Coachella City Council
June 10, 2026

Item 19.
2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 5-24
Table 5-22. DWR 7-2R Normal Year Supply and Demand Comparison - 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Supply Totals (AFY)
From DWR Table 6-9R 7,382 7,941 8,610 9,329 10,385
Demand Totals (AFY)
From DWR Table 4-3R 7,382 7,941 8,610 9,329 10,048
Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 0 0 0 0 0
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
Note: The RUWMP participating agencies collaborate on groundwater management plans for long-term sustainability. During a normal year, single-dry year, or five-dry year period, the agencies could produce additional groundwater if demands exceeded the estimates shown here.

5.7.2.2 Single Dry Year
The single dry year represents a “worst-case” scenario for demand response, jumping to 110 percent of normal conditions in a single year. Due to the reliability of the region’s groundwater basin, water supply availability during a single-dry year scenario was assumed to be similar to the average year scenario.

Supplies and demands for the single dry year conditions for each five-year increment are summarized in Table 5-23. Demand is assumed to increase during a single-dry year due to increased irrigation needs.

This analysis does not include WSCP use reduction in a single dry year. Urban water supplies during the single dry year are fully reliable as groundwater in storage in the Indio Subbasin is available to serve increased demand. Thus, the supply and demand comparison for the single dry year results in no shortages.

Table 5-23. DWR 7-3R Single Dry Year Supply and Demand Comparison - 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Supply Totals (AFY) 8,155 8,772 9,512 10,305 11,472
Use Totals (AFY) 8,155 8,772 9,512 10,305 11,099
Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 0 0 0 0 0
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
Note: The RUWMP participating agencies collaborate on groundwater management plans for long-term sustainability. During a normal year, single-dry year, or five-dry year period, the agencies could produce additional groundwater if demands exceeded the estimates shown here.

5.7.2.3 Multiple Dry Years
Reliability during a multiple-dry year scenario was assumed to be similar to the average year scenario for reasons discussed previously. Supplies and demands for the multiple dry year conditions for each five-year increment are summarized in Table 5-24. The multiple dry year urban water supply reliability is 100 percent, as groundwater in storage in Indio Basin will be used to supplement increased demand. In five consecutive dry year conditions, there are no shortages. Demand is expected to increase during multiple dry year periods due to increased irrigation needs. Demand is expected to be offset, however, in the second through fifth years of a consecutive dry year period due to efficiencies realized from the implementation of CWA’s WSCP. This reliability forecast conservatively assumes that the WSCP will reduce water use by two percent in the second through fifth years of a multiple year drought.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 5-25
Table 5-24. DWR 7-4R Multiple Dry Years Supply and Demand Comparison 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
First Year
Supply Totals (AFY) 7,603 8,179 8,869 9,609 10,349
Use Totals (AFY) 7,603 8,179 8,869 9,609 10,349
Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 0 0 0 0 0
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
Second Year
Supply Totals (AFY) 7,751 8,338 9,041 9,795 10,550
Use Totals (AFY) 7,751 8,338 9,041 9,795 10,550
Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 146 157 171 185 199
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0 0 0 0 0
Third Year
Supply Totals (AFY) 7,899 8,497 9,213 9,982 10,751
Use Totals (AFY) 7,899 8,497 9,213 9,982 10,751
Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 149 160 174 188 203
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0 0 0 0 0
Fourth Year
Supply Totals (AFY) 8,046 8,655 9,385 10,169 10,952
Use Totals (AFY) 8,046 8,655 9,385 10,169 10,952
Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 152 163 177 192 207
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0 0 0 0 0
Fifth Year
Supply Totals (AFY) 8,194 8,814 9,558 10,355 11,153
Use Totals (AFY) 8,194 8,814 9,558 10,355 11,153
Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 155 166 180 195 210
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0 0 0 0 0
1The RUWMP participating agencies collaborate on groundwater management plans for long-term sustainability.

During a normal year, single-dry year, or five-dry year period, the agencies could produce additional groundwater if demands exceeded the estimates shown here. Conversely, any water use reduction as a result of WSCP implementation will result in reduced groundwater production and groundwater will remain in storage for future use.

The region’s water suppliers have many programs to maximize the water resources available to CWA, including but not limited to groundwater replenishment with imported water, direct use and recharge of recycled water, conversion of groundwater uses to Canal water, and comprehensive water conservation practices such as tiered water rates, landscaping ordinances, outreach and education. The groundwater replenishment programs establish a comprehensive and managed effort to reduce and eliminate overdraft of local groundwater resources. These programs allow the agencies to maintain the groundwater basin as the primary water supply and to recharge the groundwater basin as other supplies are available and needed

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 5-26
to meet existing and projected demands within its overall service area, including CWA and the City’s sphere of influence.

5.7.3 Drought Risk Assessment
The Drought Risk Assessment (DRA) is intended to evaluate current water supply availability by simulating demand and supply for the next five years under multiple dry year conditions.

Demands are expected to increase from current 2025 demands based on the assumptions during multi-dry year periods. For CWA, the multiple dry year demand increases by two percent year-over-year from 103 to 111 percent of normal conditions. It is expected that conservation messaging and programs will prevent any significant increase in demands from existing customers due to dry conditions. The groundwater supply is reliable for a five-year dry period as the volume in storage can be drawn down during a dry period.

The data and methodologies used to identify a potential shortage are described in CWA’s WSCP (see Appendix C). The DRA assumes the WSCP would be implemented in the second year of a five-year drought. Based on the reliability analysis presented above, the supply of groundwater is fully reliable in a five-year drought scenario, including consideration of historic droughts in the Coachella Valley and potential impacts of climate change.

The results of the DRA, including estimated savings from the implementation of the WSCP, are summarized in Table 5-25. Any water shortage can be mitigated through use of groundwater in storage and demand reduction via WSCP implementation.

Table 5-25. DWR 7-5 Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment
2026 Gross Water Use (AFY) 8,015
Total Supplies (AFY) 8,015
Surplus/(Shortfall) without WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (Use Reduction and Supply Augmentation) WSCP (Supply Augmentation Benefit)
WSCP (Use Reduction Savings Benefit)
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall) 0
Resulting Percent Use Reduction from WSCP Action 0%
2027 Gross Water Use (AFY) 8,171
Total Supplies (AFY) 8,171
Surplus/(Shortfall) without WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (Use Reduction and Supply Augmentation) WSCP (Supply Augmentation Benefit)
WSCP (Use Reduction Savings Benefit) 151
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0
Resulting Percent Use Reduction from WSCP Action 2%
2028 Gross Water Use (AFY) 8,327
Total Supplies (AFY) 8,327
Surplus/(Shortfall) without WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (Use Reduction and Supply Augmentation) WSCP (Supply Augmentation Benefit)
WSCP (Use Reduction Savings Benefit) 154
Revised (Surplus/Shortfall)
1 0
Resulting Percent Use Reduction from WSCP Action 2%

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 5-27
2029 Gross Water Use (AFY) 8,482
Total Supplies (AFY) 8,482
Surplus/(Shortfall) without WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (Use Reduction and Supply Augmentation) WSCP (Supply Augmentation Benefit)
WSCP (Use Reduction Savings Benefit) 157
Revised (Surplus/Shortfall)
1 0
Resulting Percent Use Reduction from WSCP Action 2%
2030 Gross Water Use (AFY) 8,638
Total Supplies (AFY) 8,638
Surplus/(Shortfall) without WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (Use Reduction and Supply Augmentation) WSCP (Supply Augmentation Benefit)
WSCP (Use Reduction Savings Benefit) 160
Revised (Surplus/Shortfall)
1 0
Resulting Percent Use Reduction from WSCP Action 2%
1The RUWMP participating agencies collaborate on groundwater management plans for long-term sustainability.

During a normal year, single-dry year, or five-dry year period, the agencies could produce additional groundwater if demands exceeded the estimates shown here. Conversely, any water use reduction as a result of WSCP implementation will result in reduced groundwater production and groundwater will remain in storage for future use.

5.8 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
CWA has developed a WSCP that outlines it’s strategy for assessing and responding to potential water shortages. Building on the region’s overall high water supply reliability, the WSCP prepares for risks such as prolonged drought, infrastructure failure, regulatory restrictions, contamination, and other emergencies.

It establishes procedures for annual water supply and demand assessments, coordination among regional water agencies, and use of six standardized shortage levels that range from minimal conservation requirements to severe, mandatory restrictions when more than 50% supply reduction occurs.

To manage shortages, the WSCP details a suite of supply augmentation methods, demand-reduction actions, operational adjustments, communication protocols, and enforcement mechanisms. Actions escalate by shortage level and may include outdoor irrigation limits, reduced water budgets, expanded public outreach, drought surcharges, mandatory rationing, and prohibitions on potable outdoor use. The WSCP also describes financial implications, monitoring and reporting requirements, seismic risk considerations, and emergency response coordination with regional partners. It sets forth legal authorities supporting plan implementation and provides the procedures for adoption, future amendments, and public engagement.

The CWA WSCP is included in Appendix C of this RUWMP.

5.9 Demand Management Measures
The goal of the Demand Management Measures (DMM) section is to provide a comprehensive description of the existing and planned water conservation programs that CWA implements to increase water use efficiency. CWA is committed to conservation as a means to provide a sustainable supply of water to its service area, and plans to continue its conservation program during the next five years. CWA’s DMM implementation efforts are described in the following sections.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 5-28

5.9.1 Existing Demand Management Measures
CWA recognizes water use efficiency as an integral component of its current and future water strategy for the service area. DMMs refer to policies, programs, rules, regulation and ordinances, and the use of devices, equipment, and facilities that, over the long term, have been generally justified and accepted by the industry as providing a reliable reduction in water demand. CWA has aggressively pursued conservation in an effort to reduce demand. The following DMMs include technologies and methodologies that have been sufficiently documented in multiple demonstration projects that result in more efficient water use and conservation.

5.9.1.1 Water Waste Prevention Ordinances
CWA has a prohibition for wasting water in Municipal Code Section 13.03.044 which states it is unlawful for any person to willfully or neglectfully water waste in any manner whatsoever. In addition, CWA has adopted Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG’s) Landscape Ordinance which has specific penalties for water waste.

The measurement of success for this program is a reduction in water waste violations in the future.

Additionally, CWA has mandatory prohibitions on water wasting that they enforce during a water shortage.

These prohibitions include voluntary and mandatory provisions, audits, and fines than can be imposed.

5.9.1.2 Metering
One hundred percent of CWA’s urban water customers are metered. CWA bills its customers according to meter consumption. In addition, CWA encourages the installation of dedicated landscape meters, which allows CWA to recommend the appropriate irrigation schedules through future landscape programs.

Meter calibration and periodic replacement help verify that customers are paying for all of the water they consume, and therefore encourages conservation. Also, meter inaccuracies may help identify and quantify where water loss occurs. CWA replaced all existing meters prior to 2000 to upgrade the older meters to obtain an accurate measure of water usage. In 2015, the City completed the process of metering its past unmetered accounts including parks and other accounts, which has further enhanced the effectiveness of measuring consumption.

5.9.1.3 Conservation Pricing
CWA has a tiered rate structure for water service within its service area. CWA’s water rates include a variable commodity charge (monthly charge based on the amount of water used or consumed by the customer in hundreds of cubic feet) and a fixed metered account charge (basic monthly rate by meter size).

The rates have been designed to recover the full cost of water service in the commodity charge, while discouraging wasteful water use, and will continue to be implemented into the future. Tiered rates are designed to incentivize customers to be proactive in reducing water use.

5.9.1.4 Public Education and Outreach
CWA recognizes the continued need for a public information program to maintain and increase the public’s awareness of water and the need to use it wisely. The City promotes water conservation and other resources through its website as a primary communication tool.

CWA has a portion of its website (https://www.conservecoachella.com/conserve-coachella/) devoted to water conservation and education. The website provides information on CWA’s turf removal, smart irrigation controller, and toilet rebate programs.

The City distributes public information through bill inserts, brochures, and community events. The City also has the opportunity to provide public information on conservation measures through television advertising on public access channel in conjunction with the City Council meeting broadcasts. The City will continue to work on providing public information and materials to remind the public about water and other resource issues and will track commentary regarding the information provided. There is no reliable method to quantify the savings of this management measure; however, the City will monitor the number of public announcements, television advertisements, brochures and bill inserts distributed throughout the service

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 5-29
area. An increase in distribution of materials will indicate heightened public water conservation awareness and may correlate with decrease water demand.

The City supports school education programs provided to the schools within the City. The education programs include water conservation, water quality and pollution prevention. The program has provided educational programs predominately for elementary age children throughout the service area. School education helps future water users realize that water in the State is a precious commodity that cannot be taken for granted. The program educates school children about where water comes from, how it is used, that it is a precious resource, and ways to conserve water. The children are also taught about the importance of recycled water, where it comes from, and how it is used. This includes field trips to the Coachella Canal and the Coachella WRF.

CV Water Counts
CV Water Counts was formed by the six water suppliers to provide education and awareness of water conversation to Valley residents and businesses. The group was formed in 2008 to reduce water demand, increase water supply, and improve water quality. The CV Water Counts website (https://cvwatercounts.com/) has informative links with educational resources, information on rebates for water saving devices, and upcoming water related events in the area. The CV Water Counts program uses surveyed data from Coachella Valley residents to guide its water conservation messaging to achieve maximum local impact. Part of the regional program also includes a “Water Counts Academy,” which affords local residents an opportunity to learn more about water in our community.

5.9.1.5 Programs to Assess and Manage Distribution System Real Losses CWA generally performs system water audits on an as‐needed basis. Although leak and/or line break repairs are performed expediently (within 24 hours) by the City, no records of these activities, including system audits or leak detection program data are available.

CWA does monitor the difference between the water pumped into the distribution system compared to the amount billed annually, which is considered “non‐revenue” water. Non‐revenue water may be attributed to “apparent losses” or “real losses.” Apparent losses are paper losses that occur in utility operations due to customer meter inaccuracies, billing system data errors and unauthorized consumption. In other words, this is water that is consumed but is not properly measured, accounted or paid for. Real losses are the physical losses of water from the distribution system, including leakage. These losses inflate production costs and stress water resources since they represent water that is extracted and treated, yet never reaches beneficial use. Real losses also include other events causing water to be withdrawn from the system and not measured, such as hydrant testing and flushing, street cleaning, new construction line draining and/or filling and draining and flushing, and firefighting.

5.9.1.6 Water Conservation Program Coordination and Staffing Support The City’s Utilities Director serves as its water conservation coordinator along with the staff Environmental Special Program Manager. They work closely with agencies in the region, particularly through the CVRWMG and CV Water Counts, to implement and provide successful execution of water conservation programs in the City. The City continues to investigate Federal, State, and local funding to develop new programs throughout its service area.

5.9.1.7 Other Demand Management Measures
The City has developed several other demand management measures to support consumption reduction and promote efficient water use. They are described in the following subsections.

Water Survey Programs for Single-Family Residential and Multi-Family Residential Customers The City conducts water audits at the request of water customers. The City has identified its largest water users and work with these users in hopes of developing a site-specific water conservation program. The

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 5-30
City believes that identifying and reducing water uses of their largest water consumers provides the largest benefit to the City.

Residential Plumbing Retrofit
The City has adopted the latest version of the Uniform Building Code (UBC), which requires the installation of water efficient fixtures. The City, through the Redevelopment Agency, provides assistance for low‐income families to retrofit older houses with newer water efficient fixtures. Measuring reductions in water usage from implementation of the UBC is not achievable.

Large Landscape Conservation Programs and Incentives
Typically, the large landscape areas such as golf courses and large common areas are required to provide landscape irrigation with non‐potable water such as Canal water, non‐potable groundwater, or recycled water and will not be allowed to connect to the City’s domestic water system, unless no other water source is available. In addition to negotiating agreements for additional Canal water to serve large landscapes, the City negotiated additional rights to Canal water supplies that may be treated to drinking water standards with the implementation of a new treatment facility. The City does not currently operate a tertiary‐treatment plant and does not have infrastructure in place to deliver recycled water.

In 2000, the City adopted a landscape ordinance for single family and multi‐family residences and large landscape areas. The new ordinance encourages limited use of turf areas and reduces landscape irrigation consumption by mandating high efficiency irrigation systems and low water use landscaping. The City conducts plan checking for compliance with the landscape ordinance prior to the construction of new and/or rehabilitated landscape sites.

Additionally, in response to the Water Conservation in Landscaping Act of 2006 (Assembly Bill 1881, Laird), which required cities and counties to adopt water conservation ordinances by January 1, 2010, CWA worked with CVAG, Coachella Valley cities, Riverside County, other water agencies, and the Building Industry Association to develop a Regional Landscape Water Conservation Ordinance. The Regional Landscape Ordinance not only meets State requirements, but also is tailored specifically to the unique climate and water conservation needs of the Coachella Valley, including the City. The City has adopted the model landscape ordinance by CVAG.

In addition, the City Utilities Department offers a turf removal rebate program for residents who want to reduce outdoor water use by converting their front lawn to desert‐friendly landscaping. The program aims to provide examples of water wise planting alternatives to turf in parkways and front yards. Residents who chose to replace their grass with beautiful, desert‐friendly landscaping can get a rebate of $3 per square foot up to $3,000 rebate.

Furthermore, the City instituted a Smart Controller Rebate Program. The program is designed to financially assist water users in reducing landscape irrigation water consumption by purchasing an advanced irrigation controller capable of synchronizing their landscape irrigation schedules with seasonal variations in local reference evapotranspiration (ETo) rates. These “smart” irrigation clocks reprogram themselves according to periodic variations in ETo after the initial calibrating program has been professionally installed. The City will cover the entire cost and installation of one controller per customer.

Conservation Programs for Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Accounts The amount of water used in commercial, industrial and institutional (CII) within the City is a small percentage of the overall water usage. CII user demand makes up approximately 13 percent of the City’s total water deliveries. The City does, however, incorporate into its planning review process, a review of water uses for a specific development and how it has incorporated water conservation measures. This is an ongoing procedure as part of the development approval process. A majority of existing passive conservation by CII customers is due to current plumbing codes.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 5-31
Residential ULFT Replacement Programs
The City has adopted the Uniform Building Code that requires ultra‐low flush toilets (ULFT) (1.2 gallons per flush) be used in all new construction. Most of the population is projected into the future with new developments. These developments will be required to install ULFT toilets under current Building Code provisions. For existing houses, the City is offering its single‐family residence and multi‐ family residence the opportunity to receive a rebate of up to $150 for exchanging a non‐efficient toilet that uses 3.5 gallons per flush (GPF) for an ULFT that uses less than 1.28 GPF and is a qualifying WaterSense model. Currently toilets using 3.5 GPF or more account for roughly 30% of a home’s indoor water use. The use of these WaterSense ULFT will not only conserve water but they also have the potential to reduce customer water and electric bill. To date, the City has successfully replaced several non‐efficient toilets with the program.

The City plans to continue the program into the foreseeable future.

5.9.2 Implementation of DMMs
The City is committed to conservation as a means to provide a sustainable supply of water to its service area, and plans to continue its conservation program during the next five years. The conservation program was initiated in 2012. The details of implementation over the past five years are discussed in the previous sections for the applicable DMMs.

CWA has seen reduced water consumption and notification of water waste. Furthermore, CWA continued implementing the turf reduction program, smart irrigation controllers, ultra‐low flow toilets and retrofit kits. A total of $150,000 has been spent in the last five years and reduced water consumption by an estimated 3.4 MG. The following represents the City’s best understanding of the nature and extent of these programs over the past five years.

Table 5-26. DMM Implementation Summary
Program
Completed Since
Program Inception Completed Since 2010
Residential Plumbing Retrofit 300 300
Turf Removal Rebate Program 135 160
Smart Controller Rebate Program 15 31
Residential ULFT Replacement Program 42 51
The City plans to continue implementing the programs described above and will continue to implement water conservation practices and enforce requirements of City ordinances to maintain lower than historic per capita water use.

As funding becomes available, CWA will pursue additional conservation activities such as energy efficient appliances, customer portal, mobile application, and advance metering infrastructure.

5.10 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Implementation
This section includes a discussion of CWA’s process for adopting, submitting, and implementing the RUWMP and CWA’s WSCP.

5.10.1 Notice of Plan Preparation and Public Hearing
CWC Section 10621(b) requires that water suppliers notify cities and counties within their service area that the UWMP and WSCP are being updated at least 60 days prior to the public hearing. CWA issued a Notice of Plan Preparation stating that it was updating its plan and would hold a public hearing to consider adoption of the RUWMP and CWA’s WSCP. CWA provided written notice to the cities and counties within its service area on March 25, 2026. These entities are identified in Table 5-27, and the notification letters are included in Appendix A of the RUWMP. CWA provided an additional notice to the cities and counties with the time and date of the public hearing.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 5-32
Table 5-27. DWR 10-1R Notification to Cities and Counties 60 Day Notice Notice of Public Hearing
City
Coachella Yes Yes
County
Riverside Yes Yes
CWA provided notice to the public through its website and published announcements of the public hearing in the newspaper on two occasions before the hearing. Copies of the proof of publication are included in Appendix A.

5.10.2 Public Hearing and Adoption
The City held a public hearing on June 10, 2026, located at Coachella Water Authority, 53462 Enterprise Way, Coachella, CA 92236 to hear public comment and consider adopting this RUWMP and CWA’s WSCP.

As part of the public hearing, CWA provided information on CWA’s municipal water demand forecast and supply reliability assessment, as well as an overview of DMMs and the WSCP. The public hearing on the RUWMP and CWA’s WSCP took place before the adoption of the Plans, which allowed the opportunity to modify the RUWMP and CWA’s WSCP in response to public input before adoption. After the hearing, the Plans were adopted as prepared or as modified during the hearing.

The City’s adoption resolution for the RUWMP and CWA’s WSCP is included in Appendix F.

5.10.3 Plan Submittal
CWA will submit the standard tables electronically to DWR using the DWR Water Use Efficiency Data Portal along with a copy of the final RUWMP. The RUWMP will also be submitted to the California State Library and to the City of Coachella and the County of Riverside, which CWA supplies water to, within 30 days of adoption.

CWA is not regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission, so notification to the Commission does not apply.

5.10.4 Public Availability
The RUWMP and CWA’s WSCP will be available on the CWA website for public viewing within 30 days of filing the plans with DWR. Commencing no later than July 31, 2026, the RUWMP and WSCP will be available for public review at CWA’s office (see address below) during regular business hours.

Coachella Water Authority
53462 Enterprise Way
Coachella, CA 92236
The final documents will also be posted on CVWD’s website at www.cvwd.org/543/Urban-WaterManagement-Planning.

5.10.5 Amending an Adopted UWMP or WSCP
If the City amends the adopted RUWMP or CWA’s WSCP, each of the steps for notification, public hearing, adoption, and submittal will also be followed for the amended RUWMP.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-1
Chapter 6 Desert Water Agency

6.1 Introduction
This chapter describes information specific to Desert Water Agency (DWA) for compliance with the UWMP Act. As an urban water supplier, DWA is required to prepare a UWMP every five years in response to the requirements of the UWMP Act, CWC Sections 10610 through 10656. This RUWMP serves to meet the UWMP Act requirements for the six participating agencies.

Background about the preparation of the RUWMP and the changes in the CWC requirements is presented in Chapter 1 of the RUWMP. The relation of the RUWMP to other planning efforts is described in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

6.1.1 Chapter Organization
This chapter is organized into the sections recommended by the 2025 UWMP Guidebook prepared by DWR.
• Section 6.1 - Introduction. Provides a discussion on the fundamentals of the UWMP and the required Lay Description of the UWMP. Each UWMP must include a Lay Description of how much water the agency has on a reliable basis, how much it needs for the foreseeable future, what the agency’s strategy is for meeting its water needs, the challenges facing the agency, and any other information necessary to provide a general understanding. • Section 6.2 - Plan Preparation. Provides information on DWA’s process for developing the UWMP, including efforts in coordination and outreach.
• Section 6.3 - Service Area Description. Includes maps of the service area, a description of the service area and climate, public water systems, and DWA’s organizational structure and history. • Section 6.4 - Water Use Characterization. Describes and quantifies the current and projected urban water uses within DWA’s service area.
• Section 6.5 – SB7x7 Baselines, 2020 Targets, and 2025 Reporting. Describes DWA’s methods for calculating baseline and 2020 target urban water consumption and reporting 2020 target compliance from the 2020 UWMP.
• Section 6.6 - Water Supply Characterization. Describes and quantifies current and projected sources of urban water available to DWA. Includes discussion of potential recycled water uses and supply availability.
• Section 6.7 - Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment. Describes the reliability of DWA’s water supply and projects the reliability for at least the next 20 years. Includes an analysis for normal years, single dry years, and a five-consecutive-year drought. • Section 6.8 - Water Shortage Contingency Plan. Refers to the appendix which provides DWA’s staged plan for dealing with water shortages, including a catastrophic supply interruption. • Section 6.9 - Demand Management Measures. Describes DWA’s efforts to promote conservation and to reduce demand through demand management measures. • Section 6.10 - Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Implementation. Describes the steps taken by DWA to adopt and submit the UWMP and to make it publicly available. Includes a discussion of DWA’s plan to implement the UWMP.
• Appendices. Each Supplier may have information that is best appended to the 2025 UWMP, to support and further clarify information included in the main chapters.

6.1.2 UWMPs in Relation to Other Efforts
The related planning efforts by agencies in the Coachella Valley are described in Chapter 2 of the RUWMP.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-2

6.1.3 UWMPs and Grant or Loan Eligibility
DWA has prepared and adopted this 2025 UWMP, including compliance with water conservation requirements, and is therefore eligible for State water grants or loans.

6.1.4 Demonstration of Consistency with the Delta Plan
The participating agencies’ approach to demonstrating reduced reliance on the Delta is discussed in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP. The analysis of reduced Delta reliance is provided in Appendix B.

6.2 Plan Preparation
This section provides information on DWA’s process for developing the RUWMP, including efforts in coordination and outreach.

6.2.1 Plan Preparation
In accordance with the CWC, urban water suppliers must develop a UWMP every five years. An “urban water supplier” is a supplier providing water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 service connections or supplying 3,000 AFY or more. DWA supplies approximately 34,400 AFY to 24,100 municipal service connections and, therefore, surpasses both the volumetric delivery and number of connections thresholds and has prepared a 2025 UWMP.

6.2.2 Basis for Preparing a Plan
DWA is a retail public water supplier that meets the definition of an urban water supplier with over 24,000 municipal water service connections in 2025. DWA maintains a single Public Water System (PWS) with information shown in Table 6-1.

Table 6-1. DWR 2-1R Public Water Systems
Public Water System
Number Public Water System Name
Number of
Municipal Connections 2025
Volume of Water
Supplied 2025 (AFY)
3310005 Desert Water Agency 24,068 34,362

6.2.3 Regional Planning
The regional planning efforts of water supply agencies in the Coachella Valley are described in Chapters 2 and 3 of the RUWMP.

The UWMP Act allows water agencies to prepare their plans either individually or by participation in an area wide, regional, watershed, or basin-wide urban water management plan. DWA is participating in the Coachella Valley RUWMP.

6.2.4 Individual or Regional Planning and Compliance
The Water Conservation Act of 2009 allows agencies to report progress toward achieving water conservation targets on an individual or regional basis. The agencies have not created a Regional Alliance for the purposes of measuring and reporting water conservation targets.

6.2.5 Fiscal or Calendar Year and Units of Measure
This UWMP reports water use on a calendar year basis, and all volumes are expressed in units of acrefeet (AF), unless otherwise indicated. DWA is a retail agency and does not currently sell wholesale water.

Table 6-2 shows DWA’s supplier identification information used throughout this report.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-3
Table 6-2. DWR 2-3 Supplier Identification
Information Supplier Identification
Type of Supplier Supplier is a retail supplier
Fiscal or Calendar Year UWMP Tables are in calendar years Unit of Measure Used in UWMP AF

6.2.6 Coordination and Outreach
DWA does not receive water from a wholesale supplier and meets all its water demands through its own supplies. DWA does not currently provide wholesale water to other water agencies.

Outreach and coordination with other local agencies during RUWMP preparation, including notices to the cities and counties within the region, are described in Chapter 1 of the RUWMP.

6.3 Service Area Description
This section provides information on DWA’s service area, population, and demographics.

6.3.1 General Description
DWA was formed in 1961 to ensure an adequate water supply for the northwestern portion of the Upper Coachella Valley. In 1962, DWA entered into a water supply contract with the State of California through DWR. In 1968, DWA purchased the Palm Springs Water Company and Cathedral City Water Company systems to provide domestic and municipal water service (hereafter municipal water service) to Palm Springs and vicinity.

DWA is responsible for water supply management within its jurisdictional boundary, which encompasses 325 square miles including the City of Palm Springs, the southwestern portion of the City of Cathedral City, the City of Desert Hot Springs, essentially all of Mission Springs Water District (MSWD), and some unincorporated areas within Riverside County. Within this area, DWA serves as the GSA for its portions of Indio and Mission Creek Subbasins and provides imported SWP water for groundwater replenishment.

DWA's water service area is generally bounded on the north (from west to east) by Interstate 10 to Highway 111, to Chino Canyon and the Whitewater River, on the east by the Whitewater River and CVWD, on the south by the rugged Santa Rosa Mountains, and on the west by the rugged San Jacinto Mountains. DWA currently has about 24,100 domestic water connections that serve approximately 59,800 people (including seasonal population).

6.3.1.1 Domestic Water Delivery
DWA provides water service through two separate systems (potable and recycled) within its service area, which includes the City of Palm Springs, the southwestern portion of the City of Cathedral City, and some unincorporated areas within Riverside County. DWA delivers water from 27 active wells into its water system through approximately 425 miles of pipeline. DWA's municipal service area does not include the MSWD service area, which is generally north of Interstate 10 and includes the City of Desert Hot Springs and its surroundings. MSWD provides municipal water service throughout its service area.

6.3.1.2 Water Recycling
In 1977, Desert Water Agency entered into an agreement with City of Palm Springs to enhance conservation and protect groundwater by recycling wastewater. DWA’s water recycling facility opened in 1988. Today, the facility has a capacity of about 10 million gallons per day. DWA delivers recycled water to various locations throughout the community.

Sewage is collected at the City of Palm Springs wastewater treatment plant and treated. DWA then receives the treated water, and treats the water at our recycling facility again before it is distributed for use. Recycled water is used for irrigation on Palm Springs golf courses, public properties, parks and schools.

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DWA recycles nearly all of the wastewater within the Agency’s service area. In 2010, DWA completed construction of a half-million-gallon reservoir, expanding storage capacity of the plant. The Agency also constructed two shallow wells at the recycling facility in 2015. These wells are used to capture water that sits just beneath the ground’s surface around the recycling facility. Even though this water is not suitable for drinking water, it can be used to supplement the recycled water supply.

6.3.1.3 Groundwater Replenishment
To manage the local supply, DWA implements artificial groundwater replenishment to augment natural replenishment as part of a joint groundwater basin management agreement with CVWD in the Indio Subbasin and with a management committee comprised of CVWD, MSWD, and DWA in the Mission Creek Subbasin. CVWD and DWA replenish local groundwater supplies using imported water from the SWP exchanged for Colorado River water supplies with MWD. SWP exchange water is recharged within the Whitewater River GRF and Mission Creek GRF.

CVWD operates and maintains the Whitewater River GRF and DWA operates and maintains the Mission Creek GRF in the West Valley. Both agencies share in the operation and maintenance costs for these facilities. The Whitewater River GRF (formerly referred to as the Whitewater Spreading Area) has operated since 1919, first with local surface runoff and, since 1973, with imported SWP exchange water. The Whitewater River GRF has a series of 19 ponds covering 700 acres adjacent to the Whitewater River. Local runoff and SWP water deliveries are transported to the ponds via the Whitewater River channel, and then diverted into the recharge ponds at two locations by diversion structures. Since its introduction in 1973, over 4.7 million AF have been recharged at this facility.

The Mission Creek GRF was constructed in 2002 and is operated by CVWD and DWA, with a resolution of support from MSWD. The facility receives SWP exchange water and consists of twelve percolation ponds located adjacent to Mission Creek in northern Coachella Valley. Replenishment at the facility began in late 2002 and, as of calendar year 2024, approximately 185,000 AF have been recharged. It typically recharges approximately 7,000 AF per year.

6.3.2 Service Area Boundary
DWA’s service area encompasses the majority of the City of Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs city limits, and includes portions of Cathedral City. In addition, unincorporated mostly rural areas are within the service area, though most such areas are not currently served by DWA infrastructure. Notably, the existing distribution system does not extend to areas within the DWA service area north of Interstate 10, resulting in no DWA water service to Desert Hot Springs. The DWA jurisdictional boundary is shown in Figure 6-1.

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Figure 6-1. DWA Jurisdictional Boundary

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6.3.3 Service Area Climate
DWA's service area lies within the western Coachella Valley, which experiences an arid climate characterized by low humidity, high summer temperatures, and mild dry winters. The area normally receives an average annual precipitation of roughly four to five inches (most of which occurs in January, February, or March, except for summer thundershowers), and prevailing winds which are usually gentle but occasionally increase to velocities as high as 50 to 60 miles per hour or more with intense winds occurring most frequently in late spring. Midsummer temperatures commonly exceed 100 degrees F, frequently reach 110 degrees F, and periodically reach 120 degrees F. During the winter, the average temperature is about 60 degrees F.

Data from climate stations in Palm Springs (Palm Springs International Airport) represents climate in the DWA service area. The average rainfall and maximum and minimum monthly temperatures, as well as monthly average ETo rates, are shown in Table 6-3. Due to the low annual rainfall and high summer temperatures, large quantities of water are required for supplemental landscape irrigation, even during the cooler winter months. The data are plotted in Figure 6-2.

Table 6-3. Monthly Average Climate Data (Palm Springs)
Parameter Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Average Daily High
Temperature (F)
71 74 81 87 95 104 109 108 102 91 79 69 89
Average Daily Low
Temperature (F)
48 50 54 59 66 73 79 80 74 65 53 46 62
Average Total
Precipitation (in)

1.14 1.11 0.51 0.09 0.02 0.00 0.25 0.14 0.24 0.20 0.23 0.68 4.61 Evapotranspiration,
ETo (in)

2.5 3.4 5.6 7.1 8.3 8.7 8.1 7.5 6.2 4.7 2.9 2.2 67.2
Notes:

Temperature and Precipitation from National Weather Service Forecast office, Station Palm Springs Airport. Data from 1998 through 2020. Accessed through https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=sgx ETo Data from California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) Station 208, La Quinta II. Data from February 2007 through December 2020.

Figure 6-2. Monthly Average Climate Data

1.1 1.1

0.5 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2

0.7 2.5

3.4 5.6

7.1 8.3 8.7

8.1 7.5

6.2 4.7

2.9 2.2
0 20
40 60
80 100
120

0.0 1.0

2.0 3.0

4.0 5.0

6.0 7.0

8.0 9.0

10.0 Temperature (F)
Precipitation and Eto (in)
Average Total Precipitation (in) Evapotranspiration, ETo (in) Average Max. Temperature (F) Average Minimum Temperature (F)

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-8
A discussion of the potential impacts of climate change on the region is included in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

6.3.4 Service Area Population and Demographics
This section describes the population and demographics within DWA’s service area. Existing development within the western Coachella Valley primarily occupies the valley floor and is situated in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Springs Oasis (commonly known as Palm Oasis), and Snow Creek Village. Future development is expected to consist of infill within the local communities and expansion into canyons, coves, and mountainous areas.

Current and projected demographics within DWA’s service area were developed by SCAG as part of the 2024 Regional Transportation Plan, referred to as Connect SoCal (SCAG, 2024). As part of that effort, SCAG performed a detailed evaluation of current and projected future demographics throughout southern California, including the study area for the RUWMP. The Connect SoCal analysis included forecasts for employment, population, and households within cities and unincorporated areas. This demographic information was used to prepare projections of future water demands.

Table 6-4 shows the current and projected population within DWA's service area. DWA's total population is estimated based on its permanent year-round population and an adjustment for seasonal population with year-round water usage.

The City of Palm Springs contains the largest population within DWA's service area, with a current yearround population of 45,453, according to the U.S. Census Bureau population estimate for Palm Springs as of July 1, 2024. The Palm Springs area has experienced tremendous growth since its beginnings during the late 1800s, particularly during the period from 1970 to the present, during which the population more than doubled. The golf and tourism industries remain paramount to the area's economy.

Palm Springs is also a popular destination for a seasonal "snow bird" population and annual visitors as reported by the City of Palm Springs. The "snow bird" population consists mainly of people from the northeastern and midwestern United States, or from Canada, who spend a large portion of the winter in warmer locales such as California. "Snow birds" are drawn to the Palm Springs area by the weather, which includes around 350 days of sunshine. This seasonal population nearly doubles the permanent population in the winter months (November to April). Many seasonal residents occupy residences and condominiums that require year-round water use for maintenance, including irrigation.

Additionally, Palm Springs is one of the only cities in the area that does not have a prohibition or moratorium on short-term vacation rentals (STVRs). These properties are generally occupied with more people than the average resident household and are full much of the year. These properties use water indoors and out year-round, but do not have any associated resident population affiliated with them per the Census.

To estimate service area population, both permanent residents and seasonal residents were estimated.

Estimates of the permanent population were made using SCAG housing estimates, housing density, and water meter connections. The water service area shown in Figure 6-1 was intersected with 2019 housing totals from SCAG’s Connect SoCal 2024 growth projection (SCAG, 2024). Household totals for 2025 were estimated by multiplying the 2019 totals by the growth in residential meter connections from 2019 to 2025.

The permanent population was estimated by multiplying the 2025 household totals by the number of persons per household for each jurisdiction within DWA’s service area using Census data. The seasonal population was then estimated by dividing the permanent population totals by the occupancy rate from the Census for each jurisdiction to determine the number of housing units in DWA’s service area, and multiplying the total number of housing units by the difference between the average vacancy rate for California and the vacancy rate of each jurisdiction in DWA’s service area. This resulting number was used for the seasonal population estimate. Lastly, the population in Recreational Vehicle (RV) parks was estimated using RV and population data from the Census. The recent and projected future service area population is shown in Table 6-4.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-9
Table 6-4. DWR 3-1R Current and Projected Population
Population Served 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Year-Round Population 46,457 51,730 57,004 58,779 60,554 62,329 Seasonal Population (Equivalent YearRound Population)13,150 14,250 15,350 15,658 15,966 16,275 RV Parks 143 143 143 143 143 143
Total 59,750 66,123 72,497 74,580 76,663 78,746
Note: Seasonal population and RV park population were estimated using method described in Section 6.3.4 and pre-approved by DWR.

Since DWA relies primarily on groundwater for domestic water supply and imports SWP water for groundwater replenishment, the droughts of 1965-1967, 1976-1977, and 1989-1992 had negligible effects on DWA's ability to supply water to its customers. Though the drought period 2012-2015 was the driest on record in the state, DWA's ability to supply water to its customers was not impacted. In response to the drought and State mandates, and in addition to its existing water conservation programs, DWA has implemented several water conservation programs to reduce water demands within its service area.

Water conservation is one of several high-priority policies actively implemented within DWA, and programs such as water audits for large-volume water users and various conservation rebates are encouraged and well received. Since most water use within DWA's service area is used outdoors, DWA has focused conservation efforts on developing outdoor water conservation measures. Further explanation of DWA's water conservation programs is included in Section 6.9.

6.3.5 Land Uses within Service Area
Existing land uses within the DWA service area are a mixture of residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and open space. Land uses within the Coachella Valley are shown in Figure 4-2. DWA collaborates on planning issues with the City of Palm Springs, the City of Cathedral City, and Riverside County, as well as other regional entities. The demand projections in this report were developed using the regional growth forecast developed by SCAG’s Connect SoCal 2024 (SCAG, 2024).

Additionally, to support the demand forecast, DWA reached out to each of the cities within the region to request information on additional known development plans or approvals that may not have been included in the 2024 Connect SoCal effort. This information has been incorporated into the RUWMP demand forecast.

6.4 Water Use Characterization
This section describes the current and projected future water uses within DWA’s service area. To provide an adequate long-range view of future water needs, this report uses a 25-year planning period from 2025 to 2050. This RUWMP will serve as a source document for future water supply assessments and written supply verifications until the next 5-year UWMP update.

6.4.1 Non-Potable Versus Potable Water Use
DWA produces a majority of its water supplies from the Indio Subbasin, which is continuously replenished through DWA and CVWD water supply projects and programs. The Indio and Mission Creek Subbasins are regionally managed by the six participating agencies in this RUWMP.

In addition to groundwater, DWA uses local surface water to meet potable demands in its service area.

DWA also produces and delivers recycled water and local surface water for non-potable uses.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-10

6.4.2 Water Use by Sector
Data from DWA’s billing system was used to summarize water sales by customer sector for the past five years. The sectors recorded are summarized in Table 6-5.

Table 6-5. Water Use Sectors
Sector Description
Single-Family Residential Single-family residential customers constitute the majority of DWA's customers.

Multi-Family Residential Multiple dwelling units contained within one building or several buildings in a single complex.

Commercial/ Industrial DWA has a complex mix of commercial customers, ranging from family restaurants, insurance offices, and gas stations to shopping centers, high-volume restaurants, golf courses, and other facilities serving the local and visitor populations (hotels).

DWA serves a small industrial sector, primarily centered on light manufacturing. The industrial sector has not grown much in the last decade or so.

Institutional/Governmental DWA has a stable institutional/governmental sector, primarily local government, parks, schools, and other types of public facilities.

Landscape Currently, DWA utilizes both potable and recycled water for irrigation of large turf areas, such as golf courses, HOAs, schools, and public parks.

Other Other water uses include losses, production from private wells within DWA’s service area, tribal water demand, and authorized, non-billed consumption As part of a parallel ongoing planning effort, the 2022 Indio Subbasin Alternative Plan is currently being updated in accordance with SGMA. This demand forecast was coordinated with the Alternative Plan Update’s estimates of indoor and outdoor water use. Approximately 69 percent of water use for residential and commercial accounts is being used outdoors. With the unique climate, extensive landscape irrigation requirements, and destination resort atmosphere, the average annual water consumption per capita is considerably higher than most Southern California areas outside the Coachella Valley.

DWA exports a small amount of potable water to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. DWA does not use its potable water supply for any purpose other than domestic water.

6.4.2.1 Distribution System Losses
The difference between water production and metered water deliveries (billed to customers) is defined as non-revenue water. Non-revenue water includes authorized non-billed use (such as firefighting or flushing), and it includes losses from the system.

Water losses within DWA's water system generally result from water loss due to unauthorized connections, system leaks, and inaccuracies in production and consumption meters. Water losses are calculated as the difference between production meter records and customer meter records. DWA either estimates or measures water for firefighting, fire hydrant flow testing, water main flushing, reservoir cleaning, and identifiable system leaks and excludes these quantities from its calculated water losses.

DWA has completed annual water audits using the AWWA Water Audit Software. The completed audits are included in Appendix E of the RUWMP. The losses recorded are summarized in Table 6-6.

Table 6-6. DWR 4-4R 12 Month Water Loss Audit Reporting Report Period Start Date Volume of Real Water Loss
(AFY)
Submitted to DWR
MM YYYY Water Loss Audit Program
01 2020 1,370 Yes
01 2021 1,524 Yes
01 2022 2,076 Yes
01 2023 1,330 Yes
01 2024 2,125 Yes

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The real water loss performance standard for DWA’s distribution system is 69.4 gallons per service connection per day, with no reduction from the State estimated baseline. Suppliers will be required to submit a registry of breaks, repairs, and estimates of water loss every three years, beginning in 2029 for the 2025 through 2027 period. Water losses for the supplied data period will be assessed compared to the performance standard. DWA’s real water loss currently averages about 57.9 gallons per connection per day, with the most recent reporting year averaging 73.4 gallons of real water loss per connection per day.

Table 6-6 shows the City’s progress towards the 2028 Water Loss Standard. The actual water use for 2025 is summarized in Table 6-7.

Table 6-7. DWR 4-6R Progress Towards 2028 Water Loss Standard – Water Code Section 10631(d)(3)(C)
Public
Water
System ID #
Reported in
Submittal
Table 2-1 R
Did the
Water Board
Calculate a
Water Loss
Standard
for this
Public
Water
System?
Real Water Loss
State Water Board Standard
Most Recent AWWA Water
Loss Audit
Real Water
Loss Per Unit
per Day
2028 Real
Water Loss
Standard per
Unit per day
Units for
Real Water
Loss
Drop down
list
Number of
Units
Volume of
Total Real
Loss (from
AWWA Water
Loss Audit)
CA3310005 Yes 69.4 Gallons per
Connection
per Day
(GPCPD)
25,847 2,124.96 73.4
Public
Water
System ID #
Reported in
Submittal
Table 2-1 R
Did the
Water Board
Calculate a
Water Loss
Standard
for this
Public
Water
System?
Apparent Water Loss
State Water Board Standard
Most Recent AWWA Water
Loss Audit
Apparent
Water Loss
Per Unit per
Day
2028 Apparent
Water Loss
Standard per
Unit per Day
Units for
Apparent
Water Loss
Number of
Connections
Volume of
Total
Apparent
Loss
(from AWWA
Water Loss
Audit)
CA3310005 Yes 14.6 Gallons per
Connection
per Day
(GPCPD)
25,847 392.28 13.5

6.4.2.2 Summary of Current Uses
The uses in DWA’s urban water system for 2020 through 2025 are summarized in Table 6-8. Recycled water meets forecasted landscape category demands as new irrigation customers come online.

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Table 6-8. DWR 4-1R Urban Water Use 2020-2025 (AFY)
Use Type
Additional
Description
Level of
Treatment
When
Delivered 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Single Family Potable 17,882 18,263 17,576 16,488 17,672 17,165 Multi-Family Potable 644 645 618 564 615 825
Commercial Potable 4,920 5,306 5,299 5,093 5,286 5,141
Institutional/
Governmental
Potable 1,187 1,130 1,096 947 1,072 1,159
Landscape1 Supplement to
recycled water
Potable 1,098 1,065 1,052 1,039 1,026 4,489
Sales/Transfer
s/Exchanges
to other
Suppliers
Surface water
to Palm
Springs Aerial
Tramway
Potable 0 11 14 17 14 11
Other Construction Potable 238 174 119 92 90 402
Other Non-Revenue Potable 6,856 6,649 6,365 5,518 6,670 4,687 Subtotal Potable 32,825 33,243 32,139 29,758 32,445 33,879 Commercial Surface water2 NonPotable954 355 297 262 295 340 Landscape1 Recycled
Water
NonPotable3,520 3,472 3,220 3,101 3,100 142
Subtotal Non-Potable 4,474 3,827 3,517 3,363 3,395 482
Total 37,299 37,070 35,656 33,121 35,840 34,362
Note: Non-revenue water is the difference between production and customer billing. It includes losses and authorized, non-billed consumption.
1 For landscape uses, 2025 recycled water was supplemented with potable water while the plant was nonoperational from January 2025 through November 2025. 2 For surface water uses, agriculture and groundwater recharge volumes are not included.

6.4.3 Demand Forecast
DWA is participating in the 2027 Indio Subbasin Alternate Plan Update and 2027 Mission Creek Subbasin Alternative Plan Update being prepared to meet requirements of SGMA. The RUWMP participating agencies coordinated efforts with demand projections being prepared for the Alternative Plan Updates. The demand projection approach included the following steps:

1. The projections were based on the regional growth forecast prepared by SCAG as part of their Regional Transportation Plan, Connect SoCal 2024. SCAG gathered input from cities and counties throughout Southern California about expected growth and development for the next 25 years and incorporated the land use designations in each jurisdiction’s General Plan. The SCAG analysis includes estimates of population, households, and employment in each TAZ in their study area (SCAG 2024).

2. Additional analysis of vacancy rates was performed to estimate baseline and projected housing units for the study area, including housing units used by seasonal residents and other part-time users.

3. Baseline and projected estimates of employment were used to drive future growth in Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) demands.

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4. Five years of customer billing data (2020 to 2024) were used to develop unit demand factors specific to the DWA service area. These factors have units of gallons per housing unit for residential and landscape uses and gallons per employee for CII uses.

5. Water losses were estimated using water loss audits from the last five years (2020 to 2024).

6. Demands were adjusted for the following types of conservation savings:
• Indoor passive conservation savings from the natural replacement of indoor devices and plumbing fixtures.
• Outdoor conservation savings from the implementation of the 2015 Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) for future developments.
• Outdoor conservation savings from turf replacement due to local rebate programs. • Outdoor conservation savings from the installation of smart irrigation controllers due to local rebate programs.
• Outdoor conservation savings from the implementation of DWA’s Ordinance Number 80, which bans the use of potable water for irrigating non-functional turf for CII and HOA properties, beginning to take effect in 2027 with full implementation in 2031.

Projected municipal demands for DWA’s service area are shown in Table 6-9.

Table 6-9. DWR 4-2R Projected Demands for Water (AF)
-
Use Type
Additional
Description
Level of
Treatment
Projected Water Use (AFY)
2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Single Family Potable 17,586 18,046 18,351 18,695 19,039 Multi-Family Potable 747 695 644 607 570
Commercial Potable 5,518 5,627 5,739 5,860 5,982
Institutional/
Governmental
Includes public
authority Potable 3,312 3,509 3,574 3,634 3,695
Landscape1 Potable 385 276 445 615 784
Sales/Transfer
s/Exchanges to
other Suppliers
Surface water to
Palm Springs
Aerial Tramway
Potable 14 14 14 14 14
Other Construction Potable 9 9 9 9 9
Other Non-Revenue Potable 6,401 6,447 6,516 6,585 6,654 Subtotal Potable 33,542 34,194 34,861 35,588 36,315
Commercial Surface Water2 Non-Potable 433 433 433 433 433 Landscape1 Recycled Water Non-Potable 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413 Subtotal Non-Potable 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846
Total 37,388 38,039 38,707 39,433 40,161
Note: Non-revenue water is the difference between production and customer billing. It includes losses and authorized, non-billed consumption.
1 For landscape uses, 2025 recycled water was supplemented with potable water while the plant was nonoperational from January 2025 through November 2025. 2 For surface water uses, agriculture and groundwater recharge volumes are not included. Surface water used

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6.4.3.1 Conservation Savings
Demand projections prepared for this RUWMP considered anticipated future water savings (summarized in Step 6 above). The analysis included indoor savings related to toilets, showerheads, dishwashers, clothes washers, faucets, and urinals (categorized as indoor water use) as well as outdoor water use. Indoor conservation is mainly a result of government mandated water efficiency requirements for fixtures, defined as “passive savings”. The model considers these mandates and the average useful life and replacement rates for each type of fixture based on standard industry estimates and plumbing fixture saturation studies.

It assumes that all new construction complies with the plumbing codes in effect at that time and that when a device is replaced, the new device is also in compliance with the current plumbing codes. Estimated frequency of use for each type of fixture based on a Conservation and Efficiency Potential study by the Pacific Institute were multiplied by the number of housing units to produce the total indoor passive conservation savings (Pacific Institute, 2014).

Anticipated outdoor water use savings were based primarily on irrigation reduction via the implementation of ordinances and incentives for water reduction. One such ordinance is the California Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) which is the standard for outdoor water conservation for the state. The resulting water savings from the MWELO are estimated using an ETAF which adjusts the reference ET for plant requirements and irrigation efficiency. Additional outdoor water use savings are anticipated due to the ban on irrigating non-functional turf with potable water, smart irrigation controllers, and turf replacement. AB 1572, passed in 2023, banned the use of potable water to irrigate non-functional turf (i.e. ornamental grass not used for recreation). The ban will go into effect in phases beginning in 2027 and will affect governmental, commercial, institutional, and common areas of multi-family residential properties. The City of Palm Springs also has rebates in place to encourage water conservation through turf replacement. These savings are not considered passive as they are implemented through rebates under conservation programs.

The estimated water savings due to codes and standards are included in the estimated demands in Table 6-9. These estimated savings were quantified in the water demand projections presented in Table 6-10.

Table 6-10. Passive Water Savings Projections (AFY)
-Passive Savings 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Device Replacement1 353 630 840 990 1,140
MWELO2 320 588 771 953 1,135
Non-Functional Turf Ban 1,034 1,379 1,379 1,379 1,379
Total Passive Savings 1,707 2,598 2,990 3,322 3,654
1Device Replacement includes indoor water savings from the replacement of toilets, showerheads, faucets, washing machines, and dishwashers with newer, more water efficient models. 2Savings from the implementation of the MWELO are calculated by applying an evapotranspiration adjustment factor to projected additional outdoor water use.

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6.4.3.2 Total Gross Water Use
Gross water use, including projected recycled water demands, are shown in Table 6-11.

Table 6-11. Total Gross Water Use (AFY)
- 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Potable and Raw Water 34,220 33,975 34,626 35,294 36,020 36,748 Recycled Water 142 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413
Total Water Use 34,362 37,388 38,039 38,707 39,433 40,161 Recycled water projections are based on current tertiary capacity at treatment plans and do not include planned recycling at plants that will require additional or expanded tertiary capacity.

6.4.4 Water Use for Lower Income Households
DWA has a civic and legal responsibility to provide for the water-related health and safety of the community.

DWA’s main objective is to provide its customers with an adequate and reliable supply of high-quality water to meet present and future needs in an environmentally and economically responsible manner.

Residential sector water use projections herein include all households, regardless of income level, and residential accounts are not subdivided into income-specific categories.

DWA does not give priority to one residential area over another; therefore, all residential customers are served equally during water shortage emergencies in terms of service and delivery. DWA does not deny service to delinquent accounts. Additionally, DWA has established a fund to assist low-income customers in paying their water bills.

The water use projections set forth in Table 6-9 include projected water use for lower-income households.

Water use priority does not differ based on income level but is classified by the type of use.

6.4.5 Climate Change Considerations
A discussion of potential climate change impacts on demands is presented in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

Increased temperatures in the Coachella Valley are expected to increase water demands for crop and landscape irrigation, municipal water use, and evaporative losses from canals and open reservoirs.

Increased summer temperatures could draw increased monsoonal flow resulting in more frequent summer thunderstorms. As part of this RUWMP and the associated Alternative Plan Updates, the water suppliers have adopted a consensus approach to modeling the potentials impacts of climate change on local runoff, groundwater recharge, and SWP and Colorado River deliveries. A combination of state- and local-led DMMs may reduce demand for irrigation via landscape ordinances while public outreach and education can lead to reductions in water demands through conservation measures.

6.5 SB7x7 Baselines, 2020 Targets, and 2025 Reporting
With the adoption of the Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SB X7-7), the State set a goal of reducing urban water use by 20 percent by the year 2020. Each retail urban water supplier was required to determine its water use during a baseline period and establish water use targets for the years 2015 and 2020 in order to help the State achieve the 20 percent reduction.

In the 2025 UWMP, water agencies must demonstrate compliance with their established water use target for the year 2020. The SBx7-7 Verification Forms were presented in the 2020 UWMP, Appendix E. This section also demonstrates that DWA achieved its 2020 water use target in 2020.

6.5.1 SB7x7 Baselines and 2020 Targets
SBx7-7 required urban water suppliers to establish a per capita water use target for 2020 to be calculated by using one of four methods. DWA selected to use Method 1, which was calculated based on the selected 10-year baseline of 593 GPCD. Using that criteria, DWA’s selected 2020 target was 474 GPCD.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-16

6.5.2 Calculating Population and Gross Water Use
To assess compliance with the 2020 water use target in GPCD, DWA’s service area population and gross water use were compared to the SBx7-7 target. The gross water used was obtained from water production records. DWA’s water use was calculated as 405 GPCD for year 2020.

6.5.3 Supplier Met 2020 Target in 2020
DWA met their 2020 target as reflected in Table 6-12 below, which includes their 2020 target and 2020 Actual GPCD. DWA was not a part of a merger or consolidation and was not a part of an SBx7-7 Regional Alliance target.

Table 6-12 DWR 5-1R SB X7-7 2020 Target Progress
Was Supplier part of a
merger or consolidation
since 2020?
Regional Alliance
Target or Individual
Target?
2020
Target
Actual
2020
GPCD
Did Supplier Achieve
Targeted Reduction for
2020?
No Individual Target 474 405 Yes

6.6 Water Supply Characterization
This section describes the water supplies currently available to DWA and those planned for the 25-year planning period.

6.6.1 Water Supply Analysis Overview
In the 1920s and 1930s, the City of Palm Springs’ municipal water supply was derived entirely from creek diversions (surface water) maintained by the Palm Springs Water Company, which was purchased by DWA in 1968. Currently, DWA’s sources of supply include groundwater produced by potable water supply wells, surface water diverted from creeks in the San Jacinto Mountains and Whitewater River, imported SWP water exchanged for Colorado River water, and recycled water (for irrigation use). Surface water that is not directly used for consumption is conveyed downstream to the replenishment basins. Imported SWP water is also used to replenish the Indio and Mission Creek Subbasins. DWA’s imported water agreements are described in Chapter 3 of this RUWMP because they support regional basin management and are not directly delivered to urban customers.

Further discussion of regional water supply sources is presented in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

6.6.2 Supply Characterization
This discussion includes the types of water supply considered by DWR. As described in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP, CVWD and DWA use imported SWP water to replenish groundwater at the Whitewater River GRF overlying Indio Subbasin and the Mission Creek GRF overlying the Mission Creek Subbasin. These imported supplies support regional basin management and are not considered in this RUWMP as a supply that directly meets DWA’s municipal demands. As shown in Table 6-11, DWA delivers groundwater, surface water, and recycled water to meet customer demands.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-17
Table 6-13. Urban Water Supply 2020-2024 (AFY)
Water Supply Additional Description 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Groundwater Indio Subbasin1 32,384 31,414 29,102 27,100 29,837 Surface water Chino Creek, Snow Creek, Falls
Creek, Whitewater River 1,395 2,184 3,334 2,920 2,903
Recycled water DWA WRF 3,520 3,472 3,220 3,101 3,100
Total 37,299 37,070 35,656 33,121 35,840
1 Surface water conveyed to downstream replenishment basins is subtracted from the groundwater supply total to avoid double counting water that is recharged and pumped in the same year.

6.6.2.1 Purchased or Imported Water
DWA is a SWP Contractor and receives water through the SWP, which originates in the Feather River watershed in the Sierra Nevada and conveys water to 29 SWP Contractors through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. DWA does not have a physical connection to the SWP system, which terminates at Lake Perris in western Riverside County. Since there is no physical connection to bring SWP water to Coachella Valley, Colorado River water has been and continues to be exchanged for SWP water per the delivery and exchange agreements, as amended in 2019 (Second Amendment) among DWA, CVWD, and MWD. The Second Amendment is set to expire on December 31, 2026. In 2025, a Third Amendment was proposed to establish a goal of extending out to 2077 which aligns with the QSA expiration. Under the Third Amendment framework, language was adjusted to allow a pre-delivery of up to 200,000 AF by December 31, 2026 and a total transfer of 315,000 AF by December 31, 2035 (CVWD 2025e). All 200,000 AF of the requested predelivery was provided by MWD in 2025. Though this still totals an average of 35,000 AF per year, it allows flexibility for MWD to defer deliveries in some years as long as the full 315,000 AF is delivered by 2035.

The SWP exchange water is delivered to the western end of Coachella Valley from MWD’s Colorado River Aqueduct, and in exchange MWD accepts DWA’s SWP water. Together, DWA and CVWD use this SWP exchange water for groundwater recharge at Whitewater River GRF in East Indio Subbasin and Mission Creek GRF in Mission Creek Subbasin, and not to directly meet municipal demands.

SWP water deliveries consist of DWA’s apportionment of its Table A allocation (as determined annually by DWR), Article 21 surplus water allocation (when available), and other surplus water acquired and conveyed through the SWP. DWA initially contracted with the State of California for SWP water in 1963, with an initial contractual Table A allocation of 38,100 AFY. DWA has since executed agreements with other SWP Contractors for additional Table A water for a maximum of 55,750 AFY. Occasionally, high flows in the SWP system create conditions where all the water cannot be completely stored in the SWP’s San Luis Reservoir, making Article 21 water available to DWA. DWR’s Draft 2025 Delivery Capability Report estimates the long-term average annual SWP Table A deliveries will decrease to 43 – 48% of the maximum Table A amount by 2043 (DWR 2025).

Two future SWP projects that are being implemented at the State level to increase SWP deliveries are the Sites Reservoir and the Delta Conveyance Project—both projects are included in DWA’s supply forecast.

More information about DWA’s use of SWP water is included in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

Imported Water Quality
DWA exchanges its Table A allocations of SWP water with MWD for Colorado River water to augment the Indio and Mission Creek Subbasins. Colorado River water is generally of good quality; however, Colorado River water has a higher TDS concentration (greater than 500 mg/L) than native groundwater (less than 500 mg/L). TDS consist of minerals and salts dissolved in water, typically resulting from the erosion of natural deposits. The SWRCB DDW has established a secondary MCL of 1,000 mg/L for TDS, with a recommended level of 500 mg/L. The MCL for TDS concentration is a secondary drinking water standard, meaning that TDS is regulated on the basis of customer acceptance rather than on the basis of public health.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-18
DWA is collaborating with the regional water suppliers and other parties to update the Coachella Valley Salt and Nutrient Management Plan (SNMP) for RWQCB approval. Through this collaboration, DWA hopes to achieve long-term salinity management strategies that are protective of both water quality and quantity.

Due to ammonium perchlorate contamination from manufacturing facilities in Nevada, perchlorate has been detected in Colorado River water. Perchlorate is a substance that can be either naturally occurring or manmade. Currently, perchlorate is a regulated contaminant with a State MCL of 6 μg/L. Within DWA's service area, very low levels of perchlorate (<1 μg/L) have been detected in nearly every well; however, perchlorate concentrations are well below the MCL and are expected to continually decrease over time. Capture and treatment of perchlorate contamination began in 1999, and concentrations of perchlorate in the Colorado River have been decreasing ever since. The presence of perchlorate in Colorado River water is not expected to affect the reliability of DWA's water supply.

6.6.2.2 Groundwater
Groundwater is the principal source of municipal water supply in the Coachella Valley. DWA obtains groundwater from the Indio Subbasin and supports basin management in both the Indio and Mission Creek Subbasin. The Indio Subbasin is a common groundwater source, which is shared by CVWD, CWA, DWA, Indio, MDMWC, and numerous private groundwater producers. The Mission Creek Subbasin is also a common water supply that is utilized by CVWD, MSWD, and private groundwater producers. More information about local groundwater resources is included in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

DWA extracts groundwater comprising natural recharge, artificial recharge with imported water, nonconsumptive return, and groundwater from storage. Net natural replenishment for the Indio Subbasin averages 52,500 AFY. Groundwater from storage is continued groundwater extraction, typically in dry years, required to meet demands in addition to natural and imported supplies. Non-consumptive return flows are estimated to be 29 to 35 percent of groundwater and surface water applied on landscapes but not consumed, which therefore percolates to groundwater.

Groundwater pumped by DWA over the past five years from the Indio Subbasin is summarized in Table 6-14. In response to growth, DWA will gradually increase groundwater production to meet demands.

DWA intends to continue meeting its urban water demands with groundwater.

Table 6-14. DWR 6-1R Groundwater Volume Pumped (AFY)
Groundwater Type Location or Basin Name 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Alluvial Basin Indio Subbasin 33,232 32,125 29,741 32,431 33,868 Total 33,232 32,125 29,741 32,431 33,868
In addition to other urban water retail producers, there are private producers who pump directly from the groundwater basin. To manage groundwater levels, DWA will continue to implement water use efficiency programs for large landscapes and convert the larger producers to recycled water, where feasible. DWA also works with agencies in the region to replenish the groundwater basin and implement conservation programs.

Groundwater Quality
DWA’s water quality meets MCLs for monitored primary, secondary, or microbial contaminants. All water provided by DWA meets all U.S. EPA and SWRCB guidelines (DWA 2025).

Constraints on DWA's groundwater supplies resulting from water quality include those that could result from high concentrations of nitrate and uranium in the groundwater. DWA's Well 19 was taken out of service as a result of high nitrate concentrations in the underlying groundwater, which are caused by discharges from septic systems in the area. As a result of the high nitrate concentrations, Well 19 remains inoperable, and groundwater in the vicinity of the well is unusable.

While uranium levels are naturally occurring, several of DWA's wells, namely Wells 9, 14, 16, and 43, are intermittently inoperable due to elevated levels of uranium in the groundwater.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-19
The federal MCLs for PFAS, specifically PFOA and FPOS, of 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt) were set in April 2024. In October 2024, DWA had one sample result from one well for PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance) that was 5.5 ppt. DWA continues to be in compliance with all regulations and will complete additional testing as required to ensure all state and federal standards are met.

In October 2024, the SWRCB approved the country’s first drinking water standard for hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) at 10 μg/L. Chromium-6 is a naturally occurring metal that can appear in water as natural erosion from the environment or as discharge from industrial processes. DWA has not detected chromium6 in its water distribution system above the State’s MCL.

6.6.2.3 Surface Water
DWA has rights to divert surface water from local streams tributary to the Whitewater River. Surface water sources are secured from Snow and Falls Creeks, Chino Creeks North and West, and the Whitewater River.

DWA’s surface water diversions are used to meet municipal and agricultural water demands.

Per SWRCB Water Rights Division Licenses 2292 (SWRCB, License for Diversion and Use of Water 2292 CalWATRS 1941) and 8226 (SWRCB 1966), DWA is permitted to divert 5.5 cubic feet per second (cfs) from Snow Creek and 1.5 cfs from Falls Creek per license 3097 (SWRCB 1949), for a total of 7 cfs from both creeks combined. Under the Whitewater River Adjudication Decree, Case No. 18035, dated September 28, 1938, DWA has the right to divert 2 cfs from Chino Creek.

In 2009, DWA acquired water rights for the diversion of Whitewater River water from the Whitewater Mutual Water Company (WMWC) through stock purchase agreements with stockholders. Therefore, the water previously diverted by WMWC is now incorporated into DWA’s supply. WMWC has diverted Whitewater River water pursuant to its adjudicated stream rights (Whitewater River Adjudication Decree, dated September 28, 1938). DWA now continues to use that right, which is 10 cfs with a priority date of September 19, 1913.

The diversion at Chino Creek North was taken out of service in 2000 due to turbidity spikes in the source water, and it cannot be restored to potable service without filtration. Water that had been historically diverted from Chino Creek North now infiltrates the creek bed below the diversion, recharging the groundwater basin. DWA continues to monitor the water quality of Chino Creek North to determine when it may be put back into service.

Average annual surface water diversions are assumed to increase from 2,361 AFY in 2030 to 6,000 AFY in 2035. Surface water diversions are summarized in Table 6-15 below.

Surface Water Quality
Several of DWA's surface water diversions are occasionally taken out of service due to water quality. In the summer months Snow and Falls Creeks are subject to high levels of coliform bacteria and therefore require additional disinfection. In 2020, DWA completed construction of a surface water filtration plant to filter water from Snow and Falls Creek. Chino Creek, serving the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, operates in accordance with filtration avoidance criteria.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-20
Table 6-15. DWR 6-8R Surface Water Supplies (AFY)
Groundwater Type Location or Basin Name 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Surface Water Chino Creek 32 36 30 24 18
Surface Water Snow & Falls Creek 1,014 2,304 1,991 2,310 1,664 Surface Water Whitewater River 1,138 994 899 569 314
Total 2,184 3,334 2,920 2,903 1,996
Note: Surface water supplies include diversions for groundwater replenishment.

6.6.2.4 Stormwater
DWA does not use stormwater directly as a source of supply. DWA is involved in regional efforts to identify opportunities to cost-effectively capture stormwater for potential beneficial use, but currently does not operate a dedicated urban stormwater capture program within the service area.

6.6.2.5 Wastewater and Recycled Water
DWA provides both potable and recycled water delivery within its service area. The City of Palm Springs maintains a sanitary sewer collection system consisting of approximately 250 miles of gravity sewer pipe within city limits. DWA is responsible for providing wastewater collection service within portions of Cathedral City and unincorporated Riverside County.

The use of recycled water plays a key role in DWA’s resource management as it serves to conserve and protect groundwater and surface water supplies for potable uses. In 1988, DWA and the City of Palm Springs entered into an agreement to treat wastewater. Under the agreement, the City provides primary and secondary treatment at the City of Palm Springs WWTP, after which the secondary effluent is piped to the DWA WRF for tertiary treatment or to a collection of percolation ponds for recharge back into the groundwater basin.

In 1989, the DWA WRF was constructed with an initial capacity of 5.0 MGD. The facility was expanded in 1995 to its present capacity of 10.0 MGD (ultimate capacity of 15.0 MGD). DWA’s recycled water system facilities consist of the DWA WRF, two booster pumping plants, and transmission pipelines. While secondary effluent from the City of Palm Springs WWTP is available for recycling and delivery to nonpotable customers, the majority of secondary effluent is currently diverted to the percolation ponds for groundwater recharge rather than direct recycled water distribution.

When recycled water demand exists, DWA has the capability to treat available secondary effluent to tertiary standards and deliver it to approved customers. DWA also maintains the ability to supplement recycled water supplies with non-potable groundwater from shallow wells to meet peak seasonal irrigation demands, and potable water may be used in limited circumstances if necessary to maintain system reliability. In 2014, DWA constructed two non-potable, shallow groundwater wells (1,200 gallons per minute [gpm] capacity each) that are intended to extract shallow, low-quality groundwater to supplement recycled water demands in the summer months in-lieu of potable water. Supplemental production from these wells is used to meet peak seasonal demands and support system flexibility. Current recycled water demands do not require full utilization of available secondary supply and resultant effluent volumes vary seasonally.

Recycled water production is limited by the volume of wastewater received at the City of Palm Springs WWTP. Wastewater flows have declined in recent years due to water conservation and improved indoor water use efficiency. In addition, the City is largely built out, and significant increases in wastewater flows are not expected. As a result, opportunities to expand recycled water supply within DWA’s service area are limited. Additionally, portions of the service area require interagency coordination for wastewater conveyance; however, these arrangements do not substantially alter recycled water availability.

The recycled water produced by the DWA WRF is approved for all uses, except drinking, by the SWRCB.

To help demonstrate the positive effects of using recycled water, DWA’s Operations Center and WRF are both irrigated with recycled water. The City of Palm Springs Demuth Park and several Palm Springs golf courses and athletic fields are also irrigated with recycled water, among other locations within DWA’s service area.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-21
Currently, all recycled water produced by DWA’s facility is utilized for non-potable irrigation purposes. Given the substantial irrigation demands within the service area, irrigation is expected to remain the primary use of recycled water. While recycled water use does not materially change overall consumptive use patterns, it can offset groundwater pumping and support long-term basin sustainability. DWA continues to evaluate additional recycled water connections where feasible.

Wastewater collection within the DWA service area is summarized in Table 6-16, and wastewater treatment is provided in Table 6-17. The 2025 use of recycled water and projected future use is presented in Table 6-18. The actual use in 2025 is compared to the projections from the 2020 UWMP in Table 6-19.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-22
Table 6-16. DWR 6-2R Wastewater Collected within Service Area in 2025 Wastewater Collection Recipient of Collected Wastewater Name of Wastewater
Collection Agency
Wastewater Volume
Metered or Estimated
Wastewater Volume Collected from
UWMP Service Area in 2025 (AFY)
Name of Wastewater Agency
Receiving Collected Wastewater
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Name
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Located within UWMP Area
WWTP Operation Contracted
to a Third Party
City of Palm Springs Metered 4,890 City of Palm Springs Palm Springs WWTP Yes Yes Desert Water Agency Estimated 101 CVWD WRP-10 No No
Total 4,991
Table 6-17. DWR 6-3R Wastewater Treatment and Discharge within Service Area in 2025 -
Wastewater Treatment
Plant Name
Discharge Location
Name or Identifier
Discharge Location
Description
Wastewater Discharge ID
Number
Method of
Disposal
Plant Treats
Wastewater Generated
Outside the Service
Area Treatment Level
2025 Volumes (AFY)
Wastewater
Treated
Discharged
Treated
Wastewater
Recycled
Within
Service Area
Recycled
Outside of
Service Area
Instream
Flow Permit
Requirement
Palm Springs WWTP CIWQS ID: 247435 Percolation Pond 7A330114012 Percolation Pond No Secondary 4,890 4,800 90 0 0 DWA WRF CIWQS ID: 220932 N/A 7A330132001 N/A No Tertiary 142 0 142 0 0 Total 5,032 4,800 232
Note: Treatment at CVWD WRP-7 is reported in CVWD chapter of the RUWMP.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-23
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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-24
Table 6-18. DWR 6-4R Recycled Water Direct Beneficial Uses Within Service Area
Name of Supplier Producing (Treating) the
Recycled Water
Desert Water Agency
Name of Supplier Operating the Recycled
Water Distribution System
Desert Water Agency
Supplemental Volume of Water Added in 2025 2,8931
Source of 2025 Supplemental Water Shallow groundwater wells and potable water Beneficial Use
Type
Level of
Treatment
General
Description of
2025 Uses 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Landscape
Irrigation
(excludes golf
courses)
Tertiary
HOAs and
municipal
landscaping
874 740 740 740 740 740
Golf Course
Irrigation Tertiary Golf courses 2,162 2,673 2,673 2,673 2,673 2,673 Total 3,046 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413
1 Water recycling plant was offline from 1/1/2025 through 12/1/2025; plant was returned to service on 12/2/2025.

Recycled water customers were served supplemental potable water from 1/1/2025 through 12/1/2025. 2030 through 2050 totals are assumed to be served fully by recycled water.

Table 6-19. DWR 6-5R Recycled Water Use Projection Compared to Actual Use Type
2020 Projection for 2025
(AFY)
2025 Actual Use1
(AFY)
Landscape Irrigation (excludes golf courses) 740 874
Golf Course Irrigation 2,673 2,162
Total 3,413 3,046
1 Water recycling plant was offline from 1/1/2025 through 12/1/2025; plant was returned to service on 12/2/2025.

Recycled water customers were served supplemental potable water from 1/1/2025 through 12/1/2025 DWA offers the following incentives to encourage recycled water use within its service area:
• Favorable Rates – DWA's rates for providing recycled water to its customers are approximately one-half of its rates for providing potable water.
• Cost-Sharing – DWA participates in the cost of constructing offsite water recycling facilities. • Technical Assistance – DWA provides technical assistance to its recycled water customers at no charge.
• Reliability Guarantee – DWA guarantees its recycled water service reliability (with qualifying statements), even during water supply shortages (excluding disaster conditions). In the event that DWA is unable to provide recycled water, it will supply shallow groundwater or potable water to its recycled water customers.
• Cost-Comparisons – DWA provides potential recycled water customers with a comparison of the costs of using recycled water for irrigation versus the costs of constructing and operating a private water well, including costs associated with groundwater replenishment assessments.

Historically, the favorable rates for recycled water have been the primary incentive for customers with large landscape areas to use recycled water in lieu of potable water for irrigation. DWA experienced a reduction in recycled water demand beginning in 2020 when a major recycled water customer discontinued service.

Since that time, DWA has continued to operate and maintain its recycled water system and has evaluated

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-25
opportunities to expand recycled water use within its service area where feasible. Table 6-20 shows the expected increase in recycled water use due to the encouragement of recycled water use.

Table 6-20. DWR 6-6R Methods to Encourage Future Recycled Water Use Name of
Action Description
Planned
Implementation
Year
Expected Increase
in Recycled Water
Use (AF)
Favorable
Rates
DWA's rates for providing recycled water to its
customers are approximately one-half of its rates
for providing potable water.

Current 257
Cost-Sharing DWA participates in the cost of constructing offsite water recycling facilities.

Current 64
Technical
Assistance
DWA provides technical assistance to its recycled
water customers at no charge.

Current 64
Reliability
Guarantee
DWA guarantees its recycled water service
reliability (with qualifying statements), even during
water supply shortages (excluding disaster
conditions). In the event that DWA is unable to
provide recycled water, it will supply shallow
groundwater or potable water to its recycled water
customers.

Current 64
CostComparisonsDWA provides potential recycled water customers with a comparison of the costs of using recycled
water for irrigation versus the costs of constructing
and operating a private water well, including costs
associated with groundwater replenishment
assessments.

Current 64

6.6.2.6 Desalinated Water Opportunities
DWA does not have direct access to ocean water or a significant quantity of brackish groundwater. There is a limited and uncertain supply of brackish groundwater at the downstream (lower or southeasterly) end of the Mission Creek Subbasin. However, extraction of such brackish groundwater would deplete the same subbasin from which usable groundwater is extracted. At this time, DWA has no plans to extract and treat brackish groundwater as a potential source of water supply.

6.6.2.7 Water Exchanges and Transfers
DWA’s SWP exchange water is a significant source of supply for groundwater recharge in the Coachella Valley. DWA has executed multiple exchanges and transfers associated with its imported water supplies.

This supply is described in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

DWA continues to explore additional opportunities to obtain supplemental sources through transfers or exchanges with other suppliers.

DWA currently has emergency interties with CVWD.

6.6.2.8 Future Water Projects
DWA recognizes the need to obtain additional water supplies to meet projected water demands and prevent groundwater overdraft. DWA is investigating several Statewide projects to obtain additional supply or improve the reliability of SWP supplies. Increased groundwater replenishment with SWP exchange water would help with groundwater basin management objectives. However, the water would not be used to meet urban demands directly; the water would be used for groundwater replenishment.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-26
Sites Reservoir
The Sites Reservoir Project would construct 1.5 million AF off-stream storage to capture and store stormwater flows from the Sacramento River for release in dry years. Sites Reservoir would be situated on the west side of the Sacramento Valley, approximately 10 miles west of Maxwell, CA. When operated in coordination with other Northern California reservoirs such as Shasta, Oroville, and Folsom, which function as the backbone to both the SWP and the Central Valley Project, Sites Reservoir would increase flexibility and reliability of statewide water supplies in drier periods.

In 2019, DWA entered into an agreement with the Sites Project Authority for the next phase of planning for the Sites Reservoir. Administered by the Sites Project Authority, DWA forecasts availability of 5,100 AFY in Sites Reservoir supply.

Delta Conveyance Project
The Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) would construct and operate new conveyance facilities in the Delta, primarily a new tunnel to bypass existing natural channels through the Delta that are used for conveyance.

New intake facilities would be located in the north Delta along the Sacramento River between Freeport, CA and the confluence with Sutter Slough. A new tunnel would convey water from the new intakes to the existing Banks Pumping Plant and potentially the federal Jones Pumping Plant, both in the south Delta.

The DCP would provide an alternate location for diversion of water from the Delta and would be operated in coordination with the existing south Delta pumping facilities.

DWA has approved an agreement to advance its share of funding for DCP planning and design costs. DWA forecasts increased reliability of 5,900 AFY in SWP supplies. Administered by DWR, the DCP is currently in the planning and environmental compliance phase.

Table 6-21 provides a summary of expected future water supply projects. It is assumed that DWA will receive additional imported supply from the Sites Reservoir and DCP via MWD’s Colorado River Aqueduct along with existing SWP supplies.

Table 6-21. DWR 6-7R Expected Future Water Supply Projects or Programs Name of Future
Projects or
Programs
Joint Project
with Other
Suppliers
Agency
Name
Planned
Implementation
Year
Planned for
Use in Year
Type
Expected Increase
in Water Supply to
Supplier (AFY)
Sites Reservoir Yes Sites Project
Authority,
MWD
2035 Normal 5,100
Delta Conveyance
Project
Yes DWR, MWD 2047 Normal 5,900

6.6.2.9 Summary of Existing and Planned Sources of Water DWA’s sources of supply used in 2025 are summarized in Table 6-22. DWA’s anticipated future supplies are shown in Table 6-23.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-27
Table 6-22. DWR 6-8R Actual Water Supplies
-
Water Supply
Additional Detail on
Water Supply
2025
Actual Volume (AFY) Water Quality
Groundwater Indio Subbasin1 32,222 Drinking water
Surface water Chino Creek 18 Non Potable
Surface water Snow & Falls Creek 1,664 Non Potable
Surface water Whitewater River 314 Non Potable
Recycled water DWA WRF2 142 Recycled water
Total 34,362
1 Surface water conveyed to downstream replenishment basins is subtracted from the groundwater supply total to avoid double counting water that is recharged and pumped in the same year. 2 Water recycling plant was offline from 1/1/2025 through 12/1/2025; plant was returned to service on 12/2/2025.

Recycled water customers were served potable water from 1/1/2025 through 12/1/2025.

Table 6-23. DWR 6-9 R Projected Water Supplies (AFY)
Water Supply Additional Detail on Water Supply 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 Groundwater Indio Subbasin1 31,614 28,626 29,294 30,020 30,748 Recycled water DWA WRF 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413
Surface water Chino Creek, Snow Creek, Falls
Creek, Whitewater River
2,361 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000
Total 37,388 38,039 38,707 39,433 40,161
1 Surface water conveyed to downstream replenishment basins is subtracted from the groundwater supply total to avoid double counting water that is recharged and pumped in the same year.

6.6.2.10 Special Considerations
Although groundwater is a relatively resilient water supply with respect to climate change, long periods of drought/dry weather may reduce the availability of imported water for groundwater recharge. Climate change may directly impact the availability of imported water to DWA in future years. Potential effects of a hotter and drier climate could also increase water demand within the Coachella Valley. A more detailed discussion of potential climate change impacts is presented in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

6.6.3 Energy Use
DWA compiled the total energy use for water management activities during calendar year 2024, the most recent year for which complete energy usage data were available. DWA used the Total Utility Approach to estimate the energy intensity of its water management operations. The results are shown in Table 6-24 and Table 6-25.

Table 6-24. Energy Use for Water Management
Category
Usage during
Calendar Year 2024 Notes
Potable water (wells, boosters, streams,
reservoir sites)
23,075,285 kwh
Recycled water 1,821,996 kwh 1,075,193 kwh of this amount was generated from solar
Hydropower production 4,581,038 kwh 2,002,601 should be credited to CVWD 2,578,437 should be credited to DWA
Solar production 1,615,470 kwh

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 6-28
Table 6-25. DWR O-1B Energy Intensity Reporting
Table O-1B: Recommended Energy Reporting - Total Utility Approach Enter Start Date for Reporting Period 1/1/2024
End Date 12/31/2024 Urban Water Supplier Operational Control Is upstream embedded in the values
reported?
No Sum of All Water
Management Processes
Non-Consequential
Hydropower
Water Volume Units Used AF Total Utility Hydropower Net Utility Volume of Water Entering Process (volume unit) 29,546 0 29,546 Energy Consumed (kWh) 23,075,285 -2,578,437 20,496,848
Energy Intensity (kWh/volume) 781.0 0.0 693.7
Quantity of Self-Generated Renewable Energy
1,615,470 kWh
Data Quality (Estimate, Metered Data, Combination of Estimates and Metered Data) Combination of Estimates and Metered Data
Data Quality Narrative
Energy use data was obtained from electricity consumption records maintained by the agency.

Narrative
The agency uses energy for groundwater production from wells, pumping at booster stations from lower pressure zones to higher pressure zones, and treatment processes.

6.7 Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment The UWMP Act requires urban water suppliers to assess water supply reliability that compares total projected water use with expected water supply over the next 25 years in five-year increments, including a single dry year and multiple dry years. Reliability is a measure of a water system’s expected success in managing water shortages. This chapter presents the reliability assessment for DWA’s service area.

6.7.1 Reliability Overview
DWA’s goal is to deliver a reliable and high-quality water supply to its customers, even during dry periods.

DWA’s direct sources of urban potable water supply are local groundwater and surface water. Coachella Valley water suppliers are achieving success in sustainable groundwater management and as stewards of local water resources. The regional groundwater supply has historically been able to meet demands during both normal and dry periods. Though increased environmental regulations, competition for water supplies, and recurrent drought conditions have reduced the reliability of imported water, groundwater replenishment has reversed past overdraft conditions. Potential constraints on these supplies that could affect reliability are discussed in Chapter 3 of this RUWMP.

The “normal year” represents the average water supply conditions and availability to DWA. This RUWMP uses the long-term average supply metrics to represent normal year conditions.

The “single dry year” represents the lowest water supply available to DWA. Though DWA’s vast groundwater in storage is not constrained in dry years, this RUWMP uses 2021 for the single dry year due to its combination of low precipitation and peak demand. DWA’s water use data from the last 20 years was evaluated to understand demand response among its customer base. For DWA, the single dry year demand represents 103 percent of normal conditions.

The “multiple dry years” represents the lowest average water supply available to DWA for a consecutive multi-year period (five years or more). This is generally considered to be the lowest average surface runoff for a consecutive multiple year period for a watershed since 1903. This RUWMP uses 2020 through 2024 as the multiple dry year period. Although this period is not the driest consecutive five-year period on record, it represents a more accurate demand response to drought conditions due to conservation programs

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implemented in recent years by DWA. For DWA, the multiple dry year demand increases by two percent year-over-year to 110 percent of normal conditions.

Table 6-26 summarizes the water years used as the basis for urban water supply reliability assessment and the percent of average supply available for each base year.

Table 6-26. DWR 7-1R Basis of Water Year Data
- Available Supply if Year Type Repeats
Year Type Base Year Percent of Average Supply
Average Year 2015-2024 100%
Single-Dry Year 2021 103%
Consecutive Dry Years 1st Year 2020 102%
Consecutive Dry Years 2nd Year 2021 104%
Consecutive Dry Years 3rd Year 2022 106%
Consecutive Dry Years 4th Year 2023 108%
Consecutive Dry Years 5th Year 2024 110%

6.7.2 Water Service Reliability Assessment
Water has played, and will continue to play, a vital role in the development of the Palm Springs area, a world-renowned resort destination community. A reliable, abundant, high-quality water supply is the most important factor in the economic sustainability and growth of the Palm Springs area. DWA's goal is to provide its customers with an adequate and reliable supply of high-quality water to meet present and future needs in an environmentally and economically responsible manner.

The reliability of the groundwater supply is dependent on reliable sources to replenish water extracted from the groundwater basin. To ensure a safe and reliable supply, regional water suppliers collaborate to manage groundwater via the Indio Subbasin Alternative Plan and Mission Creek Subbasin Alternative Plan.

Since 1973 and 2002, respectively, DWA has been using Colorado River water exchanged for SWP water to replenish groundwater in the Indio and Mission Creek Subbasins. While DWA is susceptible to the uncertainty of supply and delivery from the SWP and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta due to legal, environmental, and climatic restrictions, the Coachella Valley agencies’ efforts in regional management of the groundwater basin have helped address long‐term overdraft. Therefore, water supply reliability is expected to be good and fully reliable.

Groundwater storage within Indio and Mission Creek Subbasins will be used in dry years to support potential differences between demands and supply. The groundwater basin has a capacity of approximately

29.8 MAF. It is capable of meeting the water demands of DWA for extended periods during normal, single‐ dry and multiple‐dry year conditions.

Due to DWA's reliance on local groundwater sources and its ability to secure imported water for storage within the Indio and Mission Creek Subbasins, short-term drought situations have historically had a negligible effect on DWA's ability to supply water to its customers. DWA will continue to request the maximum allocation from the SWP and will obtain and store as much available water as possible to prevent supply deficiencies and to preserve the groundwater basin.

The majority of DWA's service area depends exclusively on groundwater, while the northwestern portion of the service area is supplied by a mix of groundwater and surface water. Since the surface water sources are fed with water originating in the local mountains, they are inherently more susceptible to seasonal variation and drought conditions. A small group of relatively isolated single-family, minimally-landscaped residences (i.e., Snow Creek Village) are supplied solely with surface water. If delivery of surface water to these residences was interrupted or reduced, demand could be met in the interim through stored water in reservoirs dedicated to those areas. In the unlikely event that water became unavailable in those areas, a water supply would have to be trucked in from elsewhere within DWA's water system.

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DWA's water supply is not directly affected by short-term fluctuations in hydrology (i.e., drought conditions), since approximately 95 percent of DWA's water supply consists of groundwater and recycled water. The challenges that DWA faces are long-term in nature, as opposed to short-term shortage situations, due to the large supply of stored groundwater. While there is sufficient groundwater in storage to weather shortterm droughts, it will not sustain the current population indefinitely due to the limited quantities of natural recharge. Continued water importation, water recycling, water conservation, and long-range planning are necessary to meet current and future water demands without depleting the groundwater in storage. The following tables provide DWA’s projected water supplies and demands in a normal year, single dry year, and multiple dry years.

6.7.2.1 Emergency Preparedness
DWA's water system has the potential to be affected by earthquakes, power outages, floods, and other potentially devastating occurrences; therefore, emergency preparedness planning is a key part of DWA's operations. DWA has coordinated internally with all departments and with other local entities to formulate an Emergency Response Plan. The Emergency Response Plan outlines specific courses of action DWA personnel will follow in the event of a disaster or a breach in facility security. In the Emergency Response Plan, all areas of emergency preparedness are addressed, with emphasis on employee response and delivering safe water to DWA's customers as quickly as possible.

Additionally, DWA's 26 aboveground steel reservoirs are equipped with earthquake valves to conserve stored water supply in the event of a pipeline break resulting from an earthquake. Aging pipelines are also replaced as part of an ongoing mainline replacement program to further enhance the reliability of the system. All new facilities are designed taking into consideration the potential for earthquakes, power shortages, and flooding potential.

6.7.2.2 Normal Year
The anticipated supplies and demands during a normal year are shown in Table 6-27. This analysis does not include WSCP use reduction in a normal year. The supply and demand comparison for the normal year results in no shortages.

Table 6-27. DWR 7-2R Normal Year Supply and Demand Comparison - 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Supply Totals (AFY)
From DWR Table 6-9R 37,388 38,039 38,707 39,433 40,161
Groundwater 31,614 28,626 29,294 30,020 30,748
Recycled Water 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413
Surface Water 2,361 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000
Demand Totals (AFY)
From DWR Table 4-3R 37,388 38,039 38,707 39,433 40,161
Potable Water Demand 33,542 34,194 34,861 35,588 36,315 Non-Potable Water Demand 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846
Surplus/(Shortfall) (AFY) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 0 0 0 0 0
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
Note: The RUWMP participating agencies collaborate on groundwater management plans for long-term sustainability. During a normal year, single-dry year, or five-dry year period, the agencies could produce additional groundwater if demands exceeded the estimates shown here.

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6.7.2.3 Single Dry Year
The single dry year represents a “worst-case” scenario for demand response, jumping to 103 percent of normal conditions in a single year. Due to the reliability of the region’s groundwater basin, water supply availability during a single-dry year scenario was assumed to be similar to the average year scenario. The anticipated supplies and demands during a single dry year are shown in Table 6-28. Demand is assumed to increase during a single-dry year due to increased irrigation needs. This analysis does not include WSCP use reduction in a single dry year. Urban water supplies during the single dry year are fully reliable. Thus, the supply and demand comparison for the single dry year results in no shortages.

Table 6-28. DWR 7-3R Single Dry Year Supply and Demand Comparison - 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Supply Totals (AFY) 38,632 39,305 39,995 40,745 41,498
Groundwater 32,858 29,892 30,582 31,332 32,085
Recycled Water 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413
Surface Water 2,361 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000
Demand Totals (AFY) 38,632 39,305 39,995 40,745 41,498
Potable Water Demand 34,787 35,459 36,149 36,900 37,652 Non-Potable Water Demand 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846
Surplus/(Shortfall) (AFY) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 0 0 0 0 0
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
Note: The RUWMP participating agencies collaborate on groundwater management plans for long-term sustainability. During a normal year, single-dry year, or five-dry year period, the agencies could produce additional groundwater if demands exceeded the estimates shown here.

6.7.2.4 Multiple Dry Years
The anticipated supplies and demands during a multiple-dry year period are shown in Table 6-29.Similar to the single dry year, the multiple dry year urban water supply reliability is 100 percent. In five consecutive dry year conditions, there are no shortages. Demand is expected to increase during multiple dry year periods due to increased irrigation needs. Demand is expected to be offset, however, in the second through fifth years of a consecutive dry year period due to efficiencies realized from the implementation of DWA’s WSCP. This reliability forecast conservatively assumes that the WSCP will reduce water use by three percent in the second through fifth years of a multiple year drought.

Table 6-29. DWR 7-4R Multiple Dry Years Supply and Demand Comparison (AF) 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
First Year
Supply Totals (AFY) 38,582 39,247 39,927 40,668 41,411
Groundwater 34,723 35,387 36,068 36,809 37,551
Recycled Water 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413
Surface Water 2,361 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000
Demand Totals (AFY) 38,582 39,247 39,927 40,668 41,411
Potable Water Demand 34,737 35,401 36,082 36,823 37,565 Non-Potable Water Demand 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846
Surplus/(Shortfall) (AFY) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 0 0 0 0 0
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0

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2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Second Year
Supply Totals (AFY) 38,284 38,943 39,618 40,354 41,090
Groundwater 35,470 36,148 36,842 37,597 38,354
Recycled Water 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413
Surface Water 2,361 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000
Demand Totals (AFY) 38,284 38,943 39,618 40,354 41,090
Potable Water Demand 34,438 35,097 35,773 36,508 37,244 Non-Potable Water Demand 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846
Surplus/(Shortfall) (AFY) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 1,046 1,065 1,083 1,104 1,124
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0 0 0 0 0
Third Year
Supply Totals (AFY) 39,011 39,683 40,372 41,121 41,872
Groundwater 36,218 36,908 37,616 38,386 39,158
Recycled Water 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413
Surface Water 2,361 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000
Demand Totals (AFY) 39,011 39,683 40,372 41,121 41,872
Potable Water Demand 35,166 35,837 36,526 37,275 38,026 Non-Potable Water Demand 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846
Surplus/(Shortfall) (AFY) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 1,066 1,085 1,104 1,125 1,146
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0 0 0 0 0
Fourth Year
Supply Totals (AFY) 39,739 40,423 41,125 41,888 42,653
Groundwater 36,966 37,669 38,390 39,175 39,961
Recycled Water 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413
Surface Water 2,361 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000
Demand Totals (AFY) 39,739 40,423 41,125 41,888 42,653
Potable Water Demand 35,893 36,578 37,279 38,043 38,808 Non-Potable Water Demand 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846
Surplus/(Shortfall) (AFY) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 1,087 1,105 1,125 1,146 1,167
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0 0 0 0 0
Fifth Year
Supply Totals (AFY) 40,467 41,164 41,878 42,656 43,435
Groundwater 37,714 38,430 39,164 39,963 40,764
Recycled Water 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413 3,413
Surface Water 2,361 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000
Demand Totals (AFY) 40,467 41,164 41,878 42,656 43,435
Potable Water Demand 36,621 37,318 38,032 38,810 39,589 Non-Potable Water Demand 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846 3,846
Surplus/(Shortfall) (AFY) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 1,107 1,126 1,146 1,167 1,189
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0 0 0 0 0
1 The RUWMP participating agencies collaborate on groundwater management plans for long-term sustainability.

During a normal year, single-dry year, or five-dry year period, the agencies could produce additional groundwater if demands exceeded the estimates shown here. Conversely, any water use reduction as a result of WSCP implementation will result in reduced groundwater production and groundwater will remain in storage for future use.

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DWA implements many programs to maximize the water resources available to meet demands, including but not limited to groundwater replenishment with imported water, direct use and recharge of recycled water, and comprehensive water conservation practices such as landscaping ordinances, outreach and education. The groundwater replenishment programs establish a comprehensive and managed effort to reduce and eliminate overdraft of local groundwater resources. These programs allow DWA and its partner agencies to maintain the groundwater basin as the primary water supply and to recharge the groundwater basin as other supplies are available and needed to meet existing and projected demands.

6.7.3 Drought Risk Assessment
The Drought Risk Assessment (DRA) is based on projections of demand and available supply for the next five years. Demands are expected to increase, but conservation messaging and programs can dampen a demand response among existing customers due to critically dry conditions, if needed. For DWA, the multiple dry year demand increases by two percent year-over-year from 102 to 110 percent of normal conditions. It is expected that conservation messaging and programs will prevent any significant increase in demands from existing customers due to dry conditions. The groundwater supply is reliable for a fiveyear dry period as the volume in storage can be drawn down during a dry period.

The data and methodologies used to identify a potential shortage are described in DWA’s WSCP (see Appendix C). This DRA conservatively assumes that the WSCP will reduce water use by three percent in the second through fifth years of a multiple year drought. Based on the reliability analysis presented above, the supply of groundwater is fully reliable in a five-year drought scenario, including consideration of historic droughts in the Coachella Valley and potential impacts of climate change.

The results of the DRA, including estimated savings from the implementation of the WSCP, are summarized in Table 6-30. Any water shortage can be mitigated through use of groundwater in storage and demand reduction via WSCP implementation.

Table 6-30. DWR 7-5 Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment
2026 Gross Water Use (AFY) 35,049
Total Supplies (AFY) 35,049
Surplus/(Shortfall) without WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (Use Reduction and Supply Augmentation) WSCP (Supply Augmentation Benefit) 0
WSCP (Use Reduction Savings Benefit) 0
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall) 0
Resulting Percent Use Reduction from WSCP Action 0%
2027 Gross Water Use (AFY) 35,736
Total Supplies (AFY) 35,736
Surplus/(Shortfall) without WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (Use Reduction and Supply Augmentation) WSCP (Supply Augmentation Benefit) 0
WSCP (Use Reduction Savings Benefit) 936
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0
Resulting Percent Use Reduction from WSCP Action 3%

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2028 Gross Water Use (AFY) 36,423
Total Supplies (AFY) 36,423
Surplus/(Shortfall) without WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (Use Reduction and Supply Augmentation) WSCP (Supply Augmentation Benefit) 0
WSCP (Use Reduction Savings Benefit) 954
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)
1 0
Resulting Percent Use Reduction from WSCP Action 3%
2029 Gross Water Use (AFY) 37,111
Total Supplies (AFY) 37,111
Surplus/(Shortfall) without WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (Use Reduction and Supply Augmentation) WSCP (Supply Augmentation Benefit) 0
WSCP (Use Reduction Savings Benefit) 972
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0
Resulting Percent Use Reduction from WSCP Action 3%
2030 Gross Water Use (AFY) 37,768
Total Supplies (AFY) 37,798
Surplus/(Shortfall) without WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (Use Reduction and Supply Augmentation) WSCP (Supply Augmentation Benefit) 0
WSCP (Use Reduction Savings Benefit) 990
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0
Resulting Percent Use Reduction from WSCP Action 3%
1 The RUWMP participating agencies collaborate on groundwater management plans for long-term sustainability.

During a normal year, single-dry year, or five-dry year period, the agencies could produce additional groundwater if demands exceeded the estimates shown here. Conversely, any water use reduction as a result of WSCP implementation will result in reduced groundwater production and groundwater will remain in storage for future use.

6.8 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
DWA has developed a WSCP that outlines its strategy for assessing and responding to potential water shortages. Building on the region’s overall high water supply reliability, the WSCP prepares for risks such as prolonged drought, infrastructure failure, regulatory restrictions, contamination, and other emergencies.

It establishes procedures for annual water supply and demand assessments, coordination among regional water agencies, and use of six standardized shortage levels that range from minimal conservation requirements to severe, mandatory restrictions when more than 50% supply reduction occurs.

To manage shortages, the WSCP details a suite of supply augmentation methods, demand reduction actions, operational adjustments, communication protocols, and enforcement mechanisms. Actions escalate by shortage level and may include outdoor irrigation limits, reduced water budgets, expanded public outreach, drought surcharges, mandatory rationing, and prohibitions on potable outdoor use. The WSCP also describes financial implications, monitoring and reporting requirements, seismic risk considerations, and emergency response coordination with regional partners. It sets forth legal authorities supporting plan implementation and provides the procedures for adoption, future amendments, and public engagement.

The DWA WSCP is included in Appendix C of this RUWMP.

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6.9 Demand Management Measures
This section describes the Demand Management Measures (DMMs) implemented by DWA to help increase water use efficiency.

6.9.1 Existing Demand Management Measures
As part of its comprehensive water conservation program, DWA has implemented the DMMs described in the following sections. DMMs refer to policies, programs, rules, regulation and ordinances, and the use of devices, equipment, and facilities that, over the long term, have been generally justified and accepted by the industry as providing a reliable reduction in water demand.

6.9.1.1 Water Waste Prevention Ordinances
On March 1, 2016, DWA adopted Ordinance No. 65: Ordinance of Desert Water Agency Establishing a Water Conservation Plan and Restricting the Use of Water During Threatened or Existing Water Shortage Conditions, referred to herein as Ordinance No. 65, a copy of which is attached to DWA’s WSCP.

Ordinance No. 65 was adopted by DWA in response to the continued state of emergency issued by Governor Brown resulting from ongoing severe dry conditions throughout California. The provisions of Ordinance No. 65 were developed in accordance with the emergency regulations for urban water suppliers due to continuing water shortage conditions, adopted by the SWRCB in 2015. Water use prohibitions set forth in DWA's Ordinance No. 65 are summarized as follows:
• Washing hardscape, such as driveways, parking lots, and walkways; • Vehicle washing without the use of buckets and shut off nozzles on hoses; • Serving water in restaurants unless requested;
• Outdoor irrigation between 7 AM and 7 PM, and on specified days of the week; • Use of non-recirculating fountains;
• Outdoor irrigation of newly constructed homes and buildings without drip or micro-spray systems; • Use of potable water to irrigate turf within street medians or public street rights-of-way.

Additionally, DWA has water waste reporting mechanisms in place by phone and on its website at www.dwa.org/waterwaste.

DWA is in the process of developing an updated ordinance to reflect the updated WSCP.

6.9.1.2 Metering
DWA meters 100 percent of the service connections within its service area and will continue to meter all future new connections. Additionally, DWA is converting to an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) program, with 100 percent of its customer meters outfitted with AMI. DWA is in the process of constructing a fixed network component and developing a customer-facing portal.

6.9.1.3 Conservation Pricing
DWA does not implement conservation or tiered rates for water consumption. Water charges consist of monthly water rates based on the meter size and a flat water rate per each 100 cubic feet. DWA adopted a new rate structure in July 2025 with updated rates for recycled water and fees for water use violations.

Additionally, DWA has a drought rate surcharge that is triggered by a drop in overall water consumption and a vote of the Board of Directors. The surcharge applies to every unit of water.

While DWA has not implemented conservation pricing, it has updated bills with graphics that more easily allow a customer to compare their current use to prior use and to understand how their use compares to other customers with meters the same size. This information is provided to increase water conscious behavior.

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6.9.1.4 Public Education and Outreach
DWA implements several public information programs, with its website as a primary communication tool.

The purpose of these programs is to educate the public on conservation programs being planned and/or implemented by DWA, as well as educational tips that customers can use to lower their water usage.

DWA has a large section on its website (https://dwa.org/save/) devoted to water conservation and education. The webpage provides information on all of the agency’s conservation programs, including conservation regulations, rebate programs, information on efficient landscaping, free conservation kits and resources, and other water saving tips.

DWA offers a free conservation kit where customers receive water saving garden hose nozzle, dual-spray swivel kitchen faucet aerator, toilet leak detection dye, moisture meter for indoor plants, and bubble-spray faucet aerator.

DWA also has an advertising budget, is active on social media and invests in the regional CV Water Counts conservation outreach program. Part of the regional program also includes a “Water Counts Academy,” which offers local residents an opportunity to learn more about water in our community.

DWA offers educational presentations by its staff that can be requested by local schools.

DWA conducts water audits for large water users, such as homeowners associations and commercial properties, at no charge. Audits can be scheduled virtually. Water audits are aimed at providing customers with an optimum irrigation schedule, identification of system deficiencies, and suggestions for improving system efficiency.

DWA contracts with Inland Southern California United Way to provide the Help2Others Assistance Program, which assists eligible residential customers to avoid shutoff due to non-payment. The program is funded by DWA through non-rate revenue to assist their customers.

CV Water Counts
CV Water Counts was formed by the six water suppliers to provide education and awareness of water conversation to Valley residents and businesses. The group was formed in 2008 to reduce water demand, increase water supply, and improve water quality. The CV Water Counts website (https://cvwatercounts.com/) has informative links with educational resources, information on rebates for water saving devices, and upcoming water related events in the area. The CV Water Counts Program uses surveyed data from Coachella Valley residents to guide its water conservation messaging to achieve maximum local impact.

6.9.1.5 Programs to Assess and Manage Distribution System Real Losses DWA informs customers of possible leaks at their properties when there is excessive consumption compared to prior use. DWA meters all customer connections and water used for construction purposes through fire hydrants. DWA also keeps records of water used for other purposes, such as city street washing and firefighting. These are all components of annual Water Loss Reports submitted to the SWRCB.

DWA funds an aggressive water main replacement program. Leaks are repaired as soon as they are discovered in order to prevent damage and waste of water. All leaks are tracked on maps and through a pipeline inventory computer program. Mains with a history of leaks are prioritized and budgeted for replacement.

In addition, DWA has instructions and videos on its website (at www.dwa.org/leaks) showing customers how to check for leaks on their properties by turning off all water fixtures and reading their water meters.

6.9.1.6 Water Conservation Program Coordination and Staffing Support DWA's Conservation Department is responsible for coordinating conservation outreach and program management. The Public Affairs Department, in consultation with the Conservation Department, creates and distributes digital and printed materials, such as bill inserts and fliers that educate and inform the public about water conservation methods and current incentives and programs. Staff also manage DWA's

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conservation programs, including rebates, school curriculum, public educational programs, and continuous dialog with community stakeholders.

6.9.1.7 Other Demand Management Measures
DWA has several rebate programs in place to encourage installation of water-saving fixtures and features.

DWA's Smart Irrigation Controller program has been implemented since 2011 and has resulted in the installation of 538 Smart Irrigation Controllers since 2022. Smart Irrigation Controllers allow customization of watering times based on climate, temperature, and evapotranspiration rates. DWA currently offers up to a $250 rebate for Smart Irrigation Controllers that include WiFi models and weather sensors.

DWA launched its turf rebate program in August 2014. The program was extremely popular during the recent droughts. Since 2022, DWA approved rebates for 799 grass removal projects for homeowners associations, businesses and residents for with a more water savvy option. The program continues to evolve as demands and community expectations shift. One key example is allowing backyard and private areas to be converted through the program. Additionally, though it was not allowed at the inception of the program, artificial turf is now permitted. DWA currently offers a turf rebate of $2 per square foot, and the City of Palm Springs offers its residents a $1 match per square foot, resulting in up to $3 per square foot for Palm Springs customers.

In 2017, DWA began an efficient nozzle program and has provided rebates for more than 15,882 efficient nozzles since 2022. The efficient rotary nozzles replace traditional spray sprinklers for grass areas.

Customers can also replace water intensive adjustable bubblers for pressure compensating bubblers for trees and shrubs. DWA offers up to a $7 rebate per rotating spray head and fixed-rate bubblers.

In September of 2019, DWA launched a residential washing machine incentive to replace its popular toilet rebate program. However, DWA brought the rebate program back in September 2023 with updated requirements, and the rebate is currently set up to $150 for 1.1 GPF or dual flush with 1.1/1.6 GPF or less.

Since 2022 DWA has provided incentives for 520 washing machines. DWA currently offers up to a $250 rebate on high-efficiency washing machine.

6.9.2 Implementation of DMMs
DWA is committed to conservation and water use efficiency to balance its sustainable water supply, and plans to continue its conservation program during the next five years. The details of implementation over the past five years are discussed in the previous sections for the applicable DMMs.

DWA plans to maintain, or further reduce, its per capita water use through the continued implementation of its existing and potential future water conservation programs.

6.10 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Implementation
This section includes a discussion of DWA’s process for adopting, submitting, and implementing the RUWMP and DWA’s WSCP.

6.10.1 Notice of Plan Preparation and Public Hearing
CWC Section 10621(b) requires that water suppliers notify cities and counties within their service area that the UWMP and WSCP are being updated at least 60 days prior to the public hearing. DWA issued a Notice of Plan Preparation stating that it was updating its plan and would hold a public hearing to consider adoption of the RUWMP and DWA’s WSCP. DWA provided written notice to the cities and counties within its service area on March 25, 2026. These entities are identified in Table 6-31, and the notification letters are included in Appendix A of the RUWMP. DWA provided an additional notice to the cities and counties with the time and date of the public hearing.

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Table 6-31. DWR 10-1R Notification to Cities and Counties 60 Day Notice Notice of Public Hearing
City
Cathedral City Yes Yes
Palm Springs Yes Yes
County
Riverside Yes Yes
Prior to the public hearing, DWA provided notice to the public through its website and published announcements of the public hearing in the newspaper on two occasions before the hearing. Copies of the proof of publication are included in Appendix A.

6.10.2 Public Hearing and Adoption
DWA held a public hearing on June 2, 2026, located at Desert Water Agency, 1200 S Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, CA 92264 to hear public comment and consider adopting this RUWMP and DWA’s WSCP.

As part of the public hearing, DWA provided information on DWA’s municipal water demand forecast and supply reliability assessment, as well as an overview of DMMs and the WSCP. The public hearing on the RUWMP and DWA’s WSCP took place before the adoption of the Plans, which allowed the opportunity to modify the RUWMP and DWA’s WSCP in response to public input. After the hearing, the Plans were adopted as prepared or as modified during the hearing.

The adoption resolution for the RUWMP and DWA’s WSCP are included in Appendix F.

6.10.3 Plan Submittal
DWA will submit the standard tables electronically to DWR using the DWR Water Use Efficiency Data Portal along with a copy of the final RUWMP. The RUWMP will also be submitted to the California State Library and to the Cities of Cathedral City and Palm Springs and the County of Riverside, which DWA supplies water to, within 30 days of adoption.

DWA is not regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission, so notification to the Commission does not apply.

6.10.4 Public Availability
The RUWMP and DWA’s WSCP will be available for public viewing within 30 days of filing the plans with DWR. Commencing no later than July 31, 2026, the RUWMP and WSCP will be available for public review at DWA’s office (see address below) during regular business hours.

Desert Water Agency
1200 S Gene Autry Trail
Palm Springs, CA 92264
The final documents will also be posted on DWA’s website at www.dwa.org/uwmp.

6.10.5 Amending an Adopted UWMP or WSCP
If DWA identifies the need to amend the adopted RUWMP or DWA’s WSCP, each of the steps for notification, public hearing, adoption, and submittal will also be followed for the amended RUWMP.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-1
Chapter 7 City of Indio

7.1 Introduction
This chapter describes information specific to the City of Indio (hereafter referred to as Indio) and its water use efficiency programs. As an urban water supplier, Indio is required to prepare a UWMP every five years in response to the requirements of the UWMP Act, CWC Sections 10610 through 10656. This RUWMP serves to meet the UWMP Act requirements for the six participating agencies, and this chapter contains information specific to Indio.

Background about the preparation of the RUWMP and the changes in the CWC requirements is presented in Chapter 1 of the RUWMP. The relation of the RUWMP to other planning efforts is described in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

7.1.1 Chapter Organization
This chapter is organized into the sections recommended by the 2025 UWMP Guidebook prepared by DWR.
• Section 7.1 - Introduction and Lay Description. Provides a discussion on the fundamentals of the UWMP and the required Lay Description of the UWMP. Each UWMP must include a Lay Description of how much water the agency has on a reliable basis, how much it needs for the foreseeable future, what the agency’s strategy is for meeting its water needs, the challenges facing the agency, and any other information necessary to provide a general understanding. • Section 7.2 - Plan Preparation. Provides information on Indio’s process for developing the UWMP, including efforts in coordination and outreach.
• Section 7.3 - Service Area Description. Includes maps of the service area, a description of the service area and climate, public water systems, and Indio’s organizational structure and history. • Section 7.4 - Water Use Characterization. Describes and quantifies the current and projected urban water uses within Indio’s service area.
• Section 7.5 – SB7x7 Baselines, 2020 Targets, and 2025 Reporting. Describes Indio’s methods for calculating baseline and 2020 target urban water consumption and reporting 2020 target compliance from the 2020 UWMP.
• Section 7.6 - Water Supply Characterization. Describes and quantifies current and projected sources of urban water available to Indio. Includes discussion of potential recycled water uses and supply availability.
• Section 7.7 - Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment. Describes the reliability of Indio’s water supply and projects the reliability for at least the next 20 years. Includes an analysis for normal years, single dry years, and a five-consecutive-year drought. • Section 7.8 - Water Shortage Contingency Plan. Refers to the appendix which provides Indio’s staged plan for dealing with water shortages, including a catastrophic supply interruption. • Section 7.9 - Demand Management Measures. Describes Indio’s efforts to promote conservation and to reduce demand through demand management measures. • Section 7.10 - Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Implementation. Describes the steps taken by Indio to adopt and submit the UWMP and to make it publicly available. Includes a discussion of Indio’s plan to implement the UWMP.
• Appendices. Each Supplier may have information that is best appended to the 2025 UWMP, to support and further clarify information included in the main chapters.

7.1.2 UWMPs in Relation to Other Efforts
The related planning efforts by agencies in the Coachella Valley are described in Chapter 2 of the RUWMP.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-2

7.1.3 UWMPs and Grant or Loan Eligibility
Indio has prepared and adopted this 2025 UWMP, including compliance with water conservation requirements, and is therefore eligible for State water grants or loans.

7.1.4 Demonstration of Consistency with the Delta Plan for Participants in Covered Actions The participating agencies’ approach to demonstrating reduced reliance on the Delta is described in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP. The analysis of reduced Delta reliance is provided in Appendix B.

7.2 Plan Preparation
This section provides information on Indio’s process for developing this RUWMP, including efforts in coordination and outreach.

7.2.1 Plan Preparation
In accordance with the CWC, urban water suppliers must develop a UWMP every five years. An “urban water supplier” is a supplier providing water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 service connections or supplying 3,000 AFY or more. Indio supplies approximately 19,880 AFY to 23,974 municipal service connections and, therefore, surpasses both the volumetric delivery and number of connections thresholds and has prepared a 2025 UWMP.

7.2.2 Basis for Preparing a Plan
Indio is a retail public water supplier that meets the definition of an urban water supplier with almost 24,000 municipal water service connections in 2025. Indio maintains a single Public Water System (PWS) with information shown in Table 7-1.

Table 7-1. DWR 2-1R Public Water Systems
Public Water System
Number
Public Water System
Name
Number of
Municipal Connections
2025
Volume of Water
Supplied 2025 (AF)
CA3310020 Indio Water Authority 23,974 20,249
Total 23,974 20,249

7.2.3 Regional Planning
The regional planning efforts of water supply agencies in the Coachella Valley are described in Chapters 2 and 3 of the RUWMP.

The UWMP Act allows water agencies to prepare their plans either individually or by participation in an area wide, regional, watershed, or basin-wide urban water management plan. Indio is participating in the Coachella Valley RUWMP.

7.2.4 Individual or Regional Planning and Compliance
The Water Conservation Act of 2009 allows agencies to report progress toward achieving water conservation targets on an individual or regional basis. The agencies have not created a Regional Alliance for the purposes of measuring and reporting water conservation targets.

7.2.5 Fiscal or Calendar Year and Units of Measure
This UWMP reports water use on a calendar year basis, and all volumes are expressed in units of acrefeet (AF), unless otherwise indicated. Indio is a retail agency and does not currently sell wholesale water.

Table 7-2 shows Indio’s supplier identification information used throughout this report.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-3
Table 7-2. DWR 2-3 Supplier Identification
Information Supplier Identification
Type of Supplier Supplier is a retail supplier
Fiscal or Calendar Year UWMP Tables are in calendar years Unit of measure used in UWMP AF

7.2.6 Coordination and Outreach
Indio does not receive water from a wholesale supplier and meets all its water demands through its own supplies. Indio does not currently provide wholesale water to other water agencies.

Outreach and coordination with other local agencies during RUWMP preparation, including notices to the cities and counties within the region, are described in Chapter 1 of the RUWMP.

7.3 Service Area Description
This section includes a description of the Indio service area including climate, population, and demographics.

7.3.1 General Description
Incorporated in 1930, Indio was the first city in the Coachella Valley. Indio encompasses approximately 38 square miles with a SOI that adds approximately 22 square miles north of Interstate 10. The existing land uses include commercial, limited industrial, and residential. The majority of land use is residential, varying in density from equestrian and country estates to high-density multi-family dwellings. The proposed future land uses within the SOI include open space, residential, resource recovery, specific plans (assumed mixed use), business park, and a small amount of community commercial.

The City of Indio’s water department is responsible for ensuring a safe and reliable means of water supply to City residents within its water department’s service area. The department operates under the direction of the City’s executive leadership and City Council.

7.3.1.1 Domestic Water Delivery
Since the establishment of Indio, service connections have increased from approximately 12,100 to over 25,000 active meter accounts, with the majority of the new growth occurring north of Interstate 10. In 2025, Indio supplied approximately 20,000 AF of water to businesses and residents. As one of the fastest growing municipal utilities in the Coachella Valley, Indio is committed to maintaining a sustainable water supply for its residential and commercial customers.

Indio extracts groundwater to meet the needs of its existing customers. The groundwater is drawn from the Indio Subbasin and is delivered to the service area via a pressurized distribution system of 347 miles of pipe supplied by 20 active wells. Indio also has emergency intertie connections with CVWD. An intertie with Myoma Dunes Water Agency is also planned.

Since 2005, Indio has established active water conservation, water reuse, and groundwater recharge planning efforts to ensure adequate water availability and system capacity to meet the growing needs of the City. These planning efforts include: residential and commercial landscape and irrigation upgrade rebates, water audits, water conservation kits, washing machine and toilet rebates, water waster mobile app and hotline, budget-tiered rate structure, water conservation workshops, water misuse program, and a Memorandum of Understanding between Indio and VSD to collaborate in the construction of capital improvement projects that support groundwater recharge efforts.

7.3.2 Service Area Boundary
Indio’s service area boundary is shown in Figure 7-1.

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Figure 7-1. Indio Service Area Boundary

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7.3.3 Service Area Climate
The climate of the Coachella Valley is arid characterized by low annual rainfall, low humidity, high summer temperatures, abundant sunshine, and relatively mild winters. The average summer high temperature in Indio is 103 degrees Fahrenheit (°F); the average winter low temperature is 43 degrees F. Precipitation typically occurs during the winter months with an annual mean rainfall of approximately 3.9 inches (in).

Data from the climate station in Indio represents climate in the Indio service area. Monthly average high temperature reaches 106 degrees and monthly average low temperatures are 39 degrees. Monthly climate data are summarized in Table 7-3 and are shown in Figure 7-2.

Table 7-3. Monthly Average Climate Data (Indio)
Parameter Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Average Max.

Temperature (F)
72 75 82 87 93 103 106 106 101 90 80 65 88
Average Minimum
Temperature (F)
42 45 52 58 63 70 76 75 69 59 49 39 58
Average Total
Precipitation (in)

0.5 0.6 0.7 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.7 3.8
Evapotranspiration,
ETo (in)

2.7 3.6 6.0 7.7 9.2 9.8 9.7 9.1 7.2 5.2 3.3 2.3 75.7
Notes:

Data from California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) Station 200, Indio 2. Data from May 2006 through December 2020
Figure 7-2. Monthly Average Climate Data
A discussion of the potential impacts of climate change on the region is included in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

7.3.4 Service Area Population and Demographics
This section describes Indio’s service area that is located entirely within the City of Indio. Current and projected demographics within Indio’s service area were developed by SCAG as part of the 2024 Regional Transportation Plan referred to as Connect SoCal (SCAG, 2024). As part of that effort, SCAG performed a detailed evaluation of current and projected future demographics throughout southern California, including

0.5 0.6 0.7 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.7

2.7 3.6

6.0 7.7

9.2 9.8 9.7

9.1 7.2

5.2 3.3

2.3 -
20 40
60 80
100
120
-

2.0 4.0

6.0 8.0

10.0 12.0
Temperature (F)
Precipitation and ETo (in)
Precipitation (in) ETo (in) Maximum Air Temperature (F) Minimum Air Temperature (F)

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-8
the study area for the RUWMP. The Connect SoCal analysis included forecasts for employment, population, and households within cities and unincorporated areas. This demographic information was used to prepare projections of future water demands.

The growth forecasts in SCAG’s Connect SoCal plan included estimates of population, households, and employment through 2050. The 2024 Connect SoCal update projects that the population of Riverside County will increase by approximately 50% through 2050. The 2024 update also notes that the region’s population decline between 2019 and 2023 and attributes this decrease to COVID-19 pandemic impacts.

Traffic and visitation declined during the pandemic, but has recovered to or exceeded pre-pandemic levels in most communities. SCAG notes that the median age is increasing and unpredictable events like the COVID-19 pandemic may cause significant deviations from projected long-term trends.

An important consideration affecting per capita water use in the Coachella Valley is the region’s large seasonal population, which is not counted by the federal Census or other demographic data. Due to its mild winter climate and recreational opportunities, Coachella Valley is a popular destination for “snowbirds,” people whose primary residence is outside the Valley but may live there for three to six months during the winter period. In addition, there are people who maintain second homes in Coachella Valley and use them for shorter periods of time throughout the year to participate in various sports, entertainment, and recreational activities. The visitor population also makes use of Coachella Valley’s hotel/motel/time-share resorts as well as mobile home parks. These properties use water year-round to maintain outdoor landscapes even when not occupied during the summer months.

To estimate service area population, both permanent residents and seasonal residents were estimated.

Estimates of the permanent population were made using SCAG housing estimates, housing density, and water meter connections. The water service area shown in Figure 7-1 was intersected with 2019 housing totals from SCAG’s Connect SoCal 2024 growth projection (SCAG, 2024). Household totals for 2025 were estimated by multiplying the 2019 totals by the growth in residential meter connections from 2019 to 2025.

The permanent population was estimated by multiplying the 2025 household totals by the number of persons per household for each jurisdiction within Indio’s service area using Census data. The seasonal population was then estimated by dividing the permanent population totals by the occupancy rate from the Census for each jurisdiction to determine the number of housing units in Indio’s service area, and multiplying the total number of housing units by the difference between the average vacancy rate for California and the vacancy rate of each jurisdiction in Indio’s service area. This resulting number was used for the seasonal population estimate.

The current and projected population within Indio’s service area is presented in Table 7-4.

Table 7-4. DWR 3-1R Current and Projected Population
Population Served 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Permanent 81,756 95,266 108,776 114,393 120,010 125,627 Seasonal 12,218 13,869 15,521 16,043 16,566 17,089
Total 93,974 109,136 124,297 130,437 136,576 142,716
A summary of demographic information for the City of Indio is presented in Table 7-5.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-9
Table 7-5. City of Indio Demographic Data
Age Distribution Race/Ethnicity
Distribution
Income and Household
Size
Household Income
Distribution
Age Percent Race/Ethnicity Percent Parameter Amount Income Percent 19 years
and under

23.8% White 34.7% Median
household
income
$74,774 $24,999 and
under

23.4%
20-34
years

19.7% Black 4.9% Average
household
income
$93,308 $25,000-
$49,999

23.7%
35-54
years

21.7% Native
American

0.0% Per capita
income
$33,704 $50,000-
$74,999

18.8%
55-64
years

12.1% Asian/Pacific
Islander

1.7% Percent of
Population Below
Poverty Level

11.3% $75,000-
$99,999

11.6%
Over 65
years

22.7% Hispanic 57.2% Average
Household Size

2.86 $100,000-
$149,999

12.4%
Other 1.4% $150,000 and
above

10.2%
Notes: Totals may not equal 100% due to rounding errors.

Reference: American Community Survey 2014-2019 (United States Census Bureau, 2021)

7.3.5 Land Uses within Service Area
Existing land uses within the Indio water service area are a mixture of residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and open space. Land use within Indio’s service area are subject the jurisdiction of the City of Indio and Riverside County. During its preparation of regional growth projections, SCAG gathered input and coordinated outreach with both jurisdictions.

Indio has coordinated with these land use planners to align its RUWMP growth and demand projections with local plans.

7.4 Water Use Characterization
This section describes current and projected water usage and presents projected future demands within Indio’s service area. To provide an adequate long-range view of future water needs, this report uses a 25- year planning period from 2025 to 2050. This RUWMP will serve as a source document for future water supply assessments and written supply verifications until the next 5-year UWMP update.

7.4.1 Non-Potable Versus Potable Water Use
Indio produces all its water supplies from the Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, Indio Subbasin, which is continuously replenished through a variety of CVWD and DWA water supply projects and programs. The Indio Subbasin is regionally managed by the six participating agencies in this RUWMP.

Currently, Indio does not produce or use recycled water or raw water in its service area. Potential future recycled water supply would be used for groundwater replenishment and would not be delivered to customers.

7.4.2 Water Use by Sector
Water use is broken down by sector. The use sectors are summarized in Table 7-6. Demand projections contain an inherent level of uncertainty and are intended to provide a general sense as to water supply requirements for the future. Demand projections are dynamic, often changing as a result of economic, political, and environmental pressures. Several factors can affect demand projections, including land use revisions, regulations, consumer choice, economic conditions, transportation needs, highway construction,

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-10
environmental factors, conservation programs and plumbing codes. These factors can impact not only the amount of water needed, but also the timing and location of when and where it is needed.

Past experience in the City of Indio has indicated that population growth is the most influential factor in determining water demand projections. During the recent economic recession, there was a major downturn in development and new construction, consequently reducing projected demands for water. The projections do account for Indio’s current water conservation efforts, which will continue to reduce water demand.

Table 7-6. Water Use Sectors
Sector Description
Single-Family Residential A single-family dwelling unit. A lot with a free-standing building containing one dwelling unit that may include a detached secondary dwelling.

Multi-Family Residential Multiple dwelling units contained within one building or several buildings in a single complex.

Commercial/ Industrial
/Institutional
A water user that provides or distributes a product or service.

Landscape Water connections supplying water solely for landscape irrigation. Such landscapes may be associated with multi-family, commercial, industrial, or institutional/governmental sites, but are considered a separate water use sector if the connection is solely for landscape irrigation.

Other Other metered water use that is not assigned a specific billing category, such as metered construction use, hydrant flows for firefighting, etc. This includes distribution system water losses.

Indio does not sell water to any other agencies or districts and there are no plans to wholesale municipal water in the future. Indio does not use its potable water supply for any purpose other than domestic water.

7.4.2.1 Distribution System Losses
Distribution system water losses are the real and apparent water losses from the water distribution system and the supplier’s storage facilities, up to the point of customer consumption. Indio has completed annual water audits using the AWWA Water Audit Method. The results from the five most recent audits are summarized in Table 7-7. The audits are included in Appendix E of the RUWMP.

Table 7-7. DWR 4-4R 12 Month Water Loss Audit Reporting Report Period Start Date
MM YYYY Volume of Water Loss (AFY)
07 2021 1,318
07 2022 866
07 2023 911
07 2024 967
07 2025 993
The real water loss performance standard for Indio’s distribution system is 18.4 gallons per connection per day, a 42 percent reduction from the State estimated baseline of 31.9 gallons per connection per day.

Suppliers will be required to submit a registry of breaks, repairs, and estimates of water loss every three years, beginning in 2029 for the 2025 through 2027 period. Water losses for the supplied data period will be assessed compared to the performance standard. Indio’s total water loss currently averages about 33.7 gallons per connection per day, with the most recent reporting year averaging 22.6 gallons of real water loss per connection per day. Table 7-7 shows the City’s progress towards the 2028 Water Loss Standard.

The 2025 water use is summarized in Table 7-9.

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Table 7-8 DWR 4-6R Progress Towards 2028 Water Loss Standard Real Water Loss
Public Water
System ID #
Did the Water
Board
Calculate a
Water Loss
Standard for
this Public
Water
System?
State Water Board Standard Most Recent AWWA Water Loss Audit 2028 Real
Water Loss
Standard
per Unit
per day
Units for Real
Water Loss
Number of
Units
Volume of
Total Real
Loss (from
AWWA
Water Loss
Audit)
Real Water
Loss Per
Unit per
Day
CA3310020 Yes 18.4 Gallons per
Connection per
Day (GPCD)
26,286 664 22.6
Apparent Water Loss
Public Water
System ID #
Did the Water
Board
Calculate a
Water Loss
Standard for
this Public
Water
System?
State Water Board Standard Most Recent AWWA Water Loss Audit 2028
Apparent
Water Loss
Standard
per Unit
per Day
Units for
Apparent Water
Loss
Number of
Connections
Volume of
Total
Apparent
Loss
(from
AWWA
Water Loss
Audit)
Apparent
Water Loss
Per Unit
per Day
CA3310020 Yes 11.2 Gallons per
Connection per
Day (GPCD)
26,286 329 11.2

7.4.2.2 Summary of Current Uses
Indio’s urban water use for 2020 through 2025 is summarized in Table 7-9.

Table 7-9. DWR 4-1R Actual Demands for Water (AFY)
Use Type
Additional
Description
Level of
Treatment When
Delivered 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Single Family Potable 11,864 12,121 11,859 11,597 12,130 12,149 Multi-Family Potable 1,874 1,851 1,847 1,832 1,764 1,775 Commercial/
Industrial
/Institutional
Potable
2,541 2,923 3,051 2,853 2,876 2,855
Landscape Potable 2,244 2,281 2,327 2,266 2,384 2,455
Other NonRevenuePotable 1,367 1,208 1,428 792 1,017 1,015 Total 19,891 20,385 20,512 19,341 20,171 20,249
Note: Non-revenue water is the difference between production and customer billing. It includes losses and authorized, non-billed consumption.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-12

7.4.3 Demand Forecast
Indio is participating in the update of the Indio Subbasin Alternate Plan being prepared to meet requirements of SGMA. The RUWMP agencies coordinated efforts with demand projections being prepared for the Indio Subbasin Alternative Plan. The demand projection approach included the following steps:
• The projections were based on SCAG’s regional growth forecast prepared as part of their Regional Transportation Plan, Connect SoCal 2024. SCAG gathered input from cities and counties throughout Southern California about expected growth and development for the next 25 years and incorporated the land use designations in each jurisdiction’s General Plan. The SCAG analysis includes estimates of population, households, and employment in each Traffic Analysis Zone (TAZ) in their study area (SCAG 2024).
• Additional analysis of vacancy rates was performed to estimated baseline and projected housing units for the study area, including housing units used by seasonal residents and other part-time uses..
• Baseline and projected estimates of employment were used to drive future growth in CII demands • Five years of customer billing data (2020 to 2024) were used to develop unit demand factors specific to the Indio service area. These factors have units of gallons per housing unit for residential and landscape uses and gallons per employee for CII uses. • Water losses were estimated using water loss audits from the last five years (2020 to 2024). • Demands were adjusted for the following types of conservation savings:
o Indoor passive conservation savings from the natural replacement of indoor devices and plumbing fixtures
o Outdoor conservation savings from the implementation of the Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) and agency-specific requirements for future developments o Outdoor conservation savings from turf replacement due to local rebate programs. o Outdoor conservation savings from the installation of smart irrigation controllers due to local rebate programs.
o Outdoor conservation savings from the implementation of California’s non-functional turf ban (AB 1572).

The projected municipal demands for Indio’s service area are shown in Table 7-10.

Table 7-10. DWR 4-2R Projected Demands for Water
- Additional
Description
Treatment
Level
Projected Water Use (AFY)
Use Type 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Single Family Potable 11,894 12,173 12,257 12,382 12,507 Multi-Family Potable 1,979 2,181 2,272 2,379 2,486
Commercial/
Industrial
/Institutional
Potable
2,906 3,005 3,054 3,106 3,158
Landscape Potable 2,033 2,134 2,279 2,424 2,570
Other Potable 0 0 0 0 0
Losses NonRevenuePotable 1,125 1,196 1,249 1,303 1,356 Subtotal Potable 19,938 20,688 21,111 21,594 22,077
Total 19,938 20,688 21,111 21,594 22,077

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-13

7.4.3.1 Conservation Savings
Demand projections prepared for this RUWMP considered anticipated future water savings (summarized in Step 6 above). The analysis included indoor savings related to toilets, showerheads, dishwashers, clothes washers, faucets, and urinals (categorized as indoor water use) as well as outdoor water use. Indoor conservation is mainly a result of government mandated water efficiency requirements for fixtures, defined as “passive savings.” The model considers these mandates and the average useful life and replacement rates for each type of fixture based on standard industry estimates and plumbing fixture saturation studies.

It assumes that all new construction complies with the plumbing codes in effect at that time and that when a device is replaced, the new device is also in compliance with the current plumbing codes. Estimated frequency of use for each type of fixture was based on a Conservation and Efficiency Potential study by the Pacific Institute were multiplied by the number of housing units to produce the total indoor passive conservation savings (Pacific Institute, 2014)..

Anticipated outdoor water use savings were based on the implementation of the California MWELO which is the standard for outdoor water conservation for the state. The resulting water savings from the MWELO are estimated using an ETAF which adjusts the reference ET for plant requirements and irrigation efficiency.

Additional outdoor water use savings are anticipated due to the non-functional turf ban, smart irrigation controllers, and turf replacement. Assembly Bill (AB) 1572, passed in 2023, banned the use of potable water to irrigate non-functional turf (i.e., ornamental grass not used for recreation). The ban will go into effect in phases beginning in 2027 and will affect commercial, institutional, and homeowner association owned properties. Indio has rebates in place to encourage water conservation through the installment of smart irrigation controllers and turf replacement. These savings are not considered passive as they are implemented through incentives under conservation programs.

The anticipated passive savings due to these measures are summarized in Table 7-11. These savings have been incorporated into the water demand projections presented in Table 7-10.

Table 7-11. DWR 4-4R Passive Water Savings Projections (AFY) 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Device Replacement 783 1,411 1,812 2,154 2,495
MWELO 288 520 644 767 891
Non-Functional Turf Ban 511 682 682 682 682
Total Passive Savings 1,583 2,613 3,138 3,603 4,068

7.4.3.2 Total Gross Water Use
Total gross water use (including expected future recycled water use) is shown in Table 7-12.

Table 7-12. DWR 4-3R Total Gross Water Use (AFY)
- 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Potable and Raw Water (AFY)
From DWR Table 4-1R and 4-2R 20,249 19,938 20,688 21,111 21,594 22,077 Recycled Water Demand (AFY)
From DWR Table 6-4R 0 0 1,120 1,120 1,120 1,120
Total Water Use 20,249 19,938 21,808 22,231 22,714 23,197

7.4.4 Water Use for Lower Income Households
The SCAG RHNA Housing Need by Income Category is used to develop projections of lower income housing units in future years. Lower income households are those with less than 80 percent of the area’s median household income, adjusted for family size. Indio will strive to meet their new construction goals of the RHNA. The demand for lower income households is included in the water use projections in Table 7-11.

The City of Indio 2021-2029 Housing Element (2022) projects needing 2,963 low to extremely low income

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housing units by 2029 that meet the definition of SCAG RHNA. A similar proportion of future lower income housing units is estimated for years 2030 through 2050.

Indio has summarized the projected water use for lower income households assuming the following:

1. the average persons per household remains constant at the 2024 level of 2.97 persons per household,

2. lower income housing needs are proportional to the projected population growth, and

3. daily water use per capita is equal to the average per capita water usage for 2020-2024.

The estimated demand for lower-income households is approximately 1,800 AFY. This demand has been included in the demand projections prepared for this RUWMP.

7.4.5 Climate Change Considerations
Increased drought risk as a result of climate change may impact demands in the future. A combination of state- and local-led demand management measures may reduce demand for irrigation via landscape ordinances, while public outreach and education can lead to reductions in water demands through conservation measures.

A more detailed discussion of potential climate change impacts is presented in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

7.5 SB7x7 Baselines, 2020 Targets, and 2025 Reporting
With the adoption of the Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SB X7-7), the State set a goal of reducing urban water use by 20 percent by the year 2020. Each retail urban water supplier was required to determine its water use during a baseline period and establish water use targets for the years 2015 and 2020 in order to help the State achieve the 20 percent reduction.

In the 2025 UWMP, water agencies must demonstrate compliance with their established water use target for the year 2020. The SBx7-7 Verification Forms were presented in the 2020 UWMP, Appendix E. This section also demonstrates that Indio achieved its 2020 water use target in 2020.

7.5.1 SB7x7 Baselines and 2020 Targets
SBx7-7 required urban water suppliers to establish a per capita water use target for 2020 to be calculated by using one of four methods. Indio selected to use Method 1, which was calculated based on the selected 10-year baseline of 327 GPCD. Using that criteria, Indio’s selected 2020 target was 262 GPCD.

7.5.2 Calculating Population and Gross Water Use
To assess compliance with the 2020 water use target in GPCD, Indio’s service area population and gross water use were compared to the SBx7-7 target.

The gross water used was determined from using production records. Indio’s sole source of supply is groundwater. Indio’s water use was calculated as 262 GPCD for year 2020.

7.5.3 Supplier Met 2020 Target in 2020
Indio met their 2020 target as reflected in Table 7-13 below, which includes their 2020 target and 2020 Actual GPCD. Indio was not a part of a merger or consolidation and was not a part of an SBx7-7 Regional Alliance target.

Table 7-13 SB X7-7 2020 Target Progress
Was Supplier part of a
merger or consolidation
since 2020?
Regional Alliance
Target or Individual
Target?
2020
Target
Actual 2020
GPCD
Did Supplier Achieve
Targeted Reduction for
2020?
No Individual Target 262 225 Yes

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-15

7.6 Water Supply Characterization
This section describes the water supplies currently available to Indio and those planned for the 25-year planning period.

7.6.1 Water Supply Analysis Overview
Indio produces all its water supplies from the Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, Indio Subbasin, which is continuously replenished by DWA and CVWD with imported water. The Indio Subbasin serves as an expansive conjunctive use resource that is capable of ensuring a sufficient and sustainable water supply to serve existing uses and projected growth during normal, single‐dry and multiple‐dry years over an extended planning horizon.

7.6.2 Supply Characterization
This discussion includes the types of water supply considered by DWR. As shown in Table 7-13, Indio serves 100 percent of customer demands with groundwater.

Table 7-14. Urban Water Supply 2020-2024 (AFY)
Water Supply Additional Description 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Groundwater Indio Subbasin 19,891 20,385 20,512 19,341 20,171 Total 19,891 20,385 20,512 19,341 20,171

7.6.2.1 Purchased or Imported Water
Indio does not use purchased or imported water. As described in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP, imported water is used on a regional basis for groundwater replenishment.

7.6.2.2 Groundwater
Groundwater has historically been the sole source of supply for Indio. Supplies for the City of Indio are primarily from the lower aquifer in the Indio Subbasin, the largest subbasin in the Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, which is a common groundwater source shared by CVWD, CWA, DWA, Indio, MDMWC, and numerous private groundwater producers. Because the Indio Subbasin is an un-adjudicated basin, Indio does not hold specific water rights, but rather pumps supplies from the aquifer as needed to meet demands within its service area. More information about the Indio Subbasin is presented in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

Indio currently has 20 operational groundwater supply wells. Pumping capacities for these wells range from 1,200 gpm to 3,500 gpm, with a total pumping capacity of 74,600 AFY. Indio historical groundwater pumping is summarized in Table 7-15.

Table 7-15. DWR 6-1R Groundwater Volume Pumped (AFY)
Groundwater Type Location or Basin Name 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Alluvial Basin Indio Subbasin 20,385 20,512 19,341 20,171 20,249 Total 20,385 20,512 19,341 20,171 20,249
Groundwater Quality
Indio’s water quality meets MCLs for monitored primary, secondary, or microbial contaminants. All water provided by Indio meets all U.S. EPA and SWRCB guidelines (Indio 2025b).

In October 2024, the SWRCB approved the country’s first drinking water standard for hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) at 10 μg/L. Indio reports a range of chromium-6 results from 9.8 to 18 μg/L collected during 2024. While a water system of Indio’s size is not considered in violation of the chromium-6 MCL until after October 1, 2026, Indio is working to address this exceedance and comply with the MCL. In 2023, Indio

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-16
completed an MCL Compliance Strategy and a Conceptual Design Report for chromium-6 removal using Reduction Coagulation Filtration (RCF). In 2024, Indio completed the RCF Pilot Testing at well W to demonstrate effluent water quality parameters to VSD. The next steps are to continue seeking grant funding and finalize Phase I design (Indio 2025b).

7.6.2.3 Surface Water
Indio does not currently use or intend to use any surface water (non-imported surface water) as part of its water supply.

7.6.2.4 Stormwater
Indio does not currently use stormwater as a water supply. All stormwater either percolates into the groundwater basin or is conveyed to the CVSC. Stormwater capture may become a potential future supply but is not currently being considered due to the low average volume of water available for capture. As the local flood control authority, CVWD considers delivery of treated stormwater as a potential future potable or non-potable water supply.

7.6.2.5 Wastewater and Recycled Water
This section describes the existing and future recycled water opportunities available to Indio’s service area.

Wastewater treatment services for the City of Indio are predominantly provided by VSD. Indio and VSD are working together to evaluate a recycled water program to augment the local water supply.

Indio completed a 2011 Recycled Water Master Plan and 2018 Recycled Water Development Feasibility Study to assess potential customers and infrastructure build-out to support recycled water service within the service area. The City of Indio is served by two WWTPs: one is owned by VSD (VSD WWTP) and the other by CVWD (WRP-7). The VSD WWTP is located on Van Buren Street in the City of Indio and provides services to 96 percent of the City’s population. Currently, VSD discharges the effluent to the CVSC. VSD WWTP operates parallel treatment processes: an activated sludge treatment process and a biological treatment pond process. Any effluent that is not reused is discharged to the CVSC which flows directly to the Salton Sea. The current operational capacity of VSD WWTP is 12.5 MGD with average daily flow of >6 MGD.

CVWD’s WRP-7 treats a small percentage of the City’s wastewater as well. The facility is located at Avenue 38 and Madison Street in the City of Indio. WRP-7 is a tertiary treatment facility, and the effluent produced is recycled for non-potable uses for CVWD irrigation customers.

Wastewater collection and treatment in the Indio service area is summarized in Table 7-16 and Table 7-17.

Recycled Water Planning
Indio and VSD formed the East Valley Reclamation Authority (EVRA) in 2013. EVRA is a Joint Powers Authority created to develop an indirect potable reuse (IPR) project, to replenish the groundwater basin and supplement a sustainable water supply. The existing VSD WWTP facilities consist of primary and secondary treatment facilities, which discharge to the CVSC. Development of a new recycled water supply would require the addition of tertiary treatment facilities, and potentially advanced treatment, depending on the ultimate use of the recycled water.

Indio’s 2016 Recycled Water Feasibility Study evaluated a proposed recycled water system. However, due to lack of irrigation customers, a purple pipe system is not feasible. Indio continues to work with VSD to evaluate expansion of the VSD WWTP to produce recycled water suitable for groundwater replenishment.

Implementation is currently anticipated by 2035, subject to completion of design, environmental review, and permitting. The EVRA project is estimated to provide approximately 1 MGD (1,120 AFY) of replenishment supply.

The projected uses of recycled water are shown in Table 7-18. The 2020 UWMP projected recycled water uses for 2025 are compared with actual recycled water use in Table 7-19.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-17
Table 7-16. DWR 6-2R Wastewater Collected within Service Area in 2025 Wastewater Collection Recipient of Collected Wastewater Name of Wastewater
Collection Agency
Wastewater Volume
Metered or Estimated
Wastewater Volume Collected from
UWMP Service Area in 2025 (AFY)
Name of Wastewater Agency
Receiving Collected Wastewater
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Name
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Located within UWMP Area
WWTP Operation Contracted to a
Third Party
Valley Sanitary District Estimated 5,950 Valley Sanitary District Valley SD WWTP Yes No Coachella Valley Water District Estimated 266 Coachella Valley Water District WRP-7 Yes No Total 6,216
Table 7-17. DWR 6-3R Wastewater Treatment and Discharge within Service Area in 2025 -
Wastewater
Treatment Plant
Name
Discharge Location
Name or Identifier
Discharge Location
Description
Wastewater Discharge ID
Number Method of Disposal
Plant Treats Wastewater
Generated Outside the
Service Area Treatment Level
2025 Volumes (AFY)
Wastewater
Treated
Discharged
Treated
Wastewater
Recycled
Within
Service
Area
Recycled
Outside of
Service
Area
Instream
Flow Permit
Requiremen
t
VSD WWTP Coachella Valley
Stormwater Channel
Stormwater channel CA0104477-001
7A333069001
Storm Channel Yes (portions of the City of
Coachella and County of
Riverside)
Secondary 5,950 5,950 0 0 0
Total 5,950 5,950 0 0 0
Note: Treatment at CVWD WRP-7 is reported in chapter 4 of the RUWMP.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-18
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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-19
Table 7-18. DWR 6-4R Recycled Water Within Service Area (AFY) Name of Supplier Producing (Treating) the
Recycled Water
Valley Sanitary District
Name of Supplier Operating the Recycled
Water Distribution System
Indio Water Authority
Supplemental Volume of Water Added in
2025
N/A
Source of 2025 Supplemental Water N/A
Beneficial Use
Type
Level of
Treatment
General
Description of
2025 Uses 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Groundwater
Recharge (IPR)
Advanced N/A 0 0 1,120 1,120 1,120 1,120
Total 0 0 1,120 1,120 1,120 1,120
Progress has been slower than anticipated in the 2020 RUWMP. EVRA is currently working on preliminary design for a 1 MGD groundwater replenishment project.

Table 7-19. DWR 6-5R Recycled Water Use Projection Compared to Actual Use Type
2020 Projection for 2025
(AFY)
2025 Actual Use
(AFY)
Groundwater Recharge (IPR) 5,000 0
Total 5,000 0
Indio has explored potential mechanisms to encourage customers to transition from groundwater pumping to available recycled water supplies where feasible. These considerations have included evaluating rate structures, financial incentives, and potential policy tools to promote the use of recycled water provided by regional partners. However, Indio’s 2016 Recycled Water Feasibility Study evaluated a proposed recycled water system. Due to lack of irrigation customers, a purple pipe system is not feasible. Instead, Indio and VSD are collaborating on production of recycled water for groundwater replenishment.

Future expansion of recycled water use within the Indio service area would require continued collaboration among Indio, CVWD, VSD, and other regional entities.

7.6.2.6 Desalinated Water Opportunities
Indio has previously considered the potential for participating in a regional desalination project developed by other agencies, such as MWD or the San Diego County Water Authority, in exchange for receiving a portion of imported water supplies through a transfer or exchange arrangement. However, as an inland agency without a direct imported water entitlement or physical conveyance connection to desalinated supplies, participation would require complex interagency agreements, exchange mechanisms, and potential infrastructure modifications. These factors, combined with cost considerations and regulatory requirements, currently limit the feasibility of such an arrangement.

At this time, Indio’s water supply strategy remains focused on groundwater production from the Indio Subbasin, supported by regional groundwater replenishment programs administered by the CVWD.

Seawater desalination is not considered a near-term or economically viable supply alternative for Indio under existing conditions.

7.6.2.7 Water Exchanges and Transfers
Indio is not currently involved in any water exchange or water transfer agreements. Regional exchange programs within the Coachella Valley, such as SWP water exchanged for Colorado River water, are administered by the CVWD and DWA and do not directly involve Indio.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-20
Indio does not hold imported water entitlements and has no current plans to enter into temporary or longterm water transfer agreements. Indio’s water supply strategy remains dependent on groundwater production from the Indio Subbasin, consistent with regional groundwater management programs.

Indio maintains three emergency intertie connections with CVWD to provide short-term supply reliability in the event of system outages or emergencies. These interties are summarized in Table 7-20. Indio is in discussions with MDMWC for a new emergency intertie west of Indio’s system.

Table 7-20. Emergency Interties
Location As-Built Date Current Configuration Capacity
Northwest corner of Avenue
40 and Madison St.
8-20-2007 8” Cla-valve and meter; currently
valves are off with no current set
points on Cla-valve
3,100 gpm estimated
Northeast corner of Congress
St. and Philadelphia Ave.
12-1-2003 One valve with 4 stub outs; no meter
or Cla-valve
3,800 gpm – estimated
with 6” diameter at 62
PSI to atmosphere
South side of Miles Ave., 250’
west of Monticello Ave.
5-21-2004 Currently valves are off with no
current set points on clay valve; it has
a 6” Cla-valve and meter
4,000 gpm – estimated
with 6” diameter at 82
PSI to atmosphere

7.6.2.8 Future Water Projects
Indio is evaluating several supply augmentation programs to enhance long-term water supply reliability. In partnership with EVRA, Indio is advancing a recycled water and groundwater recharge project that builds on prior planning efforts. The project would expand tertiary (Title 22) treatment at the VSD WWTP to produce recycled water suitable for groundwater recharge and non-potable reuse. Implementation is currently anticipated by 2035, subject to completion of design, environmental review, and permitting. The project is estimated to provide approximately 1 MGD (1,120 AFY) of recharge supply. Planned water supply projects are listed in Table 7-21.

Table 7-21. DWR 6-7R Expected Future Water Supply Projects or Programs Name of Future
Projects or
Programs
Joint
Project
with Other
Suppliers
Agency
Name Description
Planned
Implementation
Year
Planned
for Use
in Year
Type
Expected
Increase in
Water Supply to
Supplier (AFY)
Groundwater
Recharge
Yes Indio,
VSD
Recycled water
for groundwater
recharge
2035 Average
Year
1,120

7.6.2.9 Summary of Existing and Planned Sources of Water Indio currently receives 100 percent of its water supply from groundwater, and does not currently participate in water desalination, water exchanges or transfers, or purchase of imported water supplies. By 2035, in partnership with VSD, Indio intends to produce up to 1,120 AFY of recycled water for groundwater replenishment. A preliminary design report is currently underway to refine sizing and timeline for the EVRA project. Summaries of the existing and planned water supply volumes by source are presented in Table 7-22 and Table 7-23.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-21
Table 7-22. DWR 6-8R Actual Water Supplies (AFY)
-
Water Supply Additional Detail on Water Supply
2025
Actual Volume Water Quality
Groundwater Indio Subbasin 20,249 Drinking Water
Total 20,249
Table 7-23. DWR 6-9 R Projected Water Supplies (AFY)
Water Supply
Additional Detail on
Water Supply 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Groundwater Indio Subbasin 19,938 20,688 21,111 21,594 22,077 Recycled Water EVRA 0 1,120 1,120 1,120 1,120
Total 19,938 21,808 22,231 22,714 23,197

7.6.2.10 Special Conditions
Although groundwater is a relatively resilient water supply with respect to climate change, long periods of drought/dry weather may reduce the availability of imported water for groundwater recharge. A more detailed discussion of potential climate change impacts is presented in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

7.6.3 Energy Use
Indio has compiled data to document the energy used for water management operations. Indio used the Total Utility Approach to estimate the energy intensity of its water management operations. The results are presented in Table 7-24.

Table 7-24. DWR O-1B Energy Intensity Reporting
Table O-1B: Recommended Energy Reporting - Total Utility Approach Enter Start Date for Reporting
Period
1/1/2024
End Date 12/31/2024 Urban Water Supplier Operational Control Is upstream embedded in the
values reported?
No Sum of All Water
Management
Processes
Non-Consequential
Hydropower
Water Volume Units Used AF Total Utility Hydropowe
r
Net Utility
Volume of Water Entering Process (volume unit) 20,171 0 20,171 Energy Consumed (kWh) 11,558,503 0 11,558,503
Energy Intensity (kWh/volume) 573.0 0.0 573.0
Quantity of Self-Generated Renewable Energy
0 kWh
Data Quality (Estimate, Metered Data, Combination of Estimates and Metered Data) Combination of Estimates and Metered
Data
Data Quality Narrative
Energy use data was obtained from electricity consumption records maintained by the agency.

Narrative
The agency uses energy for groundwater production from wells, pumping at booster stations from lower pressure zones to higher pressure zones, and treatment processes.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-22

7.7 Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment The UWMP Act requires urban water suppliers to assess water supply reliability that compares total projected water use with the expected water supply over the next 20-25 years in five-year increments, including a single dry year and multiple dry years. This section presents the reliability assessment for Indio’s service area.

7.7.1 Reliability Overview
Coachella Valley water suppliers are achieving success in sustainable groundwater management and as stewards of local water resources. The regional groundwater supply has historically been able to meet demands during both normal and dry periods. Though increased environmental regulations, competition for water supplies, and recurrent drought conditions have reduced the reliability of imported water, groundwater replenishment has reversed past overdraft conditions. Potential constraints on these supplies that could affect reliability are discussed in Chapter 3 of this RUWMP.

It is the stated goal of Indio to deliver a reliable and high-quality water supply to its customers, even during dry periods. Indio has already achieved a reduction in water use from its baseline greater than 20 percent.

The UWMP will continue to ensure that urban water resources are reliably and sustainably secured for existing and future customers of Indio.

7.7.2 Water Service Reliability Assessment
The Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin is un-adjudicated and has sufficient storage to meet the projected pumping conditions on the basin for the next 25 years, and beyond. Thus, issues related to reliability of supply and vulnerability to seasonal and climatic changes do not significantly affect the reliability of the Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin. All of the water currently and historically consumed by Indio comes from the groundwater basin.

Because groundwater supplies have not been vulnerable to seasonal or climatic conditions, the supplies are limited only by available Indio pumping capacity. The water quality of Indio’s water supply, consisting entirely of pumped groundwater, meets applicable regulatory criteria.

The “normal year” represents the average water supply conditions and availability to Indio. This RUWMP uses the long-term average supply metrics to represent normal year conditions.

The “single dry year” represents the lowest water supply available to Indio. Though Indio’s groundwater in storage is not constrained in dry years, this RUWMP uses 2021 for the single dry year due to its combination of low precipitation and peak demand. Indio’s water use data from the last 20 years was evaluated to understand demand response among its customer base. For Indio, the single dry year demand represents 107 percent of normal conditions.

The “multiple dry years” represents the lowest average water supply available to Indio for a consecutive multi-year period (five years or more). This is generally considered to be the lowest average surface runoff for a consecutive multiple year period for a watershed since 1903. This RUWMP uses 2020 through 2024 as the multiple dry year period. Although this period is not the driest consecutive five-year period on record, it represents a more accurate demand response to drought conditions due to conservation programs implemented in recent years. For Indio, the multiple dry year demand increases by one to two percent yearover-year from 102 to 108 percent of normal conditions.

The available water supplies and demands for Indio’s service area were analyzed to understand the region’s ability to satisfy demands during three scenarios: an average water year, single-dry year, and multiple-dry years. The years and availability are summarized in Table 7-25.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-23
Table 7-25. DWR 7-1R Basis of Water Year Data
-
Year Type Base Year
Available Supply if Year Type Repeats
Percent of Average Supply
Average Year 2015-2024 100%
Single-Dry Year 2021 107%
Consecutive Dry Years 1st Year 2020 102%
Consecutive Dry Years 2nd Year 2021 103%
Consecutive Dry Years 3rd Year 2022 105%
Consecutive Dry Years 4th Year 2023 106%
Consecutive Dry Years 5th Year 2024 108%
The Indio Subbasin storage will be used in dry years to support potential differences between demands and supply. The groundwater basin has a capacity of approximately 29.8 million acre‐feet. It is capable of meeting the water demands of regional agencies for extended periods during normal, single‐dry and multiple-dry-year conditions.

7.7.2.1 Normal Water Year
The expected water supply availability for an average (normal) year is provided in Table 7-26. This analysis does not include WSCP use reduction in a normal year. The available supply is assumed equivalent to the projected demands since the basin is non-adjudicated and based on the expected reliability of the groundwater basin. The supply and demand comparison for the normal year results in no shortages.

Table 7-26. DWR 7-2R Normal Year Supply and Demand Comparison - 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Supply Totals (AFY)
From DWR Table 6-9R 19,938 20,688 21,111 21,594 22,077
Demand Totals (AFY)
From DWR Table 4-3R 19,938 20,688 21,111 21,594 22,077
Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 0 0 0 0 0
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
Note: The RUWMP participating agencies collaborate on groundwater management plans for long-term sustainability. During a normal year, single-dry year, or five-dry year period, the agencies could produce additional groundwater if demands exceeded the estimates shown here.

7.7.2.1 Single Dry Year
The single dry year represents a “worst-case” scenario for demand response, jumping to 107 percent of normal conditions in a single year. Due to the reliability of the region’s groundwater basin, water supply availability during a single-dry year scenario was assumed to be similar to the average year scenario.

Supply will consist of pumped groundwater and recycled water. Any additional supply needed will be pumped from the groundwater basin. Reliability during a single dry year is shown in Table 7-27. Demand is assumed to increase during a single-dry year due to increased irrigation needs. This analysis does not include WSCP use reduction in a single dry year. Urban water supplies during the single dry year are fully reliable as groundwater in storage in the Indio Subbasin is available to serve increased demand. Thus, the supply and demand comparison for the single dry year results in no shortages.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-24
Table 7-27. DWR 7-3R Single Dry Year Supply and Demand Comparison - 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Supply Totals (AFY) 21,238 23,158 23,609 24,123 24,638
Demand Totals (AFY) 21,238 23,158 23,609 24,123 24,638
Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 0 0 0 0 0
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
Note: The RUWMP participating agencies collaborate on groundwater management plans for long-term sustainability. During a normal year, single-dry year, or five-dry year period, the agencies could produce additional groundwater if demands exceeded the estimates shown here.

7.7.2.1 Multiple Dry Years
Reliability during a multiple-dry year scenario was assumed to be similar to the average year scenario. Any additional supply needed will be pumped from the groundwater basin. Demand is expected to increase during multiple dry year periods due to increased irrigation needs. It is assumed that Indio’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) would be implemented in the second year of a multiple-dry-year period, reducing some of the increased demand. This reliability forecast conservatively assumes that the WSCP will reduce water use by one percent in the second through fifth years of a multiple year drought. The multiple dry year supply scenario is shown in Table 7-28. The multiple dry year urban water supply reliability is 100 percent, as groundwater in storage in Indio Basin will be used to supplement increased demand. In five consecutive dry year conditions, there are no shortages.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-25
Table 7-28. DWR 7-4R Multiple Dry Years Supply and Demand Comparison 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
First Year
Supply Totals (AFY) 25,237 25,998 26,428 26,918 27,409
Demand Totals (AFY) 25,237 25,998 26,428 26,918 27,409
Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 0 0 0 0 0
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
Second Year
Supply Totals (AFY) 25,536 26,309 26,745 27,242 27,740
Demand Totals (AFY) 25,536 26,309 26,745 27,242 27,740
Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 134 139 142 145 148
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0 0 0 0 0
Third Year
Supply Totals (AFY) 25,835 26,619 27,061 27,566 28,071
Demand Totals (AFY) 25,835 26,619 27,061 27,566 28,071
Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 136 141 144 147 150
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0 0 0 0 0
Fourth Year
Supply Totals (AFY) 26,134 26,929 27,378 27,890 28,402
Demand Totals (AFY) 26,134 26,929 27,378 27,890 28,402
Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 138 143 146 149 153
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0 0 0 0 0
Fifth Year
Supply Totals (AFY) 26,433 27,240 27,695 28,214 28,733
Demand Totals (AFY) 26,433 27,240 27,695 28,214 28,733
Surplus/(Shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP Use Reduction 140 145 148 151 155
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0 0 0 0 0
1The RUWMP participating agencies collaborate on groundwater management plans for long-term sustainability.

During a normal year, single-dry year, or five-dry year period, the agencies could produce additional groundwater if demands exceeded the estimates shown here. Conversely, any water use reduction as a result of WSCP implementation will result in reduced groundwater production and groundwater will remain in storage for future use.

Historically, the groundwater basin has shown signs of overdraft, which could impact reliability in the very long term. The implementation of ongoing groundwater management efforts (see Chapter 3 of the RUWMP) seeks to ensure groundwater levels are maintained to mitigate potential overdraft conditions of the basin.

Indio also continues to develop and expand an Urban Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Program to implement DMMs and other conservation programs to decrease the annual volume of water consumed.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-26

7.7.3 Drought Risk Assessment
The five-year Drought Risk Assessment (DRA) is intended to evaluate current water supply availability by simulating demand and supply for the next five years under multiple dry year conditions Demands are expected to increase from current 2025 demands based on the assumptions of demand increase during multi-dry year periods. For Indio, the multiple dry year demand increases by one to two percent year-over-year from 102 to 108 percent of normal conditions. It is expected that conservation messaging and programs will prevent any significant increase in demands by existing customers due to dry conditions. The groundwater supply is reliable for a five-year dry period as the volume in storage can be drawn down during a dry period.

The data and methodologies used to identify a potential shortage are described in the WSCP. The DRA assumes the WSCP would be implemented in the second year of a five-year drought. Based on the reliability analysis in Section 7.7, the supply of groundwater is fully reliable under a five-year drought, including consideration of historic droughts in the Coachella Valley and potential impacts of climate change.

The results of the DRA, including estimated savings from the implementation of the WSCP, are summarized in Table 7-29. Any water shortage can be mitigated through use of groundwater in storage and demand reduction via WSCP implementation.

Table 7-29. DWR 7-5 Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment
2026 Gross Water Use (AFY) 20,552
Total Supplies (AFY) 20,552
Surplus/(Shortfall) without WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (Use Reduction and Supply Augmentation) WSCP (Supply Augmentation Benefit)
WSCP (Use Reduction Savings Benefit)
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall) 0
Resulting Percent Use Reduction from WSCP Action 0%
2027 Gross Water Use (AFY) 20,856
Total Supplies (AFY) 20,856
Surplus/(Shortfall) without WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (Use Reduction and Supply Augmentation) WSCP (Supply Augmentation Benefit)
WSCP (Use Reduction Savings Benefit) 133
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0
Resulting Percent Use Reduction from WSCP Action 1%
2028 Gross Water Use (AFY) 21,160
Total Supplies (AFY) 21,160
Surplus/(Shortfall) without WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (Use Reduction and Supply Augmentation) WSCP (Supply Augmentation Benefit)
WSCP (Use Reduction Savings Benefit) 137
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0
Resulting Percent Use Reduction from WSCP Action 1%

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 7-27
2029 Gross Water Use (AFY) 21,463
Total Supplies (AFY) 21,463
Surplus/(Shortfall) without WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (Use Reduction and Supply Augmentation) WSCP (Supply Augmentation Benefit)
WSCP (Use Reduction Savings Benefit) 139
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)
1 0
Resulting Percent Use Reduction from WSCP Action 1%
2030 Gross Water Use (AFY) 21,767
Total Supplies (AFY) 21,767
Surplus/(Shortfall) without WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (Use Reduction and Supply Augmentation) WSCP (Supply Augmentation Benefit)
WSCP (Use Reduction Savings Benefit) 141
Revised Surplus/(Shortfall)1 0
Resulting Percent Use Reduction from WSCP Action 1%
1The RUWMP participating agencies collaborate on groundwater management plans for long-term sustainability.

During a normal year, single-dry year, or five-dry year period, the agencies could produce additional groundwater if demands exceeded the estimates shown here. Conversely, any water use reduction as a result of WSCP implementation will result in reduced groundwater production and groundwater will remain in storage for future use.

7.8 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Indio has developed a WSCP that outlines it’s strategy for assessing and responding to potential water shortages. Building on the region’s overall high water supply reliability, the WSCP prepares for risks such as prolonged drought, infrastructure failure, regulatory restrictions, contamination, and other emergencies.

It establishes procedures for annual water supply and demand assessments, coordination among regional water agencies, and use of six standardized shortage levels that range from minimal conservation requirements to severe, mandatory restrictions when more than 50% supply reduction occurs.

To manage shortages, the WSCP details a suite of supply augmentation methods, demand reduction actions, operational adjustments, communication protocols, and enforcement mechanisms. Actions escalate by shortage level and may include outdoor irrigation limits, reduced water budgets, expanded public outreach, drought surcharges, mandatory rationing, and prohibitions on potable outdoor use. The WSCP also describes financial implications, monitoring and reporting requirements, seismic risk considerations, and emergency response coordination with regional partners. It sets forth legal authorities supporting plan implementation and provides the procedures for adoption, future amendments, and public engagement.

The Indio WSCP is included in Appendix C of this RUWMP.

7.9 Demand Management Measures
This section describes DMMs implemented by Indio to encourage efficient use of water. Establishing goals and choosing water conservation measures is a continuing planning process. Goals are developed, adopted, and then evaluated periodically. Specific conservation measures are phased in and then evaluated for their effectiveness, achievement of desired results, and customer satisfaction.

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7.9.1 Existing Demand Management Measures for Retail
Compliance with water savings goals can be accomplished by implementing the specific measures laid out in each DMM. DMMs refer to policies, programs, rules, regulation and ordinances, and the use of devices, equipment, and facilities that, over the long term, have been generally justified and accepted by the industry as providing a reliable reduction in water demand.

7.9.1.1 Water Waste Prevention Ordinances
A Water Waste Prohibition is an important component for any conservation plan and refers to enactment and enforcement measures that prohibit gutter flooding, single pass cooling system in new connections, non-recirculation system in all new conveyer car washes and commercial laundry systems, and nonrecycling decorative water fountains.

The City of Indio had originally passed Ordinance No. 1662 in October 20214 prohibiting water wasting which results in flows onto roadways, adjacent property, or non-irrigated property. The current Ordinance No. 17662 was updated in July 2021 and added new water shortage stages (V & VI), stricter water-efficient landscape development standards, and clearer penalties. In addition, the City has also passed Ordinance No. 257, which states: “Chapter 54.050 It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or neglectfully waste in any manner, any person having knowledge of any conditions whereby water is being wasted, shall immediately notify the Water Department of that fact.”
Indio enforces local ordinances regarding sprinklers which could include a temporary shut-off of water service upon receipt of a complaint of a broken sprinkler head. Indio is addressing nuisance water through this ordinance. However, Indio has addressed nuisance water more specifically in its landscaping ordinance (54.054).

The public is able to report water wasters online at Indio’s “Report Water Wasters!” site. Indio has developed a “Water Waster Notice” to notify the property owner of the violation and corrective actions to be taken when over-irrigation or water wasting is reported on the property. Indio has developed a form for calculating the amount of water being wasted and can inform the property owner. With documentation of wasted water, specifically by photos of the violation and “Water Waster Notice,” Indio can enforce its regulations and educate the public.

The effectiveness of this DMM is currently determined by how many revisits are made to a site and by tracking the number of total complaint calls received in the database.

7.9.1.2 Metering
Currently, 100 percent of Indio’s customers are metered for water use and meters are required for any new service connections. This DMM enables Indio to meter and bill customers based on their actual volume of use. Industry organizations estimate that metered accounts along with volumetric rates can result in a 20 percent reduction in demand. Indio has likely already realized the savings associated with metering all accounts. A tiered rate structure would be necessary to reduce further usage under this DMM.

Indio’s meter change-out program has been fully implemented with Advanced Metering Infrastructure and Automated Meter Reading system.

7.9.1.3 Conservation Pricing
Retail conservation pricing provides economic incentives to customers to use water efficiently. The goal of this DMM is to recover the maximum amount of water sales revenue from volumetric rates that is consistent with utility costs, financial stability, revenue sufficiency, and customer equality. Indio’s Board has approved a new allocation-based rate structure that went into effect on January 1, 2014. The new rate structure alone will change customer behaviors, resulting in conservation. The revenue for the rate structure will also offset the costs of the conservation program. The current rate structure is based on meter size and monthly fixed charges (Indio 2025a).

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7.9.1.4 Public Education and Outreach
Indio’s public education and outreach includes its conservation website, public information, school education, and CV Water Counts.

Indio has a portion of its website (https://www.indio.org/departments/indio-water-authority/waterconservation) devoted to water conservation and education. The website provides information on Indio’s adopted water restrictions, useful links for water savings and reporting water waste, irrigation guides, and rebate programs for turf removal, smart irrigation controllers, and toilets.

Indio has been proactive and implemented a public information program. Through the program, Indio can assist customers in identifying opportunities for conservation via brochures, media events, service announcements, workshops, and other means. Savings could be significant if the program targets residential outdoor use, including demonstration gardens for re- landscaping away from turf. Indio’s current public information program includes: Public service announcements; Bill inserts, newsletters, and brochures; Special events and media events; and Speakers bureau.

A school education program contributes to the long-term reduction in water use as a result of actual changes to water use behaviors in City of Indio’s youth. Indio has presented to classes in the Desert Sands Unified School District as well as provided calendars promoting efficient water use to several elementary schools.

Each year the Indio offers school presentations free of charge to any interested school or class.

Presentations include information about water conservation, water quality and information about where the water comes from. Costs for this program have been estimated as $10 per year per student reached.

CV Water Counts
CV Water Counts was formed by the six water suppliers to provide education and awareness of water conversation to Valley residents and businesses. The group was formed in 2008 to reduce water demand, increase water supply, and improve water quality. The CV Water Counts website (https://cvwatercounts.com/) has informative links with educational resources, information on rebates for water saving devices, and upcoming water related events in the area. The CV Water Counts Program uses surveyed data from Coachella Valley residents to guide its water conservation messaging to achieve maximum local impact.

7.9.1.5 Programs to Assess and Manage Distribution System Real Loss Indio conducts a program for system water audits, leak detection, and repair. Indio reported a water loss of 993 AF in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. For that reporting year, 20,249 AF of water was produced resulting in a water loss of 4.9 percent. Non-revenue water in the FY2024-2025 calendar year was 6.4 percent suggesting that Indio has already achieved the goal of less than 10 percent. Indio would like to further reduce unaccounted-for water losses in its system to between 3 and 5 percent. Such a reduction could result in additional water savings of approximately 300 to 700 AFY by 2030.

Indio expects that the program will be further expanded. Expansion of this program will enhance Indio’s knowledge and awareness of its system, which will allow for more accurate targeting of problem areas for future maintenance or replacement. Areas of expansion currently in effect are:
• Changing the way Indio performs fire flows, utilizing hydraulic modeling software to predict the available fire flow without using any water.
• Indio has had its own inspector since mid-2007 to monitor water use at construction sites and ensure all flows are being monitored.
• Indio acquired an electronic leak-detection device in 2008, which was the first step in implementing its leak detection/prevention program.
• Indio began tracking metered, unbilled usage on a monthly basis in 2022.

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7.9.1.6 Water Conservation Program Coordination and Staffing Support Indio has conservation programs for CII and a dedicated Conservation Coordinator in charge of implementation of the conservation programs.

A Conservation Coordinator provides oversight of conservation programs and DMM implementation, as well as communicating and promoting water conservation issues. The Coordinator oversees not only water conservation, but also other environmental programs within the City of Indio. Indio plans on maintaining a Conservation Coordinator and Manager on staff at all times.

7.9.1.7 Other Demand Management Measures
Indio’s other DMMs include: water survey programs for residential customers, landscape conservation programs and incentives, high efficiency washer incentives, and low flush toilet replacement programs.

Water Survey Programs for Residential Customers & Residential Retrofits A water survey program for residential customers is a key component of Indio’s conservation plan. Through the survey program, residents can request that Indio staff visit their homes and identify opportunities outside the residence or business to reduce consumption, such as landscaping conversions or the installation of more efficient irrigation heads. Indio has been performing outside surveys for residents and businesses since 2008. Over 2,000 landscape conversions have been performed.

Indio may be able to expand this program to include indoor surveys as well. Indio may consider requiring in-home surveys for any residents interested in participating in its Smart Controller and/or Re- landscape Rebate programs.

This part of the program is still in the planning phase and has not yet been implemented. Indio is continually working to improve and expand conservation plans through partnerships and additional funding opportunities. In 2011 Indio signed an MOU with CVWD to provide Indio residents who are served by CVWD equal opportunities to receive smart controller rebates or convert lawns to desert landscape.

A residential plumbing retrofit program can also contribute to the overall reduction in indoor water use in the residential customer class. This program targets residences constructed prior to 1992. Indio should market this program to the North Indio and Central zones of the City, where pre-1992 construction accounts for 97 percent and 77 percent of residences, respectively.

Other utilities implement residential plumbing retrofit programs through the actual distribution of retrofit kits to their residential customers, at no cost to the customers. The kit should include a minimum of one new showerhead and two aerators (one kitchen and one bathroom). The estimated cost of such a kit is $10. The Gas Company distributes these kits and in partnership with the Gas Company, Indio helps promote the program to Indio residents. The Indio promotes the program through the website and supplying information during residential audits.

Indio may expand this program and possibly add toilet retrofit kits dependent on future funding.

Large Landscape Conservation Programs and Incentives
A large landscape water conservation program with incentives for Indio’s CII and irrigation customers could be an important component of its long-term conservation plan. Indio should strive to provide educational opportunities to these clients about the benefits and opportunities for reducing their outdoor water usage.

An important aspect of this program will be surveys and water audits of landscaping water usage.

The cost for each CII survey has been estimated as twice that of a residential survey or $220 per survey, which accounts for the time spent by Indio staff to perform surveys and track program implementation.

This program is still in the planning phase and has not yet been implemented. Implementation goals were established in the conservation master plan. Indio continues to seek partnerships and additional funding to implement and expand conservation programs including this DMM.

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High Efficiency Clothes Washing Machine Financial Incentive Programs Indio implements a high-efficiency clothes washing machine (HECW) financial incentive program. As of 2018, clothes washers that have earned the ENERGY STAR certification use 14 gallons of water per load, compared to the 20 gallons used by a standard machine. Indio now provides a high-efficiency washing machine rebate, offering a maximum of $150 rebate per installed washing machine. Washing machine must be ENERGY STAR certified with an Integrated Water Factor of 6 or less. Indio approved 27 rebates in 2024 and 19 in 2025.

The promotion and use of high-efficiency washing machines has social value as it brings conservation products, literally, in direct contact with area users, thereby raising awareness of water conservation efforts.

Furthermore, the use of these products has the potential to reduce customer water, wastewater, gas and electric bills. The use of these products provides no direct health benefit or detriment. The indirect benefits of this are that less energy and detergents are used to operate the machines. This would reduce the need for groundwater pumping and replenishment, collection, treatment and the subsequent reuse or disposal of wastewater, as well as the numerous environmental benefits of reducing energy consumption.

Conservation Programs for Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) Accounts Conservation programs for Indio’s CII customers could play a significant role in its long-term conservation plan. Under this DMM, Indio will need to identify and rank CII customers by their water use, develop an Ultra-low-flush toilets (ULFT) program, and either implement a CII water use survey and incentives program or establish and meet CII conservation performance targets.

If Indio chooses to pursue a CII Survey and Customer Incentives Program, then it should work to supply surveys to 10 percent of its CII customers within 10 years. However, if Indio pursues a CII Conservation Program, then that program should achieve a 10 percent reduction in the CII baseline water use within 10 years. Some utilities have achieved this by supplying one-time grants to CII customers for both indoor and outdoor water conserving measures. This program is still in the planning phase and has not yet been implemented. Indio continues to seek new partnerships and additional funding to expand conservation programs.

Residential Ultra Low Flush Toilet Replacement Programs Ultra-low-flush toilets (ULFT) conserve water by utilizing far less water than older, less efficient toilets. An ULFT uses less than 1.6 gallons per flush. In addition to direct conservation benefits, the promotion and use of these toilets has social value as it brings conservation products in direct contact with area users, thereby raising awareness of water conservation efforts. Indio offers a ULFT rebate of up to $150 per ULFT for ULFTs of 1.28 gallons per flush or less. The rebate is limited to the number of toilets in the household.

Indio approved rebates for 52 installations in 2024 and 49 in 2025.

In addition to the rebate program, ULFTs are required for all new construction per plumbing code requirements. ULFTs were first introduced to the U.S. market in 1980, and the manufacturing of older, less efficient toilets designs was halted shortly thereafter in 1992 when the state mandated all new toilets must be ULFTs. Industry estimates are that natural replacement of residential toilets occurs every 20-3050 years or at a rate of about 3-52 percent per year. Using this methodology, approximately 25 30 percent of the toilets from pre-1980 1992 houses would still be installed in 2025.

Landscape Conversion Rebate Program
Indio offers a rebate to its customers for converting their outdoor grass landscaping to desert-friendly landscaping, which requires less irrigation. For residential properties, the rebate consists of $2 per square foot of landscaping or turf, up to $20,000 per project. Approved residential conversions that plant one new native tree for every 250 square feet converted are offered $3 per square foot of landscaping or turf, up to $30,000 per project. For commercial properties, the rebate consists of $2 per square foot of landscaping or turf, up to $60,000 per project. Turf conversions larger than 2,500 square feet are subject to additional requirements and review by Indio and the City of Indio Community Development Department. Under this rebate program, Indio converted 41,481 square feet of landscape in 2024 and 11,426 square feet in 2025

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Irrigation Upgrade Rebate Program
Indio incentivizes upgrading above ground irrigation devices such as bubblers, smart irrigation controllers and pressure regulators. These appliances reduce water use by applying water when plants need it, reducing overwatering. Indio offers a rebate of up to $750 for residential accounts and $1500 for commercial accounts for eligible products. Indio issued 12 rebates in 2025.

7.9.2 Implementation of DMMs
Indio’s Conservation Program was initiated in 2008. In developing its water Conservation Program, Indio utilized many DMMs as guidelines. Indio continues to seek new partnerships and addition funding to expand conservation programs. Indio will continue to implement water conservation practices and enforce requirements of City ordinances to maintain lower than historic per capita water use.

7.10 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Implementation
This section includes a discussion of Indio’s process for adopting, submitting, and implementing the RUWMP and Indio’s WSCP.

7.10.1 Notice of Plan Preparation and Public Hearing
CWC Section 10621(b) requires that water suppliers notify cities and counties within their service area that the UWMP and WSCP are being updated at least 60 days prior to the public hearing. Indio issued a Notice of Plan Preparation stating that it was updating its plan and would hold a public hearing to consider adoption of the RUWMP and Indio’s WSCP. Indio provided written notice to the cities and counties within its service area on March 25, 2026. These entities are identified in Table 7-30, and the notification letters are included in Appendix A of the RUWMP. Indio provided an additional notice to the cities and counties with the time and date of the public hearing.

Table 7-30. DWR 10-1R Notification to Cities and Counties 60 Day Notice Notice of Public Hearing
City
La Quinta Yes Yes
Indio Yes Yes
Coachella Yes Yes
County
Riverside Yes Yes
Prior to the public hearing and in accordance with California Government Code §6066, Indio provided notice to the public through its website and published announcements of the public hearing in the newspaper on two occasions before the hearing. Copies of the proof of publication are included in Appendix A of the RUWMP, Public Hearing and Adoption
Indio held a public hearing on June 17, 2026, located at City of Indio Council Chambers, 150 Civic Center Drive, Indio, CA 92201 to hear public comment and consider adopting this RUWMP and Indio’s WSCP.

As part of the public hearing, Indio provided information on Indio’s municipal water demand forecast and supply reliability assessment, as well as an overview of DMMs and the WSCP. The public hearing on the RUWMP and Indio’s WSCP took place before the adoption of the Plans, which allowed the opportunity to modify the RUWMP and Indio’s WSCP in response to public input before adoption. After the hearing, the Plans were adopted as prepared or as modified during the hearing.

The adoption resolution for the RUWMP and Indio’s WSCP is included in Appendix F.

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7.10.2 Plan Submittal
Indio will submit the standard tables electronically to DWR using the DWR Water Use Efficiency Data Portal along with a copy of the final RUWMP. The RUWMP will also be submitted to the California State Library and to the Cities of La Quinta, Indio, and Coachella and the County of Riverside, which Indio supplies water to, within 30 days of adoption.

Indio is not regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission, so notification to the Commission does not apply.

7.10.3 Public Availability
The RUWMP and Indio’s WSCP will be available on the Indio website for public viewing within 30 days of filing the plans with DWR. Commencing no later than July 31, 2026, the RUWMP and WSCP will be available for public review at Indio’s office (see address below) during regular business hours.

City of Indio City Hall
100 Civic Center Drive
Indio, CA 92201
The final documents will also be posted on Indio’s website at https://www.indio.org/departments/indiowater-authority/engineering-water-resources.

7.10.4 Amending an Adopted UWMP or WSCP
If Indio identifies the need to amend the adopted RUWMP or Indio’s WSCP, each of the steps for notification, public hearing, adoption, and submittal will also be followed for the amended RUWMP.

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Chapter 8 Mission Springs Water District

8.1 Introduction
The Mission Springs Water District (MSWD) has participated in the RUWMP for compliance with the UWMP Act. This chapter describes information specific to MSWD and its water use efficiency programs. As an urban water supplier, MSWD is required to prepare a UWMP every five years in response to the requirements of the UWMP Act, CWC Sections 10610 through 10656. This RUWMP serves to meet the UWMP Act requirements for the six participating agencies, and this chapter contains information specific to MSWD.

Background about the preparation of the RUWMP and the changes in the CWC requirements is presented in Chapter 1 of the RUWMP. The relation of the RUWMP to other planning efforts is described in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

8.1.1 Chapter Organization
This chapter is organized into the sections recommended by the 2025 UWMP Guidebook prepared by DWR.
• Section 8.1 - Introduction and Lay Description. Provides a discussion on the fundamentals of the UWMP and the required Lay Description of the UWMP. Each UWMP must include a Lay Description of how much water the agency has on a reliable basis, how much it needs for the foreseeable future, what the agency’s strategy is for meeting its water needs, the challenges facing the agency, and any other information necessary to provide a general understanding. • Section 8.2 - Plan Preparation. Provides information on MSWD’s process for developing the UWMP, including efforts in coordination and outreach.
• Section 8.3 - Service Area Description. Includes maps of the service area, a description of the service area and climate, public water systems, and MSWD’s organizational structure and history. • Section 8.4 - Water Use Characterization. Describes and quantifies the current and projected urban water uses within MSWD’s service area.
• Section 8.5 – SB7x7 Baselines, 2020 Targets, and 2025 Reporting. Describes MSWD’s methods for calculating baseline and 2020 target urban water consumption and reporting 2020 target compliance from the 2020 UWMP.
• Section 8.6 - Water Supply Characterization. Describes and quantifies current and projected sources of urban water available to MSWD. Includes discussion of potential recycled water uses and supply availability.
• Section 8.7 - Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment. Describes the reliability of MSWD’s water supply and projects the reliability for at least the next 20 years. Includes an analysis for normal years, single dry years, and a five-consecutive-year drought. • Section 8.8 - Water Shortage Contingency Plan. Refers to the appendix which provides MSWD’s staged plan for dealing with water shortages, including a catastrophic supply interruption. • Section 8.9 - Demand Management Measures. Describes MSWD’s efforts to promote conservation and to reduce demand through demand management measures. • Section 8.10 - Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Implementation. Describes the steps taken by MSWD to adopt and submit the UWMP and to make it publicly available. Includes a discussion of MSWD’s plan to implement the UWMP.
• Appendices. Each Supplier may have information that is best appended to the 2025 UWMP, to support and further clarify information included in the main chapters.

8.1.2 UWMPs in Relation to Other Efforts
The related planning efforts by agencies in the Coachella Valley are described in Chapter 2 of the RUWMP.

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8.1.3 UWMPs and Grant or Loan Eligibility
MSWD has prepared and adopted this 2025 UWMP, including compliance with water conservation requirements, and is therefore eligible for State water grants or loans.

8.1.4 Demonstration of Consistency with the Delta Plan for Participants in Covered Actions The participating agencies’ approach to demonstrating reduced reliance on the Delta is discussed in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

8.2 Plan Preparation
This section provides information on MSWD’s process for developing the RUWMP, including efforts in coordination and outreach.

8.2.1 Plan Preparation
In accordance with the CWC, urban water suppliers must develop a UWMP every five years. An “urban water supplier” is a supplier providing water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 service connections or supplying 3,000 AFY or more. MSWD supplies approximately 8,200 AFY to 13,500 municipal service connections and, therefore, surpasses both the volumetric delivery and number of connections thresholds and has prepared a 2025 UWMP.

8.2.2 Basis for Preparing a Plan
MSWD is a retail public water supplier that meets the definition of an urban water supplier with over 13,500 municipal water service connections in 2025. MSWD maintains three PWSs with information shown in Table 8-1.

Table 8-1. DWR 2-1R Public Water Systems
Public Water
System Number Public Water System Name
Number of Municipal
Connections 2025
Volume of Water
Supplied 2025 (AF)
3310008 Mission Springs Water District 12,783 8,103
3310078 West Palm Springs Village 256 88
3310081 Palm Springs Crest 174 77
Total 13,213 8,268

8.2.3 Regional Planning
The regional planning efforts of water supply agencies in the Coachella Valley are described in Chapters 2 and 3 of the RUWMP.

The UWMP Act allows water agencies to prepare their plans either individually or by participation in an area wide, regional, watershed, or basin-wide urban water management plan. MSWD is participating in the Coachella Valley RUWMP.

8.2.4 Individual or Regional Planning and Compliance
The Water Conservation Act of 2009 allows agencies to report progress toward achieving water conservation targets on an individual or regional basis. The agencies have not created a Regional Alliance for the purposes of measuring and reporting water conservation targets.

8.2.5 Fiscal or Calendar Year and Units of Measure
This UWMP reports water use on a calendar year basis, and all volumes are expressed in units of acrefeet (AF), unless otherwise indicated. MSWD is a retail agency and does not currently sell wholesale water.

Table 8-2 shows MSWD’s supplier identification information used throughout this report.

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Table 8-2. DWR 2-3 Supplier Identification
Information Supplier Identification
Type of Supplier Supplier is a retail supplier
Fiscal or Calendar Year UWMP Tables are in calendar years Unit of measure used in UWMP AF

8.2.6 Coordination and Outreach
MSWD does not receive water from a wholesale supplier and meets all its water demands through its own supplies. MSWD does not currently provide wholesale water to other water agencies.

Outreach and coordination with other local agencies during RUWMP preparation, including notices to the cities and counties within the region, are described in Chapter 1 of the RUWMP.

8.3 Service Area Description
This section provides information about MSWD’s service area, climate, and population.

8.3.1 General Description
MSWD was established in 1953 and was formerly known as Desert Hot Springs County Water District.

MSWD’s water service area consists of 135 square miles including the City of Desert Hot Springs, 10 smaller communities in Riverside County, and portions of the City of Palm Springs. MSWD offices are located in Desert Hot Springs, California.

MSWD provides potable water delivery and wastewater collection and recycling within its service area.

8.3.1.1 Domestic Water Delivery
MSWD’s water supply source is 100 percent groundwater produced from District-owned and operated wells in the Mission Creek Subbasin. MSWD provides water service to approximately 43,000 people in its water service area. MSWD currently receives 100 percent of its water supply from groundwater produced from the Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, which underlies the District’s water service area. MSWD primarily produces groundwater from the Mission Creek Subbasin via eight active wells. To a lesser extent, MSWD also produces groundwater from the Indio Subbasin (Garnet Hill Subarea) via three active wells; and the San Gorgonio Pass Subbasin via two active wells.

The existing MSWD distribution system consists of three independent water distribution systems: 1) Desert Hot Springs and surrounding area system – encompasses the City of Desert Hot Springs, a portion of the City of Palm Springs and surrounding unincorporated areas of Riverside County including Desert Edge community, 2) Palm Springs Crest System, and 3) West Palm Springs Village System. The two smaller community systems are located on the north side of Interstate 10 abutting the Morongo Indian Reservation.

The existing Desert Hot Springs and surrounding area water distribution system serves up to 24 different pressure service zones through either a primary pressure zone or a reduced pressure service zone. In general, the MSWD standard pressure zones are reflective of existing storage tank overflow (or high water) elevations, i.e., the 913 Zone has a water storage tank high water elevation of 913 feet above mean sea level. As development of the MSWD service area has progressed, numerous storage tanks were constructed at varying elevations to maintain adequate pressure throughout the service area.

8.3.1.1 Wastewater Collection, Treatment, and Recycling MSWD also provides sewer service to approximately 26,000 people in Desert Hot Springs, Desert Crest Country Club, and Dillon Estates Mobile Home Park. MSWD currently has approximately 120 miles of sewer gravity mains, most of which have been constructed in the past two decades. There are currently a significant number of septic systems within the sewer service area, which MSWD is converting to sewer as funding becomes available.

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MSWD operates three wastewater treatment facilities. The Alan L. Horton WWTP is a 2.4 MGD (2,690 AFY) facility in Desert Hot Springs. The Desert Crest WWTP is a small 0.2 MGD (224 AFY) facility serving two mobile home parks in Desert Hot Springs. Each treatment facility treats flows from a separate portion of the collection system. The Horton WWTF is the primary treatment facility that handles most of the wastewater in the service area. The Dos Palmas Lift Station was constructed to convey wastewater to the Horton WWTF from a growing residential area south and down gradient of the Horton WWTF. Both facilities discharge to onsite evaporation/percolation ponds. The Nancy Wright Regional WRF, recently completed in September 2024, is a 1.5 MGD (1,680 AFY) facility that will accept flows formerly routed to the Horton WWTP. This treatment facility will expand the District’s treatment capacity and provide treatment capacity for homes and businesses currently using a septic system that are to be connected to the MSWD collection system. The Dos Palmas Lift Station is planned to be redirected from the Horton WWTF and deliver flows to the Regional WRF (MSWD 2025b). MSWD plans to expand the Regional WRF to produce recycled water for beneficial reuse in the Mission Creek Subbasin.

8.3.2 Service Area Boundary
The service area boundary is shown in Figure 8-1.

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Figure 8-1. MSWD Service Area Boundary

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8.3.3 Service Area Climate
The climate of the Coachella Valley is arid characterized by low annual rainfall, low humidity, high summer temperatures, abundant sunshine, and relatively mild winters. MSWD has a desert climate with low rainfall and humidity and a large range between high and low temperatures.

Data from climate station at Palm Springs Airport represents climate in the MSWD service area. Monthly average high temperature reaches 106 degrees and monthly average low temperatures are 39 degrees.

The average monthly ETo, rainfall, and temperatures for the MSWD service area are shown in Table 8-3 and are shown in Figure 8-2.

Table 8-3. Monthly Average Climate Data (Palm Springs Airport) Parameter Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Average Max.

Temperature (F)
71 74 81 87 95 104 109 108 102 91 79 69 89
Average Minimum
Temperature (F)
48 50 54 59 66 73 79 80 74 65 53 46 62
Average Total
Precipitation (in)

1.1 1.1 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.7 4.6
Evapotranspiration,
ETo (in)

2.5 3.4 5.6 7.1 8.3 8.7 8.1 7.5 6.2 4.7 2.9 2.2 67.2
Notes:

Temperature and Precipitation from National Weather Service Forecast office, Station Palm Springs Airport. Data from 1991 through 2020. Accessed through https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=sgx ETo Data from California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) Station 208, La Quinta II. Data from February 2007 through December 2020.

Figure 8-2. Monthly Average Climate Data
A discussion of the potential impacts of climate change on the region is included in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

0.5 0.6 0.7 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.7

2.7 3.6

6.0 7.7

9.2 9.8 9.7

9.1 7.2

5.2 3.3

2.3 -
20 40
60 80
100
120
-

2.0 4.0

6.0 8.0

10.0 12.0
Temperature (F)
Precipitation and ETo (in)
Precipitation (in) ETo (in) Maximum Air Temperature (F) Minimum Air Temperature (F)

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8.3.4 Service Area Population and Demographics
This section describes the population and demographics within MSWD’s service area. The District’s water service area encompasses 135 square miles including the City of Desert Hot Springs, 10 smaller communities in Riverside County, and portions of the City of Palm Springs. The City of Desert Hot Springs makes up approximately 17 percent of the District’s water service area (23 square miles). A majority of the District’s water service area population resides inside the City of Desert Hot Springs.

Current and projected demographics within MSWD’s service area were developed by SCAG as part of the 2024 Regional Transportation Plan referred to as Connect SoCal (SCAG, 2024). As part of that effort, SCAG performed a detailed evaluation of current and projected future demographics throughout southern California, including the study area for the RUWMP. The Connect SoCal analysis included forecasts for employment, population, and households within cities and unincorporated areas. This demographic information was used to prepare projections of future water demands.

The growth forecasts in SCAG’s Connect SoCal plan included estimates of population, households, and employment through 2050. The 2024 Connect SoCal update projects that the population of Riverside County will increase by approximately 50 percent through 2050. The 2024 update also notes that the region’s population decline between 2019 and 2023 and attributes this decrease to COVID-19 pandemic impacts. Traffic and visitation declined during the pandemic, but has recovered to or exceeded prepandemic levels in most communities. SCAG notes that the median age is increasing and unpredictable events like the COVID-19 pandemic may cause significant deviations from projected long-term trends.

Population estimates were made using SCAG housing estimates, housing density, and water meter connections. The water service area shown in Figure 8-1 was intersected with 2019 housing totals from SCAG’s Connect SoCal 2024 growth projection (SCAG, 2024). Household totals for 2025 were estimated by multiplying the 2019 totals by the growth in residential meter connections from 2019 to 2025. The permanent population was estimated by multiplying the 2025 household totals by the number of persons per household for each jurisdiction within MSWD’s service area using Census data.

The current and projected future population are shown in Table 8-4. Approximately 95 percent of the District’s service connections are for residential use, and of those approximately 95 percent are singlefamily residential connections.

Table 8-4. DWR 3-1R Current and Projected Population
Population Served 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
MSWD 48,621 63,520 78,420 86,031 93,642 101,253
Demographic data for the City of Desert Hot Springs is summarized in Table 8-5.

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2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 8-9
Table 8-5. City of Desert Hot Springs Demographic Data
Age Distribution
Race/Ethnicity
Distribution
Income and
Household Size
Household
Income Distribution
Age Percent
Race/
Ethnicity Percent Parameter Amount Income Percent
19 years
and under

27.7% White 30.4% Median household
income
$33,046 $24,999 and
under

38.4%
20-34 years 19.1% Black 9.2% Average
household income
$46,178 $25,000-
$49,999

30.3%
35-54 years 27.2% Native
American

0.7% Per capita income $18,076 $50,000-
$74,999

14.3 55-64 years 12.4% Asian/Pacific
Islander

3.1% Percent of
Population Below
Poverty Level

31.1% $75,000-
$99,999

8.0%
Over 65
years

13.6% Hispanic 54.5% Average
Household Size

2.71 $100,000-
$149,999

6.6%
Other 2.1% $150,000 and
above

2.4%
Notes
Reference: American Community Survey 2014-2019 (United States Census Bureau, 2021)

8.3.5 Land Uses within Service Area
Existing land uses within the MSWD water service area are a mixture of residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and open space. MSWD coordinates with the City of Desert Hot Springs and Riverside County on issues related to land use planning.

The area of the City of Desert Hot Spring’s SOI, including the City and County-managed lands over which the City has an advisory role, constitutes approximately 40 percent (56 square miles) of MSWD’s water service area. The City itself makes up approximately 17 percent of the District’s water service area (23 square miles). Approximately 60 percent of the area within the City’s SOI (including the City) is (or is planned to be) residential land use, with 50 percent of the residential land use categorized as low-density residential and residential estates. Approximately 23 percent of the land is categorized as open space and 17 percent of the land is categorized as CII.

The City completed an update of its General Plan in May 2020. The General Plan identifies policies and general categories of development envisioned for different areas within the City. In its regional growth forecast, SCAG also coordinated with each land use jurisdiction to coordinate growth projections with current and projected future land use.

To support the demand forecast in this RUWMP, MSWD reached out to each of the cities within the region to request information on additional known development plans or approvals that may not have been included in the 2024 Connect SoCal effort. This information has been incorporated into the RUWMP demand forecast.

8.4 Water Use Characterization
This section summarizes MSWD’s current and projected urban water system demands. To provide an adequate long-range view of future water needs, this report uses a 25-year planning period from 2025 to 2050. This RUWMP will serve as a source document for future water supply assessments and written supply verifications until the next 5-year UWMP update.

8.4.1 Non-Potable Versus Potable Water Use
MSWD currently produces 100 percent of its potable water supply from the Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, primarily from Mission Creek Subbasin. MSWD does not purchase imported water from a water

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wholesaler, although it does coordinate with DWA on replenishment of the groundwater basin with imported water.

District groundwater meets all Federal and State primary and secondary water quality standards without treatment (other than chlorination for disinfection) with the exceptions that groundwater from Well No. 26A is treated at each well to meet the primary water quality standard for uranium.

Currently, MSWD does not produce or use recycled water from the WWTPs in its service area.

8.4.2 Water Use by Sector
To support the demand forecast, MSWD has evaluated its water use for the past five years by customer sector. Water use is tracked by customer type, using MSWD’s billing system. Water production is tracked by recording groundwater production from MSWD’s wells. The urban demand sectors that apply to MSWD are summarized in Table 8-6.

Table 8-6. Water Use Sectors
Sector Description
Single-Family Residential Single-family residential customers constitute the majority of MSWD’s customers.

Multi-Family Residential Higher-density residential developments such as apartments and townhomes also contribute a significant portion of urban demand within the MSWD service area.

Commercial/Industrial/Instit
utional
MSWD serves commercial users consisting of retail, office, lodging, restaurant, and service businesses. Industrial and Institutional uses are a small portion of overall water use, and are combined with commercial uses for the purposes of this report.

Landscape A portion of MSWD’s outdoor water demand is served by dedicated landscape meters. These connections may be associated with large single family properties or multi-family, commercial, or institutional/governmental sites, but are considered a separate water use sector because the connection is solely for landscape irrigation.

Other Other uses include authorized non-billed use (such as firefighting or flushing), and losses from the system.

MSWD does not sell water to any other agencies or districts and there are no plans to wholesale municipal water in the future. CWA does not use its potable water supply for any purpose other than domestic water.

8.4.2.1 Distribution System Losses
The difference between water production and metered water deliveries (billed to customers) is defined as non-revenue water. Non-revenue water includes authorized non-billed use (such as firefighting or flushing), and it includes losses from the system. MSWD has completed annual water audits through 2019 using the AWWA Water Audit Software. The results are summarized in Table 8-7. The completed audits are included in Appendix E of the RUWMP.

Table 8-7. DWR 4-4R 12 Month Water Loss Audit Reporting Report Period Start Date
Volume of Water Loss (AFY)
Submitted to DWR Water Loss Audit
MM YYYY Program
01 2015 655 Yes
01 2016 717 Yes
01 2017 897 Yes
01 2018 823 Yes
01 2019 1,002 Yes
The real water loss performance standard for MSWD’s distribution system is 21.0 gallons per connection per day, a 61 percent reduction from the State estimated baseline of 54.3 gallons per connection per day.

Suppliers will be required to submit a registry of breaks, repairs, and estimates of water loss every three

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years, beginning in 2029 for the 2025 through 2027 period. Water losses for the supplied data period will be assessed compared to the performance standard. MSWD’s total water loss currently averages about

56.7 gallons per connection per day, with the most recent reporting year averaging 52.4 gallons of real water loss per connection per day. Table 8-8 shows MSWD’s progress towards the 2028 Water Loss Standard.

Table 8-8. DWR 4-6R Progress Towards 2028 Water Loss Standard – Water Code Section 10631(d)(3)(C)
Public Water
System ID #
Did the Water
Board Calculate
a Water Loss
Standard for this
Public Water
System?
Real Water Loss
State Water Board
Standard Most Recent AWWA Water Loss Audit
2028 Real
Water Loss
Standard
per Unit Per
Day
Units for
Real Water
Loss Drop
Down List
Number of
Units
Volume of
Total Real
Loss (AFY)
Real Water
Loss Per
Unit Per
DAY
CA3310001 Yes 21.0 Gallons per
Service
Connection
per Day
(GPSCD)
256 15 52.7
Public Water
System ID #
Did the Water
Board Calculate
a Water Loss
Standard for this
Public Water
System?
Apparent Water Loss
State Water Board
Standard Most Recent AWWA Water Loss Audit
2028
Apparent
Water Loss
Standard
per Unit per
Day
Units for
Apparent
Water Loss
Number of
Connections
Volume of
Total
Apparent
Loss (AFY)
Apparent
Water Loss
Per Unit per
Day
CA3310001 Yes 7.2 Gallons per
Service
Connection
per Day
(GPSCD)
256 4.0 Gallons per
Connection
per Day
(GPSCD)

8.4.2.2 Summary of Current Uses
MSWD’s urban water use for 2020 to 2025 is summarized in Table 8-9.

Table 8-9. DWR 4-1R Actual Demands for Water (AFY)
Use Type
Level of
Treatment When
Delivered 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Single Family Potable 4,489 4,566 4,509 4,273 4,433 4,381 Multi-Family Potable 1,251 1,308 1,312 1,229 1,273 1,219 Commercial/Industrial/
Institutional Potable 600 664 672 662 738 910
Landscape Potable 1,251 1,308 1,312 1,229 1,273 1,219
Other Potable 995 606 543 611 653 396
Total 8,269 8,079 7,969 7,552 7,982 7,897
Note: Other includes Non-Revenue water, which includes losses.

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8.4.3 Demand Forecast
MSWD is participating in the update of the Mission Creek Subbasin Alternate Plan being prepared to meet requirements of SGMA. The RUWMP agencies coordinated efforts with demand projections being prepared for the Mission Creek Subbasin Alternative Plan. The demand projection approach included the following steps:

1. The projections were based on SCAG’s regional growth forecast prepared as part of their Regional Transportation Plan, Connect SoCal 2024. SCAG gathered input from cities and counties throughout Southern California about expected growth and development for the next 25 years and incorporated the land use designations in each jurisdiction’s General Plan. The SCAG analysis includes estimates of population, households, and employment in each Traffic Analysis Zone (TAZ) in their study area (SCAG 2024).

2. Additional analysis of vacancy rates was performed to estimated baseline and projected housing units for the study area.

3. Baseline and projected estimates of employment were used to drive future growth in CII demands

4. Five years of customer billing data (2020 to 2024) were used to develop unit demand factors specific to the MSWD service area. These factors have units of gallons per housing unit for residential and landscape uses and gallons per employee for CII uses.

5. Water losses were estimated using the difference between supply and demand for the last five years (2020 to 2024).

6. Demands were adjusted for the following types of conservation savings:
• Indoor passive conservation savings from the natural replacement of indoor devices and plumbing fixtures
• Outdoor conservation savings from the implementation of the 2015 Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) for future developments.
• Outdoor conservation savings from turf replacement due to local rebate programs. • Outdoor conservation savings from the installation of smart irrigation controllers due to local rebate programs.
• Outdoor conservation savings from the implementation of California’s non-functional turf ban (AB 1572).

Projected municipal demands for MSWD’s service area are shown in Table 8-10.

Table 8-10. DWR 4-2R Projected Demands for Water
- Additional
Description
Projected Water Use (AFY)
Use Type 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Single Family Potable 4,604 5,255 5,667 6,098 6,529
Multi-Family Potable 1,089 1,050 1,014 984 954
Commercial/Industrial/
Institutional Potable 668 704 719 737 755
Landscape Potable 856 954 1,074 1,194 1,314
Other Potable 2,361 2,382 2,401 2,420 2,439
Subtotal Potable 9,578 10,344 10,874 11,433 11,991
Total 9,578 10,344 10,874 11,433 11,991
Note: Other represents Non-Revenue water, which includes losses.

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8.4.3.1 Conservation Savings
Demand projections prepared for this RUWMP considered anticipated future water savings (summarized in Step 6 above).. The analysis included indoor savings related to toilets, showerheads, dishwashers, clothes washers, faucets, and urinals (categorized as indoor water use) as well as outdoor water use. Indoor conservation is mainly a result of government mandated water efficiency requirements for fixtures, defined as “passive savings.” The model considers these mandates and the average useful life and replacement rates for each type of fixture based on standard industry estimates and plumbing fixture saturation studies.

It assumes that all new construction complies with the plumbing codes in effect at that time and that when a device is replaced, the new device is also in compliance with the current plumbing codes. Estimated frequency of use for each type of fixture was based on a Conservation and Efficiency Potential study by the Pacific Institute were multiplied by the number of housing units to produce the total indoor passive conservation savings (Pacific Institute, 2014).

Anticipated outdoor water use savings were based on the implementation of the California MWELO which is the standard for outdoor water conservation for the state. The resulting water savings from the MWELO are estimated using an ETAF which adjusts the reference ET for plant requirements and irrigation efficiency.

Additional outdoor water use savings are anticipated due to the non-functional turf ban, smart irrigation controllers, and turf replacement. Assembly Bill (AB) 1572, passed in 2023, banned the use of potable water to irrigate non-functional turf (i.e., ornamental grass not used for recreation). The ban will go into effect in phases beginning in 2027 and will affect commercial, institutional, and homeowner association owned properties. MSWD has rebates in place to encourage water conservation through the installment of smart irrigation controllers and turf replacement. These savings are not considered passive are they are implemented through incentives under conservation programs.

The anticipated passive savings due to these measures are summarized in Table 8-11. These savings have been incorporated into the water demand projections presented in Table 8-10.

Table 8-11. DWR 4-4R Passive Water Savings Projections (AFY) Passive Savings 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Device Replacement 841 1,230 1,572 1,893 2,213
MWELO 305 519 679 832 985
Non-Functional Turf Ban 201 268 268 268 268
Total Passive Savings 1,348 2,017 2,518 2,992 3,466

8.4.3.2 Total Gross Water Use
As described in Section 8.6.2.5 below, MSWD intends to convey recycled water from the Regional WRF to new replenishment basins in Mission Creek Subbasin for groundwater recharge. This proposed new water supply is included in the forecasted water use for the District. Total projected gross water use, including both potable and recycled use, is shown in Table 8-12.

Table 8-12. DWR 4-3R Total Gross Water Use (AFY)
- 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Potable and Raw Water (AFY)
From DWR Table 4-1R and 4-2R 7,982 9,578 10,344 10,874 11,433 11,991 Recycled Water Demand (AFY)
From DWR Table 6-4R 0 0 1,120 2,200 3,600 5,000
Total Water Use 7,982 9,578 11,464 13,074 15,033 16,991 Note: Recycled water demands are discussed in Section 8.6 and are included in Table 8-18.

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8.4.4 Water Use for Lower Income Households
The SCAG Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) Housing Need by Income Category is used to develop projections of lower income housing units in future years. Lower income households are those with less than 80 percent of the area’s median household income, adjusted for family size. The City will strive to meet their new construction goals of the RHNA. The demand for lower income households is included in the water use projections in Table 8-9. SCAG assigned a RHNA share of 1,104 low to extremely low housing units to the City of Desert Hot Springs for the 2021- 2029 RHNA period. The estimated water demand increase for these 1,104 lower income housing units is estimated at 336 AFY, which is included in MSWD’s demand projections.

8.4.5 Climate Change Considerations
Potential impacts of climate change on water use in the region are discussed in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

8.5 SB7x7 Baselines, 2020 Targets, and 2025 Reporting
With the adoption of the Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SB X7-7), the State set a goal of reducing urban water use by 20 percent by the year 2020. Each retail urban water supplier was required to determine its water use during a baseline period and establish water use targets for the years 2015 and 2020 in order to help the State achieve the 20 percent reduction.

In the 2025 UWMP, water agencies must demonstrate compliance with their established water use target for the year 2020. The SBx7-7 Verification Forms were presented in the 2020 UWMP, Appendix E. This section also demonstrates that MSWD achieved its 2020 water use target in 2020.

8.5.1 SB7x7 Baselines and 2020 Targets
SBx7-7 required urban water suppliers to establish a per capita water use target for 2020 to be calculated by using one of four methods. MSWD selected to use Method 1, which was calculated based on the selected 10-year baseline of 289.7 GPCD. Using that criteria, MSWD’s selected 2020 target was 234.9 GPCD.

8.5.2 Calculating Population and Gross Water Use
To assess compliance with the 2020 water use target in GPCD, MSWD’s service area population and gross water use were compared to the SBx7-7 target.

The gross water used was determined from the annual production and storage records. Meter adjustments, exported water, distribution system storage, recycled water, and process water were not applicable to MSWD’s distribution system. Therefore, meter adjustments, exported water, distribution system storage, recycled water, and process water were not included in the calculations. MSWD’s water use was calculated as 189 GPCD for year 2020.

8.5.3 Supplier Met 2020 Target in 2020
MSWD met their 2020 target as reflected in Table 8-13 below, which includes their 2020 target and 2020 Actual GPCD. MSWD was not a part of a merger or consolidation and was not a part of an SBx7-7 Regional Alliance target.

Table 8-13 DWR 5-1R SB X7-7 2020 Target Progress
Was Supplier part of a
merger or consolidation
since 2020?
Regional Alliance Target
or Individual Target?
2020
Target
Actual
2020 GPCD
Did Supplier Achieve
Targeted Reduction for
2020?
No Individual Target 234.9 189 Yes

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8.6 Water Supply Characterization
This section describes and quantifies the sources of water available to MSWD.

8.6.1 Water Supply Analysis Overview
MSWD currently receives 100 percent of its water supply from the Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin via District owned and operated wells. The Mission Creek and Indio Subbasins are continuously replenished by DWA and CVWD with imported water. The Subbasins serve as an expansive conjunctive use resource that is capable of ensuring a sufficient and sustainable water supply to serve existing uses and projected growth during normal, single‐dry and multiple‐dry years over an extended planning horizon.

8.6.2 Supply Characterization
This discussion includes the types of water supply considered by DWR. As shown in Table 8-14, MSWD serves 100 percent of customer demands with groundwater.

Table 8-14. Urban Water Supply 2020-2024 (AFY)
Water Supply Additional Description 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Groundwater Mission Creek Subbasin 8,103 7,916 7,777 7,339 7,919 Groundwater San Gorgonio Pass 77 60 58 76 20
Groundwater Garnet Hill Subarea 88 103 134 138 43
Total 8,269 8,079 7,969 7,552 7,982

8.6.2.1 Purchased or Imported Water
MSWD does not use purchased or imported water. As described in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP, imported water is used on a regional basis for groundwater replenishment.

8.6.2.2 Groundwater
MSWD currently receives 100 percent of its water supply from groundwater produced from subbasins within the Coachella Valley Groundwater Basin, which underlies the District’s water service area. All the subbasins except for the Desert Hot Springs Subbasin can provide potable water. The Desert Hot Springs Subbasin is a “hot-water” basin that is highly mineralized with water temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit and is not used to supply potable water. However, this hot, highly mineralized water is important to the local economy as it supports numerous spa resorts and hotels in and around the City of Desert Hot Springs.

MSWD primarily produces groundwater from the Mission Creek Subbasin, which is a shared groundwater aquifer with CVWD, DWA, and private groundwater pumpers, via eight active wells. To a lesser extent, MSWD also produces groundwater from the Indio Subbasin (the Garnet Hill Subarea) via three active wells; and the San Gorgonio Pass Subbasin via two active wells (MSWD, Water Master Plan Update 2025). More information about the Indio Subbasin is presented in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

Historical groundwater production is shown in Table 8-15.

Table 8-15. DWR 6-1R Groundwater Volume Pumped (AFY)
Groundwater Type Location or Basin Name 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Alluvial Basin Mission Creek Subbasin 7,916 7,777 7,339 7,919 7,745 Alluvial Basin San Gorgonio Pass 60 58 76 20 53
Alluvial Basin Garnet Hill Subarea 103 134 138 43 98
Total 8,079 7,969 7,552 7,982 7,897

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Groundwater Quality
MSWD’s water quality meets MCLs for monitored primary, secondary, or microbial contaminants. All water provided by CVWD meets all U.S. EPA and SWRCB guidelines (MSWD 2025c). In general, the existing groundwater quality from District wells is excellent. All urban water served by MSWD meets State and federal drinking water quality standards.

In 2024, the SWRCB set a new MCL of 10 ppb for hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) in drinking water.

Found naturally throughout the Coachella Valley in rocks, soil, and water, chromium-6 can enter groundwater through both natural erosion and certain industrial processes. In response to regulatory requirements for chromium-6, MSWD is implementing a series of well rehabilitation, reactivation, and equipment upgrade projects to maintain production capacity and offset potential reductions associated with treatment requirements. While the majority of MSWD wells fall below the newly adopted limit, MSWD has temporarily taken four wells offline (without affecting system capacity) to prepare for future treatment upgrades. These improvements are part of MSWD’s Chromium-6 Compliance Plan (MSWD 2025c).

In April 2024, the U.S. EPA announced new limits on the levels of PFAS permissible in water supplies.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a series of durable chemical compounds used for firefighting foams, waterproofing, stain-resistant items, non-stick cookware, fast-food wrappers, and takeout containers. Preliminary MSWD testing has shown PFAS levels are below the new, stricter water quality standards, and no current treatment is needed (MSWD 2025c).

MSWD is actively pursuing a program to properly place residences and businesses in the district on the MSWD water supply system and promoting the proper abandonment of unused or inactive wells. In addition, MSWD is converting residences and businesses currently on septic systems to the MSWD sewer collection and treatment system.

8.6.2.3 Surface Water
MSWD does not use, or plan to use, self-supplied surface water as part of its water supply.

8.6.2.4 Stormwater
MSWD is currently not using stormwater to meet local water supply demands. At this time, there are no plans to utilize stormwater, but that could change in the future.

8.6.2.5 Wastewater and Recycled Water
MSWD provides both water and wastewater services within its jurisdiction. The existing wastewater collection system for the MSWD water service area consists of approximately 45 miles of gravity sewers concentrated in the central portion of the study area where the majority of residents and businesses are located. Sewer service was first provided to the Desert Crest Country Club community in the early 1960s, with additional outlying tracts established in the early 1970s. Most of the MSWD sewer pipelines were constructed during the early 1970s and include lines along Ocotillo Road, Palm Drive, and Mission Lakes Boulevard. In the early 1980s, improvements to the pipeline system were added to tracts west of West Drive.

MSWD has maintained an active septic-to-sewer conversion program to protect groundwater quality and expand reliable wastewater service. Since 2005, approximately 3,520 parcels have been converted from septic to sewer service, resulting in approximately 7,700 sewered parcels within MSWD. In addition, MSWD recently initiated a new septic-to-sewer expansion effort that will convert more than 400 additional septic systems to municipal sewer service, further reducing nitrate loading risks and improving environmental protection.

Historically, MSWD operated two wastewater treatment plants: the Horton WWTP and the Desert Crest WWTP. In 2024, MSWD entered a significant new phase of wastewater system modernization with the commissioning and opening of the Nancy Wright Regional WRF.

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Nancy Wright Regional Water Reclamation Facility (Regional WRF) The Regional WRF began operations in early 2025 and represents a major investment in regional wastewater infrastructure. The facility is a 1.5 MGD Sequence Batch Reactor (SBR) treatment plant constructed on approximately 60 acres of District-owned property between 19th and 20th Avenues in Desert Hot Springs. The project included construction of a regional conveyance pipeline to direct flows to the new facility. The RWRF provides modern secondary treatment and was designed to allow for future expansion and the potential addition of tertiary treatment to support recycled water production. Its opening significantly enhances system reliability, operational flexibility, and long-term capacity planning. The facility now receives a portion of MSWD’s wastewater flows and sends the water through percolation ponds for groundwater recharge after treatment. This reduces the hydraulic loading on the older treatment plants and positions MSWD for future recycled water and groundwater recharge initiatives.

For calendar year 2025, the Regional WRF averaged approximately 0.18 MGD as flows were gradually transitioned to the new facility following startup.

Horton Wastewater Treatment Plant (Horton WWTP)
The Horton WWTP, located on Verbena Drive approximately one-half mile south of Two Bunch Palms Trail, has a permitted capacity of 2.4 MGD and utilizes an extended aeration treatment process. Secondary effluent, which is not disinfected, is discharged to on-site percolation/evaporation ponds. Sludge generated during treatment is dewatered using a filter press and transported offsite for disposal. With the opening of the Regional WRF, flows to Horton WWTP have decreased compared to prior years. For calendar year 2025, the Horton WWTP averaged approximately 1.9 MGD, reflecting redistribution of flows to the new regional facility.

Desert Crest Wastewater Treatment Plant
The Desert Crest WWTP, located approximately one-half mile southeast of the intersection of Dillon Road and Long Canyon Road, has a capacity of 0.18 MGD and serves the Desert Crest Country Club development and associated mobile home park. The facility utilizes an extended aeration process and disposes of secondary effluent in on-site percolation/evaporation ponds. Sludge is dried in on-site beds and transported offsite for disposal.

For calendar year 2025, the Desert Crest WWTP averaged approximately 0.04 MGD, consistent with historical service levels.

Information about wastewater collected within the District’s service area is provided Table 8-15. Information about wastewater treated and discharged in the District’s service area is provided in Table 8-17.

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Table 8-16. DWR 6-2R Wastewater Collected within Service Area in 2025 Wastewater Collection Recipient of Collected Wastewater Name of Wastewater
Collection Agency
Wastewater Volume
Metered or Estimated
Wastewater Volume Collected from
UWMP Service Area in 2025 (AFY)
Name of Wastewater Agency
Receiving Collected Wastewater
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Name
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Located within UWMP Area
WWTP Operation Contracted to
a Third Party
MSWD Metered 2,120 MSWD Alan L. Horton Yes No
MSWD Metered 43 MSWD Desert Crest Yes No
MSWD Metered 152 MSWD Nancy Wright Yes No
Total 2,316
Table 8-17. DWR 6-3R Wastewater Treatment and Discharge within Service Area in 2025 -
Wastewater
Treatment Plant
Name
Discharge Location
Name or Identifier
Discharge Location
Description
Wastewater
Discharge ID
Number
Method of
Disposal
Plant Treats
Wastewater
Generated Outside
the Service Area Treatment Level
2025 Volumes (AFY)
Wastewater
Treated
Discharged
Treated
Wastewater
Recycled
Within Service
Area
Recycled
Outside of
Service Area
Instream Flow
Permit Requirement
Alan L. Horton WWTP CIWQS ID: 204870 Percolation ponds 7A330109012 Percolation ponds No Secondary, undisinfected 2,120 2,120 0 0 0
Desert Crest WWTP CIWQS ID: 219649 Percolation ponds 7A330109021 Percolation ponds No Secondary, undisinfected 43 43 0 0 0
Nancy Wright
Regional WRF
CIWQS ID: 864305 Percolation ponds 7A330104002 Percolation ponds No Tertiary 152 152 0 0 0 Total 2,316 2,316 0 0 0

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Recycled Water Planning
MSWD’s water use efficiency efforts were originally guided by its 2004 Water Conservation Master Plan; however, conservation planning and long-term supply reliability are now addressed through more recent planning documents, including the District’s 2025 Water Master Plan Update. These documents establish a planning horizon through 2045 and evaluate potable supply capacity, projected demand growth, and system reliability strategies.

Under prior System Reliability Initiatives, MSWD identified total water resource management, including development of recycled water for appropriate beneficial uses, as a long-term objective. MSWD’s Water Efficient Landscaping Guidelines continue to require installation of recycled-ready irrigation systems (dual distribution systems) for applicable developments unless a written exemption is granted, thereby preserving the ability to implement recycled water service in the future.

MSWD completed a Recycled Water Program Development Feasibility Study in 2018, which evaluated treatment alternatives, distribution system concepts, and projected recycled water demands. The study concluded that recycled water infrastructure could feasibly be implemented for groundwater recharge and, subsequently, for landscape irrigation to offset potable demands. Recycled water use for groundwater basin replenishment would provide a beneficial impact to overall water balance calculations within the Mission Creek Subbasin.

Approximately 30 percent of potable water demand (after system losses) is conveyed to MSWD’s wastewater collection system, reflecting the continued presence of septic systems within portions of the service area. As MSWD advances its septic-to-sewer conversion program and connects new customers, wastewater return flows are projected to increase to approximately 55 percent of potable demand by 2040.

This projection is consistent with recent Southern California studies indicating that approximately 45 percent of potable demand becomes recoverable wastewater flow, combined with anticipated reductions in outdoor irrigation demand due to continued conservation.

Consistent with identified recycled water demands and projected system wastewater flows, MSWD envisions long-term expansion of recycled water infrastructure to accommodate up to approximately 5,000 AFY by 2045.

Estimates of future recycled water use are shown in Table 8-18. The District’s projection from its 2020 UWMP is shown in Table 8-19.

Table 8-18. DWR 6-4R Recycled Water Within Service Area (AFY) Name of Supplier Producing (Treating) the
Recycled Water
Mission Springs Water District
Name of Supplier Operating the Recycled
Water Distribution System
Mission Springs Water District
Supplemental Volume of Water Added in 2025 0
Source of 2025 Supplemental Water Not applicable (future planned use) Beneficial Use
Type
General
Description of
2025 Uses
Level of
Treatment 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Groundwater
Recharge None Tertiary 0 0 1,120 2,200 3,600 5,000
Total 0 0 1,120 2,200 3,600 5,000

Item 19.
2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 8-22
Table 8-19. DWR 6-5R Recycled Water Use Projection Compared to Actual Use Type 2020 Projection for 2025 (AFY) 2025 Actual Use (AFY) Landscape Irrigation (excludes golf courses) 0 0
Golf Course Irrigation 0 0
Total 0 0
Potential methods to expand recycled water use are shown in Table 8-20.

Table 8-20. DWR 6-6R Methods to Expand Future Recycled Water Use Name of Action Description
Planned
Implementation
Year
Expected Increase
of Recycled Water
Use (AFY)
Construct Plant &
Build RW Distribution
Expand Regional WRF with tertiary treatment
and construct distribution infrastructure 2035 1,120
Expand Plant and
Build RW Distribution
Expand Regional WRF capacity and construct
distribution infrastructure 2040 1,080
Expand Plant and
Build RW Distribution
Expand Regional WRF capacity and construct
distribution infrastructure 2045 1,400
Expand Plant and
Build RW Distribution
Expand Regional WRF capacity and construct
distribution infrastructure 2050 1,400
Total 5,000

8.6.2.6 Desalinated Water Opportunities
MSWD does not anticipate the future use of desalinated water within its service area, as the backbone facilities and infrastructure needed for desalination are not economically feasible.

8.6.2.7 Water Exchanges and Transfers
MSWD has not entered into any agreements for the transfer or exchange of water. However, MSWD cooperates with DWA and CVWD to support groundwater replenishments with their SWP Table A amounts and Advance Delivery Program.

8.6.2.8 Future Water Projects
MSWD has expanded its wastewater collection system significantly. The District has installed more than 33 miles of sewer pipelines, converted thousands of properties from septic systems to sewer service, and provided sewer service to more than 11,500 additional residents through these efforts. With the recent commissioning of the Regional WRF, MSWD’s wastewater system now consists of multiple treatment facilities operating in an integrated manner to provide expanded capacity, improved operational flexibility, enhanced groundwater protection, and readiness for future recycled water production. The Regional WRF represents a significant modernization milestone for the District and supports ongoing septic-to-sewer conversions and long-term community growth.

This project is included as an expected future water supply in Table 8-21.

Item 19.
2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 8-23
Table 8-21. DWR 6-7R Expected Future Water Supply Projects or Programs Name of Future
Projects or
Programs
Joint Project
with Other
Suppliers
Agency
Name Description
Planned
Implementation
Year
Planned
for Use
in Year
Type
Expected
Increase in
Water Supply to
Supplier (AFY)
Nancy Wright
Regional WRF
No MSWD Recycled
water for nonpotable use
2030 Average
Year
1,120

8.6.2.9 Summary of Existing and Planned Sources of Water MSWD currently receives 100 percent of its potable water supply from groundwater production and does not purchase imported water from a water wholesaler. However, groundwater conditions in the Indio and Mission Creek Subbasin are supported through groundwater replenishment efforts by CVWD and DWA.

These agencies mitigate groundwater overdraft by recharging the basin with Colorado River water and SWP exchange water.

Beyond groundwater production, MSWD continues to plan for long-term supply reliability through recycled water development, including groundwater replenishment in Mission Creek Subbasin. The construction of recycled water infrastructure, including tertiary treatment facilities at the Regional WRF, is projected to accommodate future recycled water deliveries and enhance long-term water supply sustainability.

The actual supplies used by MSWD in 2025 are summarized in Table 8-22. MSWD’s projected supplies through 2050 are summarized in Table 8-23.

Table 8-22. DWR 6-8R Actual Water Supplies
-
Water Supply
Additional Detail
on Water Supply
2025
Actual Volume
(AFY) Water Type
Groundwater Mission Creek Subbasin 7,746 Drinking Water Groundwater San Gorgonio Pass Subbasin 53 Drinking Water Groundwater Garnet Hill Subarea 98 Drinking Water
Total 7,897
Table 8-23. DWR 6-9R Projected Water Supplies (AFY)
Water Supply
Additional Detail
on Water Supply 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Groundwater All Subbasins 9,578 10,344 10,874 11,433 11,991 Recycled Water 0 1,210 2,200 3,600 5,000
Total 9,578 11,464 13,074 15,033 16,991
Note: Recycled water will be used for groundwater recharge and will not be a new demand. It is presented as a supply and a demand for consistency with the DWR reporting framework.

8.6.2.10 Special Conditions
Although groundwater is a relatively resilient water supply with respect to climate change, potential effects of a hotter and drier climate could increase water demand within the Coachella Valley. The potential impacts of climate change on regional water supplies are discussed in Chapter 3 of the RUWMP.

8.6.3 Energy Use
MSWD has used available energy data to estimate the energy intensity of its water operations. In addition, MSWD completed a 1.0 mega-watt solar facility in 2019 that offsets approximately 35 percent of its energy consumption. The data are summarized in Table 8-24.

Item 19.
2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 8-24
Table 8-24. DWR O-1A Energy Intensity Reporting
Table O-1A: Recommended Energy Reporting - Water Supply Process Approach Enter Start Date for
Reporting Period
1/1/2025
End Date 12/31/2025 Urban Water Supplier Operational Control Is upstream
embedded in the
values reported?
No
Sum of All Water
Management Processes
Non-Consequential
Hydropower
Water Volume Units
Used
AFY
Total Utility Hydropower Net Utility
Volume of Water Entering Process
(volume unit)
7,897 N/A 7,897
Energy Consumed (kWh) 7,879,785 N/A 7,879,785
Energy Intensity (kWh/volume) 998 N/A 998
Quantity of Self-Generated Renewable Energy
2,100,000 kWh
Data Quality (Estimate, Metered Data, Combination of Estimates and Metered Data) Metered Data
Data Quality Narrative
Energy use data was obtained from electricity consumption and production records maintained by the agency.

Narrative
The agency uses energy for groundwater production from wells, pumping at booster stations from lower pressure zones to higher pressure zones, and treatment processes. The agency produces energy at a 1.0 MW solar facility.

8.7 Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment The UWMP Act requires urban water suppliers to assess water supply reliability by comparing total projected water use with expected water supply over the next 25 years in five-year increments, including a single dry year and multiple dry years. Reliability is a measure of water service systems expected success in managing water shortages. This chapter presents the reliability assessment for MSWD’s service area.

8.7.1 Reliability Overview
MSWD’s only direct source of urban potable water supply is local groundwater. Coachella Valley water suppliers are achieving success in sustainable groundwater management and as stewards of local water resources. The regional groundwater supply has historically been able to meet demands during both normal and dry periods. Though increased environmental regulations, competition for water supplies, and recurrent drought conditions have reduced the reliability of imported water, groundwater replenishment has reversed past overdraft conditions. Potential constraints on these supplies that could affect reliability are discussed in Chapter 3 of this RUWMP.

The “normal year” represents the average water supply conditions and availability to MSWD. This RUWMP uses the long-term average supply metrics to represent normal year conditions.

The “single dry year” represents the lowest water supply available to MSWD. This RUWMP uses 2021 for the single dry year due to its combination of low precipitation and peak demand. MSWD’s water use data from the last 20 years was evaluated to understand demand response among its customer base. For MSWD, the single dry year demand represents 111 percent of normal conditions.

The “multiple dry years” represents the lowest average water supply available to MSWD for a consecutive multi-year period (five years or more). This is generally considered to be the lowest average surface runoff for a consecutive multiple year period for a watershed since 1903. This RUWMP uses 2020 through 2024 as the multiple dry year period. Although this period is not the driest consecutive five-year period on record,

Item 19.
2025 Coachella Valley Regional Urban Water Management Plan 8-25
it represents a more accurate demand response to drought conditions due to conservation programs implemented in recent years by MSWD. For MSWD, the multiple dry year demand increases by two percent year-over-year from 103 to 111 percent of normal conditions.

Table 8-25 summarizes the water years used as the basis for urban water supply reliability assessment and the percent of average supply available for each base year.

Table 8-25. DWR 7-1R Basis of Water Year Data
-
Base Year
Available Supply if Year Type Repeats
Year Type Percent of Average Supply
Average Year 2015-2024 100%
Single-Dry Year 2021 111%
Consecutive Dry Years 1st Year 2020 103%
Consecutive Dry Years 2nd Year 2021 105%
Consecutive Dry Years 3rd Year 2022 107%
Consecutive Dry Years 4th Year 2023 109%
Consecutive Dry Years 5th Year 2024 111%

8.7.2 Water Service Reliability Assessment
The reliability of the groundwater supply is dependent on reliable sources to replenish water extracted from the groundwater basin. To ensure a safe and reliable supply, regional water suppliers collaborate to manage groundwater via the Indio Subbasin Alternative Plan and Mission Creek Subbasin Alternative Plan.

The only current direct water source to MSWD is local groundwater. The reliability of MSWD’s water supply is dependent on the reliability of groundwater supplies, supplemented by imported surface water used for groundwater replenishment and the planned implementation of recycled water supply.

MSWD’s ability to meet demands during the type of year scenarios described above is determined by an analysis of the available water supplies within MSWD’s water service area in each scenario. Considering the groundwater basin management efforts presented throughout this RUWMP, the historical groundwater supply availability during these scenarios is assumed to be fully reliable and an accurate assumption for future reliability.

8.7.2.1 Normal Year
Projected normal-year average annual District supplies and demands are shown in Table 8-26. This analysis does not include WSCP use reduction in a normal year. The supply and demand comparison for the normal year results in no shortages.