ABOUT THE PROJECT
The Santa Margarita Water District is focused on developing local water supplies and enhancing reliability for the region. Southern California’s dependency on imported water from Northern California and the Colorado River has not changed. Currently, the region depends on these water sources to meet close to 80 percent of its local water demand.
The District continues to evaluate innovative approaches to develop local supplies, like the San Juan Watershed Project. This project includes capturing local stormwater runoff, in addition to directing recycled water into temporary storage and using it to recharge our underground aquifer, which will enhance water reliability.
Continuing to evaluate the San Juan Watershed Project is critical. It is increasingly important to develop local water supplies, which will in turn ensure a reliable and sustainable future for local water users and their quality of life, for public health and safety, for the environment and for the economy.
When completed, the San Juan Watershed Project will be able to provide the region with billions of gallons of additional local, reliable water.
We anticipate breaking ground on this three-phase project soon, but we are eager to hear from our customers and community stakeholders in the coming months, answer questions and address any concerns you may have.
Over 70% of the drinking water in South Orange County is imported from Northern California or the Colorado River.
Benefits
San Juan Watershed Project has the capacity to provide billions of gallons of local, reliable water to South Orange County residents. This is enough water for 50,000 families each year. The project enhances local water supply, water quality, ecological balance, and the regions capacity to store water.