements it to provide water for 2.4 million people in Orange County, California. Learn more about What We Do.

  • Protecting the public's interest

    OCWD is committed to Transparency and strives to be clear about its motivations, policy decisions and investments.

OC GROUNDWATER BASIN (through end of May 2017)
OCWD is one of the few groundwater management agencies able to track the groundwater basin’s “water budget” on a monthly basis. This information allows the District to make more informed management decisions about future water supplies and pumping.

Groundwater storage level

37% full 186,532 ac-ft

Compared to same time last year: +51.0%

Illustrion of groundwater storage level

Groundwater recharge

339,631 ac-ft Water year to date

Compared to same time last year: +26.0%

Illustration of groundwater recharge

Groundwater pumping

274,098 ac-ft Water year to date

Compared to same time last year: +9.6%

Illustration of groundwater pumping
Read more
History

Taking Pride in the Past, Preparing for the Future

Since its beginning in 1933, OCWD has grown far more extensively and rapidly than its founders could possibly have anticipated. Throughout the decades, the District has developed and introduced new technologies to manage water supplies, and is now a world leader in groundwater recharge.

See the OCWD History Timeline
Advanced Water Quality Assurance Laboratory

Advanced Water Quality Assurance Laboratory

OCWD’s Advanced Water Quality Assurance Laboratory (Lab) is a world-class lab that performs more than 400,000 analyses of approximately 20,000 water samples each year. 

Advanced Water Quality Assurance Lab
GWRS

Groundwater Replenishment System – new water you can count on

, 223,210,336,000 gallons produced

More about GWRS Book a tour
Ocean desalination

Ocean desalination

As part of OCWD's commitment to providing a reliable and sustainable water supply to Orange County, OCWD is exploring ocean desalination as a way to increase local water supplies.

Ocean desalination

Meeting agendas & minutes

Meeting agendas & minutes

A 10-member Board of Directors governs the District. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in OCWD's boardroom.

Meeting agendas & minutes

Transparency

Transparency & accountability

OCWD is committed to sound financial management. That means keeping costs down and minimizing groundwater rate increases. Transparency and accountability are imperative to achieving these goals.

More on transparency at the OCWD

OC Water Hero

OC Water Hero

Pledge to save water while playing a multi-level game with the OC Water Hero smartphone application

Learn about OC Water Hero and download the game

OCWD provides water to 19 retail agencies in north and central Orange County. For more information about your water service, please contact your local provider.