Rincon Consultants
2060 Knoll Drive
Ventura, California 93003
805-644-4455
1 May 11, 2026
Rincon Project No. 25-17226
Steven Ayers, Principal Planner
Community Development Department
City of Fountain Valley
10200 Slater Avenue
Fountain Valley, California 92708
Via email: [email protected]
Subject: Additional Services for the 8550 Warner Avenue Project (Amendment No.1) Dear Steven:
Rincon Consultants (Rincon) appreciates the opportunity to submit this amendment request to the City of Fountain Valley (City) for additional services under our agreement authorized on April 16, 2025, for the 8550 Warner Avenue Project (Project). To date, we have prepared an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for public review and a Final IS/MND in response to comments received during the public review period. In addition, Rincon Project Manager Vanessa Villanueva and Ganddini Group (Ganddini) Principal Giancarlo Ganddini attended the Planning Commission hearing for the Project on March 25, 2026. A City Council hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 2, 2026, and this Scope of Work has been prepared accordingly.
Scope of Work
scope of work did not include attendance at a second hearing under Task 2.7 of the authorized contract. for Ganddini to attend the upcoming City Council
hearing and support the City in responding to Council comments regarding the traffic analysis in the IS/MND.
Ganddini will attend the additional public hearing for the Project under Task 2.7 at a cost of $1,400 (see which was used to coordinate the additional transportation scope between the City and Ganddini and to discuss next steps for bringing the Project to completion. subcontractor markup, the additional budget for Task 2.7 is $1,624, for a revised total of $8,816.1 The current contract amount for Task 7 (Project Management) is $6,955. Rincon requests an additional $1,190 for Task 7, representing four hours of project management time and two hours of clerical time.
Accordingly, the total amount requested under this amendment is $2,814 ($1,624 plus $1,190), increasing the total contract amount from $101,108 to $103,922. Thank you for your consideration and the opportunity to continue supporting this Project. If you have any questions regarding this proposal, please contact Vanessa Villanueva at (213) 444-3482 or [email protected]. 1
Exhibit A – Contract Addendum No. 1
City of Fountain Valley
8550 Warner Avenue Project
2 Sincerely,
Rincon Consultants
Vanessa Villanueva
Senior Environmental Planner
Danielle Griffith
Principal-in-Charge
Attachment 1 Ganddini Amendment Scope of Work
transportation noise air quality | GANDDINI GROUP
555 Parkcenter Drive, Suite 225, Santa Ana, California 92705 (714) 795-3100 | ganddini.com
AMENDED WORK AUTHORIZATION
Amendment No.: 1
Date: April 24, 2026
Project Name: 8550 Warner Parkside FV
Project No.: 19826
Client: RINCON CONSULTANTS, INC.
Client Ref: 25-17226
Description:
Ganddini Group staff shall attend one City Council hearing for the project (currently scheduled for 5/5/26).
Fee Summary:
Fee For This Amendment: $ 1,400
Original Fee: $ 6,200
All Prior Amendments: $ 0
Total Fee with All Amendments: $ 7,600
Approval:
Accepted as outlined above for an additional fee of $1,400.00.
Consultant:
GANDDINI GROUP, INC.
Client:
RINCON CONSULTANTS, INC.
Signature:
Date: April 24, 2026
Signature:
Date:
CITY OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY
CITY COUNCIL
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
To: Honorable Mayor and Agenda Date: May 19, 2026
Members of the City Council
SUBJECT: First Amendment to the Agreement with Concentra to extend the agreement for a one-year term through June 30, 2027, not to exceed $100,000.
Three-Year Strategic Goals
Enhance the culture and environment of “A Nice Place to Live.” Achieve fiscal stability by evaluating processes, and attract and retain revenue producing businesses/opportunities.
Attract and retain quality staff through best practices and trends.
Maintain, build, and modernize infrastructure to support the growth and future needs of the City.
Not applicable.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fountain Valley maintains a comprehensive occupational medical services review program and contracts with Occupational Health Centers of California, a Medical Corporation, hereinafter referred to as Concentra, for pre-employment medical examinations, industrial injury medical treatment, and other miscellaneous medical services. The current agreement with Concentra is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2026.
Staff recommends approving a one-year extension to the existing agreement between the City and Concentra for occupational health and allocating an additional $100,000 to support continued services through the term of the contract ending June 30, 2027.
DISCUSSION
The City of Fountain Valley (“City”) previously entered into an Agreement (CON-1318) with Concentra on July 1, 2023, for services through June 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $300,000. The agreement also includes an option to extend the agreement for two (2) additional one-year terms.
Since implementation, Concentra has continued to provide reliable and effective services in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Services include pre-employment physical examinations, pre-employment drug screenings, miscellaneous medical examinations and
Approval of Amendment No. 1 to CON-1318
May 19, 2026
testing as needed, and industrial injury medical care and treatment related to Workers’ Compensation claims for City personnel.
Staff has determined that extending the agreement for an additional one-year period is in the City’s best interest to ensure continuity of services while maintaining operational efficiency and avoiding disruption to current programs. Concentra has agreed to maintain the same pricing/fee schedule for these services during the one-year extension.
Approving the extension will allow the City to continue receiving these services without interruption while staff evaluates long-term service delivery options and future procurement opportunities.
FISCAL REVIEW
The adopted Fiscal Year 2026–27 budget includes $100,000 for occupational health services.
Therefore, sufficient funding is available for the proposed contract amendment authorizing $100,000 for occupational health services with Concentra to continue these services during the extended term of the agreement.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REVIEW
Not applicable.
ATTORNEY REVIEW
The Attorney(s) for the City have reviewed and approved this item.
ALTERNATIVES
Alternative No.1: Approval of a first amendment with Concentra in the amount not to exceed $100,000, for a one-year renewal beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Alternative No. 2: Do not approve a first amendment with Concentra in the amount not to exceed $100,000, for a one-year renewal beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Approval of Amendment No. 1 to CON-1318
May 19, 2026
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve Alternative No. 1: Approval of a first amendment with Concentra in the amount not to exceed $100,000, for a one-year renewal beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Prepared by: Tania Knauerhaze, Human Resources Director Fiscal review by: Ryan Smith, Finance Director
Approved by: Maggie Le, City Manager
Attachments:
1. First Amendment to Agreement (CON-1318) – Concentra
AMENDMENT 1
AGREEMENT FOR PRE-EMPLOYMENT PHYSICAL
EXAMINATIONS, INDUSTRIAL INJURY AND OTHER
OCCUPATIONAL MEDICAL SERVICES CON - 1318
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT is made and entered into this 19th day of May, 2026, by and between the City of Fountain Valley (hereinafter "CITY") a municipal corporation, and Occupational Health Centers of California, a Medical Corporation (hereinafter "CONSULTANT") a California corporation.
Recitals
WHEREAS, CITY and CONSULTANT previously entered into an Agreement to provide preemployment physical examination, industrial injury, employee yearly contractual physicals, and other occupational medical services dated July 1, 2023, for a term expiring June 30, 2026 (AGREEMENT), which is incorporated herein by this reference; and
WHEREAS, the AGREEMENT was for an amount not-to-exceed Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00); and
WHEREAS, the parties do now desire to amend the AGREEMENT and increase the TOTAL CONTRACT SUM to Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00), and extend the AGREEMENT term through June 30, 2027, by exercising the first of the two (2) one-year extensions.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. The total not-to-exceed compensation amount is hereby increased from Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) to Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00).
2. The first of the two (2) one-year extensions allowed for in the original AGREEMENT shall be exercised and the AGREEMENT term extended through June 30, 2027.
3. Except as expressly amended herein, all other terms and conditions of the AGREEMENT, as amended, shall remain in full force and effect.
In witness whereof, the parties hereto have entered into this AMENDMENT #1 the date and year first above written.
ATTEST: CITY OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY
Rick Miller, City Clerk Jim Cunneen, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: CONSULTANT:
Attorney for the City
CITY OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY
CITY COUNCIL
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
To: Honorable Mayor and Agenda Date: May 19, 2026
Members of the City Council
SUBJECT: Adopt an Ordinance of The City Council of the City of Fountain Valley Revising Fountain Valley Municipal Code Section 2.04.200 Regarding the Selection of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore
Three-Year Strategic Goals
Cultivate a welcoming culture and safe environment that makes our community “A Nice Place to Live.”
Ensure long-term fiscal stability by evaluating processes, and attract and retain revenue producing businesses/opportunities.
Attract and retain quality staff through best practices and trends.
Maintain, build, plan for, and modernize infrastructure to support the growth and future needs of the City.
Not applicable.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
At its meeting on May 5, 2026, the City Council introduced for first reading an Ordinance Revising Fountain Valley Municipal Code Section 2.04.200 Regarding the Selection of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore. The Ordinance was approved during the first reading with the further revision that removal of the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tempore may be had “for cause.” The Ordinance, with said revision, is now presented to the City Council for second reading and adoption.
DISCUSSION
Revisions to the ordinance proposed for the May 5, 2026, Council Meeting are shown below in red. Further revisions to the ordinance directed by Council to be added during the May 5, 2026 meeting are shown in blue. A clean copy of the ordinance is attached for adoption. § 2.04.200 Term and selection—Mayor and mayor pro tempore. (a) As soon as practical, following the certification of the city council election results after the November general municipal election, the city council shall rotate
Mayor Rotation
May 19, 2026
its offices of mayor and mayor pro tempore pursuant to this section. make its selections of mayor and mayor pro tempore. In the nonelection years, the rotation of the offices selection of mayor and mayor pro tempore shall occur be made at the city council meeting date closest to the anniversary date of the rotation selections in the election years.
(b) The offices of mayor and mayor pro tempore shall have one-year terms and should shall be filled in accordance with the following rotation procedure:
(1) The councilmember who has the longest consecutive council service since the councilmember’s last service as mayor should shall become the mayor.
(2) In the event that two councilmembers have the same length of service as described in subsection (b)(1) of this section, the one having received the greatest number of votes in the last councilmember's election should shall become mayor. If any councilmember declines his or her term as it comes by in rotation, that councilmember should shall remain in the same place in the rotation cycle as if that councilmember had served. (3) Notwithstanding the rotation provided for in this section, the selection of the mayor and mayor pro tempore shall ultimately be at the discretion of the city council, which shall make its selection with at least four councilmembers present. Selection shall be made by a nomination from a councilmember, seconded by another councilmember, after which a vote is taken by the city council. This procedure shall be repeated until at least three votes have been given to one nominee. The city council, by vote with at least four members present, may remove a councilmember from the office of mayor or mayor pro tempore at any time for any reason. for cause. “Cause” includes, but is not limited to, violation of law, ethical rules, or city policy; malfeasance; inability, unfitness, or failure to perform duties; abuse of authority or position; and conduct unbecoming a council member.
(c) In the event of a vacancy in the office of mayor, the mayor pro tempore shall assume all of the duties of the mayor until a mayor is selected by the city council to serve the balance of the term of the vacated incumbent. The city council shall be free to appoint any councilmember for the balance of that term, but upon the conclusion of that term the rotational selection process should shall again be employed in the same order as if the vacated incumbent had served a full term. (d) The selection of mayor pro tempore shall be in accordance with the same criteria as provided above, with the exception that the mayor pro tempore should shall be the councilmember with the next greatest qualifications.
FISCAL REVIEW
There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
Mayor Rotation
May 19, 2026
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
This was agendized pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REVIEW
Not applicable.
ATTORNEY REVIEW
The Attorney for the City prepared this item.
ALTERNATIVES
Alternative No. 1:
Alternative No. 2:
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt an Ordinance Providing for a Mandatory Rotation for Selecting the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore and Providing for Removal for Cause. (FVMC 2.04.200).
Do not adopt the Ordinance.
Staff recommends Alternative 1: Adopt an Ordinance Providing for a Mandatory Rotation for Selecting the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore and Providing for Removal for Cause. (FVMC
2.04.200).
Prepared by: Colin Burns, Attorney for the City
Fiscal review by: Ryan Smith, Finance Director
Approved by: Maggie Le, City Manager
Attachment: Proposed Ordinance
ORDINANCE NO. _____
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY REVISING FOUNTAIN VALLEY
MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2.04.200 REGARDING THE
SELECTION OF MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEMPORE
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 36801 provides that the City Council shall select its Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore; and WHEREAS, the City Council previously established a selection process at Fountain Valley Municipal Code Section 2.04.200 for Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore (called “Vice Mayor”, per Council policy); and
WHEREAS, the adopted Mayoral Rotation provides for a suggested rotation; and
WHEREAS, the City Council now desires to provide for a mandatory rotation.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Fountain Valley does hereby ORDAIN:
Section 1. That Section 2.04.200 is hereby amended to read as follows:
§ 2.04.200 Term and selection—Mayor and mayor pro tempore. (a) As soon as practical, following the certification of the city council election results after the November general municipal election, the city council shall rotate its offices of mayor and mayor pro tempore pursuant to this section. In the nonelection years, the rotation of the offices of mayor and mayor pro tempore shall occur at the city council meeting date closest to the anniversary date of the rotation in the election years.
(b) The offices of mayor and mayor pro tempore shall have oneyear terms and shall be filled in accordance with the following rotation procedure:
(1) The councilmember who has the longest consecutive
council service since the councilmember’s last service as mayor shall become the mayor.
(2) In the event that two councilmembers have the same
length of service as described in subsection (b)(1) of this section, the one having received the greatest number of
votes in the last councilmember's election shall become mayor. If any councilmember declines his or her term as it comes by in rotation, that councilmember shall remain in the same place in the rotation cycle as if that councilmember had served.
(3) The city council, by vote with at least four members present, may remove a councilmember from the office of
mayor or mayor pro tempore for cause. “Cause” includes, but is not limited to, violation of law, ethical rules, or city policy; malfeasance; inability, unfitness, or failure to perform duties; abuse of authority or position; and conduct
unbecoming a council member.
(c) In the event of a vacancy in the office of mayor, the mayor pro tempore shall assume all of the duties of the mayor until a mayor is selected by the city council to serve the balance of the term of the vacated incumbent. The city council shall be free to appoint any councilmember for the balance of that term, but upon the conclusion of that term the rotational selection process shall again be employed in the same order as if the vacated incumbent had served a full term.
(d) The selection of mayor pro tempore shall be in accordance with the same criteria as provided above, with the exception that the mayor pro tempore shall be the councilmember with the next greatest qualifications.
Section 2. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the ordinance. The city council declares that it would have passed this ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Section 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and cause it to be published as required by law.
PASSED and ADOPTED this day of, , 2026.
ATTEST: ___________________________ ___________________________ City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ___________________________ Attorney for the City
CITY OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY
CITY COUNCIL
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
To: Honorable Mayor and Agenda Date: May 19, 2026
Members of the City Council
SUBJECT: Public Hearing to Approve Resolutions Adopting the 2025 Urban Water Management and 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plans
Three-Year Strategic Goals
Enhance the culture and environment of “A Nice Place to Live” Achieve fiscal stability by evaluating processes, and attract and retain revenue producing businesses/opportunities
Attract and retain quality staff through best practices and trends Maintain, build, and modernize infrastructure to support growth and future needs of the City
Not applicable
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Urban Water Management Planning Act (California Water Code 10610 to 10657) requires every urban water supplier providing water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 service connections or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet of water annually to prepare, adopt and file an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) every five (5) years.
The City of Fountain Valley (City) Water Department supplies over 9,800 acre-feet of water annually, including both potable and recycled water, to approximately 17,400 service connections. Therefore, the City has updated its UWMP and WSCP, which detail current and projected water supplies and conservation efforts, in accordance with the Urban Water Management Planning Act.
Staff is requesting that the City Council conduct a public hearing and approve the resolutions adopting the 2025 Urban Water Management and 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plans.
DISCUSSION
The City, as an urban water supplier, is required by the Urban Water Management Planning Act (Act) of 1983 to update and submit an UWMP and WSCP to DWR every five years.
Adoption of 2025 Urban Water Management and 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plans May 19, 2026
The Final Draft 2025 UWMP and Appendices for this public hearing are attached to this staff report as Attachments 3 and 4. The 2025 UWMP contains all the elements required to comply with the Act. UWMPs are comprehensive documents that present an evaluation of a water supplier’s reliability over a long-term horizon. The 2025 UWMP provides an assessment of the present and future water supply sources and demands within the City’s service area. It presents an update to the 2020 UWMP on the City’s water resource needs, water-use efficiency programs, water reliability assessments, and strategies to mitigate water shortage conditions. It also presents an updated 2025 WSCP.
The 2025 WSCP for this public hearing is attached to this staff report as Attachment 5. The 2025 WSCP is a strategic planning document designed to prepare for and respond to water shortages. The WSCP provides the steps and water shortage response actions to be taken in times of water shortage conditions. The WSCP has prescriptive elements, such as an analysis of water supply reliability; the water shortage response actions for each of the six (6) standard water shortage levels; an estimate of potential to close supply gap for each measure; protocols and procedures to communicate identified actions for any current or predicted water shortage conditions; procedures for an Annual Assessment; monitoring and reporting requirements to determine customer compliance; and reevaluation and improvement procedures for evaluating the WSCP. This level of detailed planning and preparation is intended to help maintain reliable supplies and reduce the impacts of supply interruptions. Although an appendix to the UWMP, DWR requires the WSCP to be treated as a stand-alone document with its own public hearing and adoption, and be adopted prior to the UWMP to be included within the Adopted UWMP.
The City elected to utilize a shared services agreement with the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) led team of regionally focused consultants to assist in the preparation of the 2025 UWMP and 2025 WSCP, along with other MWDOC member agencies.
This approach ensured that all requirements of the plans were met in a manner consistent with other water suppliers in Orange County.
FISCAL REVIEW
Adoption of the 2025 UWMP and 2025 WSCP has no direct financial impact on the City. The UWMP and WSCP list the water management programs the City has been using over the past five (5) years and the water management programs that will be used over the next five (5) years. The shortage response actions and communication protocols identified in the WSCP will be implemented as needed and funded by Water Conservation Funds. Conservation programs are budgeted in the Water Utility Fund, Public Works Department, WF Distribution System, Water Conservation account (500.50.50571.53550).
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
Pursuant to the requirement of California Water Code, Division 6, Part 2.6 Urban Water Management Planning, Section 10621 (b), every urban water supplier required to prepare a plan shall, at least 60 days before the public hearing on the plan required by Section 10642, notify any city or county within which the supplier provides water supplies that the urban water supplier will be reviewing the plan and considering amendments or changes to the plan. These notices were prepared and mailed to the County of Orange, OC Public Works, MWDOC, and Orange County Water District on February 4, 2026. As required by California Water Code 10642, the 2025 UWMP and 2025 WSCP were made available for public inspection on the
Adoption of 2025 Urban Water Management and 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plans May 19, 2026
City’s website, in the Corporation Yard, and in the Office of the City Clerk at City Hall. The time and place of the public hearing for the plans were noticed in a local news publication on May 4, 2026, and May 11, 2026, in accordance with Section 6066 of the Government Code. Notice of the time and place of the public hearing for the plans was mailed to the County of Orange, OC Public Works, MWDOC, and Orange County Water District on May 4, 2026.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REVIEW
In accordance with Section 15282 of the CEQA Guidelines, preparation and adoption of urban water management plans are statutorily exempt from further environmental review.
ATTORNEY REVIEW
The Attorney for the City has reviewed and approved the subject resolutions.
ALTERNATIVES
Alternative No. 1: Conduct a public hearing and approve the resolutions to adopt the 2025 Urban Water Management and 2025 Water Shortage
Contingency Plans. This is the recommended action.
Alternative No. 2: Do not approve the resolutions to adopt the 2025 Urban Water Management and 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plans. This is not recommended because the City would be in violation of California Water Code 10610 to 10657, which requires the City to update its UWMP and WSCP every five (5) years. In addition, failure to submit the UWMP will cause the City to be ineligible for certain grants and funding programs.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve Alternative No. 1, which is to conduct a public hearing and approve the resolutions to adopt the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan and 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
Prepared by: Christine Smith, Senior Management Analyst Reviewed by: Mark Sprague, Field Services Manager
Approved by: Scott Smith, Director of Public Works
Fiscal review by: Ryan Smith, Finance Director / City Treasurer Approved by: Maggie Le, City Manager
Attachments:
1. Resolution Adopting 2025 UWMP
2. Resolution Adopting 2025 WSCP
Adoption of 2025 Urban Water Management and 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plans May 19, 2026
3. Final Draft 2025 UWMP
4. 2025 UWMP – Appendices (This document is 520 pages long.
Visit https://www.fountainvalley.org/490/Urban-WaterManagement-Plan to view document.)
5. Final Draft 2025 WSCP
Attachment #1
RESOLUTION NO. __________
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY ADOPTING THE 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA WATER CODE 10610 TO 10657
WHEREAS, Sections 10610 through 10657 of the California Water Code, known as the Urban Water Management Planning Act, require that every urban water supplier providing water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 customers or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet of water annually, prepare, adopt, and submit to the California Department of Water Resources an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) at least once every five years on or before July 1, in years ending in six and one; and WHEREAS, these plans support suppliers’ long-term resource planning to ensure that adequate water supplies are available to meet existing and future water needs; and WHEREAS, the City of Fountain Valley is an urban water supplier subject to this requirement; and
WHEREAS, on June 1, 2021, by Resolution No. 9790, the City Council adopted the City’s 2020 UWMP; and
WHEREAS, the City has prepared the 2025 UWMP as an update to the 2020 UWMP on the City’s water resource needs, water use efficiency programs, water reliability assessments, and strategies to mitigate water shortage conditions; and WHEREAS, the City’s 2025 UWMP contains all elements to satisfy compliance with the Urban Water Management Planning Act as amended since 2020; and WHEREAS, the City has given the legally required notices for the 2025 UWMP and conducted a public hearing on May 19, 2026, to consider the adoption of the 2025 UWMP.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Fountain Valley as follows:
Section 1. The 2025 Urban Water Management Plan is hereby adopted.
Section 2. The City’s Director of Public Works or his designee is directed to file a copy of the City’s 2025 Urban Water Management Plan with the California Department of Water Resources, the California State Library, and any city or county within which the City provides water supplies within 30 days of adoption, but no later than July 1, 2026.
Section 3. The 2025 Urban Water Management Plan shall be available for public review during the City’s normal business hours no later than 30 days after filing a copy of the plan.
Attachment #1
Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the City Clerk shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fountain Valley, this 19th day of May 2026.
Ayes:
Nays:
Absent:
Abstain:
ATTEST: ___________________________ ___________________________ Rick Miller, City Clerk Jim Cunneen, Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Harper & Burns LLP
_________________________ Attorneys for the City
Attachment #2
RESOLUTION NO. __________
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY ADOPTING THE 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY
PLAN PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA WATER CODE 10632
WHEREAS, Sections 10610 through 10657 of the California Water Code, known as the Urban Water Management Planning Act, require that every urban water supplier providing water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 customers or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet of water annually, prepare, adopt, and submit to the California Department of Water Resources a Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) as part of their Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) at least once every five years on or before July 1, in years ending in six and one; and
WHEREAS, these plans support suppliers’ long-term resource planning to ensure that adequate water supplies are available to meet existing and future water needs; and WHEREAS, the City of Fountain Valley is an urban water supplier subject to this requirement; and
WHEREAS, the City has prepared the 2025 UWMP as an update to the 2020 UWMP on the City’s water resource needs, water use efficiency programs, water reliability assessments, and strategies to mitigate water shortage conditions; and WHEREAS, the City’s 2025 UWMP contains a WSCP, which is a detailed proposal for how a supplier intends to act in the case of an actual water shortage condition, as required by Water Code Section 10632; and
WHEREAS, the WSCP must be treated as a standalone plan for public hearing and adoption procedures; and
WHEREAS, on June 1, 2021, by Resolution No. 9789, the City Council adopted the City’s 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP); and WHEREAS, the City has prepared the 2025 WSCP as an update to the 2020 WSCP on the City’s strategies to mitigate water shortage conditions; and WHEREAS, the City has given the legally required notices for the 2025 WSCP and conducted a public hearing on May 19, 2026, to consider the adoption of the 2025 WSCP; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Fountain Valley as follows:
Section 1. The 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan is hereby adopted.
Attachment #2
Section 2. The City’s Director of Public Works or his designee is directed to file a copy of the City’s 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan with the California Department of Water Resources, the California State Library, and any city or county within which the City provides water supplies within 30 days but no later than July 1, 2026.
Section 3. The 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan shall be available for public review during the City’s normal business hours, no later than 30 days after filing a copy of the plan.
Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the City Clerk shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fountain Valley, this 19th day of May 2026.
Ayes:
Nays:
Absent:
Abstain:
ATTEST: ___________________________ ___________________________ Rick Miller, City Clerk Jim Cunneen, Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Harper & Burns LLP
_________________________ Attorneys for the City
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
May 2026 / FINAL DRAFT
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
MAY 2026 / FINAL DRAFT / CAROLLO
CITY OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY i
pw://Carollo/CA/MWDOC/204447-000000/03 Reports and Studies/02 Deliverables/Grp3_FV UWMP/_Cover_TOC_Abbrevs_AppxCovers.docx Contents
ABBREVIATIONS vii
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ES.1 Introduction and UWMP Overview ES-1
ES.2 UWMP Preparation ES-1
ES.3 System Description ES-1
ES.4 Water Use Characterization ES-2
ES.4.1 Water Use in the Last Five Years ES-2
ES.4.2 Projected Water Use ES-2
ES.5 Conservation Target Compliance ES-2
ES.6 Water Supply Characterization ES-2
ES.7 Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment ES-3 ES.8 Water Shortage Contingency Planning ES-3
ES.9 Demand Management Measures ES-3
ES.10 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Implementation ES-4 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND UWMP OVERVIEW
1.1 Overview of UWMP Requirements 1-1
1.2 UWMP Organization 1-2
CHAPTER 2 UWMP PREPARATION
2.1 Individual Planning and Compliance 2-2
2.2 Coordination and Outreach 2-3
2.2.1 Integration with Other Planning Efforts 2-3
2.2.2 Wholesale and Retail Coordination 2-5
2.2.3 Public Participation 2-5
CHAPTER 3 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
3.1 Agency Overview 3-1
3.1.1 Formation and Purpose 3-1
3.1.2 City Council 3-1
3.1.3 Relationship to MWDOC 3-2
3.2 Water Service Area and Facilities 3-1
3.2.1 Water Service Area 3-1
3.2.2 Water Facilities 3-1
3.3 Climate 3-3
3.4 Population, Demographics, and Socioeconomics 3-4
3.4.1 Service Area Population 3-4
3.4.2 Demographics and Socioeconomics 3-4
3.4.3 Demographic Projection Methodology 3-5
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3.5 Land Uses 3-5
3.5.1 Current Land Uses 3-5
3.5.2 Projected Land Uses 3-7
CHAPTER 4 WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION
4.1 Water Use in the last Five Years 4-3
4.1.1 Direct Municipal & Industrial Use 4-5
4.2 Projected Water Use 4-5
4.2.1 Water Use Projections for 2026-2030 4-5
4.2.2 Water Use Projections for 2030-2050 4-6
4.3 Water Demand Projection Methodology 4-8
4.3.1 Econometric Approach, Data Acquisition, and Model Development 4-8
4.3.2 Forecasted Demands 4-10
4.4 Water Loss 4-11
CHAPTER 5 CONSERVATION TARGET COMPLIANCE
5.1 Reporting Requirements 5-1
CHAPTER 6 WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION
6.1 Water Supply Overview 6-1
6.2 Imported Water 6-5
6.2.1 Metropolitan Water District of Southern California 6-5
6.2.2 Colorado River Aqueduct 6-8
6.2.3 State Water Project 6-11
6.2.4 Storage, Transfers, and Conveyance Programs 6-14
6.2.5 Potential Future Water Projects 6-16
6.2.6 Supply Reliability within MET 6-17
6.3 Local Groundwater 6-22
6.3.1 Orange County Groundwater Basin 6-22
6.3.2 Planned Future Groundwater Sources 6-29
6.4 Surface Water 6-30
6.4.1 Existing Surface Water Sources 6-30
6.4.2 Planned Future Surface Water Sources 6-30
6.5 Stormwater 6-30
6.5.1 Existing Stormwater Sources 6-30
6.5.2 Planned Future Stormwater Sources 6-30
6.6 Wastewater and Recycled Water 6-30
6.6.1 Agency Coordination 6-31
6.6.2 Wastewater 6-32
6.6.3 Current Recycled Water Uses 6-34
6.6.4 Projected Recycled Water Uses 6-35
6.6.5 Potential Recycled Water Uses 6-36
6.6.6 Optimization Plan 6-36
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6.7 Desalination Opportunities 6-37
6.7.1 Ocean Water Desalination 6-37
6.7.2 Groundwater Desalination 6-37
6.8 Water Exchanges and Transfers 6-38
6.8.1 Existing Exchanges and Transfers 6-38
6.8.2 Planned and Potential Exchanges and Transfers 6-38
6.9 Future Water Projects 6-39
6.10 Energy Intensity 6-39
6.10.1 Water Supply Energy Intensity 6-40
6.10.2 Wastewater and Recycled Water Energy Intensity 6-42
6.10.3 Key Findings and Next Steps 6-43
CHAPTER 7 WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY AND DROUGHT RISK
ASSESSMENT
7.1 Water Service Reliability Overview 7-1
7.2 Factors Affecting Water Supply Reliability 7-2
7.2.1 Climate Change and the Environment 7-2
7.2.2 Regulatory and Legal 7-3
7.2.3 Water Quality 7-4
7.2.4 Locally Applicable Criteria 7-7
7.3 Water Service Reliability Assessment 7-7
7.3.1 Normal Year Reliability 7-8
7.3.2 Single Dry Year Reliability 7-9
7.3.3 Multiple Dry Years Reliability 7-10
7.4 Management Tools and Options 7-11
7.5 Drought Risk Assessment 7-12
7.5.1 Methodology 7-13
7.5.2 Total Water Supply and Use Comparison 7-14
7.5.3 Water Source Reliability 7-15
CHAPTER 8 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLANNING
8.1 Background 8-1
8.2 Overview of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan 8-1
8.3 Summary of Water Shortage Response Strategy and Required DWR Tables 8-2 CHAPTER 9 DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES
9.1 City of Fountain Valley Demand Management Measures 9-2
9.1.1 Operations Practices 9-3
9.1.2 Public Education and Outreach 9-5
9.1.3 Residential Indoor Rebate Programs 9-6
9.1.4 Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Programs 9-7
9.1.5 Landscape Programs 9-8
9.2 City of Fountain Valley DMM Implementation (2020-2025) 9-9
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9.3 MWDOC Demand Management Implementation Assistance Programs 9-9
9.3.1 State Water Conservation Compliance Assistance 9-10
9.3.2 Regional Rebate Programs and Local Program Assistance 9-11
9.3.3 Research and Evaluation 9-11
9.4 Urban Water Use Objective and CII Performance Measure Compliance 9-12
9.4.1 UWUO Components 9-12
9.4.2 CII Performance Measures 9-14
CHAPTER 10 PLAN ADOPTION, SUBMITTAL, AND IMPLEMENTATION
10.1 Overview 10-1
10.2 Agency Coordination 10-2
10.3 Public Participation 10-2
10.4 UWMP Submittal 10-3
10.5 Amending the Adopted UWMP or WSCP 10-3
CHAPTER 11 REFERENCES
Appendices
APPENDIX A UWMP WATER CODE CHECKLIST
APPENDIX B DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES (DWR) STANDARDIZED TABLES
APPENDIX C REDUCED DELTA RELIANCE
APPENDIX D AWWA WATER LOSS AUDITS
APPENDIX E 2022 BASIN 8-1 ALTERNATIVE UPDATE
APPENDIX F WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
APPENDIX G WATER USE EFFICIENCY IMPLEMENTATION REPORT
APPENDIX H 2025 ORANGE COUNTY WATER DEMAND MODEL TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM
APPENDIX I NOTIFICATION OF PUBLIC AND SERVICE AREA PROVIDERS
APPENDIX J ADOPTED UWMP RESOLUTIONS
Tables
Table 2.1 Submittal Table 2-1 Retail: Public Water Systems 2-2 Table 2.2 Submittal Table 2-2: Plan Identification 2-2
Table 2.3 Submittal Table 2-3: Supplier Identification 2-3 Table 2.4 Submittal Table 2-4 Retail: Water Supplier Information Exchange 2-5 Table 3.1 Submittal 3-1 Retail: Population - Current and Projected 3-4 Table 3.2 City of Fountain Valley Service Area Dwelling Units by Type 3-4 Table 4.1 Submittal Table 4-1 Retail: Total Uses for Potable and Non-Potable Water – Actual 4-4
Table 4.2 City of Fountain Valley's Service Area Total Potable and Non-Potable Demand for 2026-2030 4-6
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Table 4.3 Submittal Table 4-2 Retail: Total Uses of Potable, and Non-Potable Water - Projected 4-6
Table 4.4 Submittal Table 4-3 Retail: Inclusion in Water Use Projections 4-7 Table 4.5 Optional Submittal Table 4-4 Retail: Passive Water Savings Projections 4-7 Table 4.6 Summary of Demand Sectors 4-9
Table 4.7 Summary of Historical Data Collected for Model Development 4-9 Table 4.8 Future Model Parameters 4-11
Table 4.9 Submittal Table 4-5 Retail: Water Loss Audit Reporting 4-12 Table 4.10 Submittal Table 4-6 Retail: Progress Towards 2028 Water Loss Standard 4-13 Table 5.1 Submittal Table 5-1 Retail: SB X7-7 2020 Target Progress 5-2 Table 6.1 Submittal Table 6-8 Retail: Water Supplies – 2025 Actual 6-2 Table 6.2 Submittal Table 6-9 Retail: Water Supplies – Projected 6-4 Table 6.3 MET SWP Program Capabilities 6-12
Table 6.4 MET’s Projected Supply Capability and Demands through 2050 for a Normal Year 6-18
Table 6.5 MET’s Projected Supply Capability and Demands through 2050 for a Single Dry Year 6-19
Table 6.6 MET’s Projected Supply Capability and Demands through 2050 for a Drought (5 Consecutive Water Years) 6-20
Table 6.7 MET’s Water Use, Supply, and Drought Risk Assessment for 2026-2030 6-21 Table 6.8 Submittal Table 6-1 Retail: Groundwater Pumped in the past 5 Years within the City’s Service Area 6-22
Table 6.9 Management Actions Based on Changes in Groundwater Storage 6-26 Table 6.10 Submittal Table 6-2 Retail: Wastewater Collected within the City’s Service Area in 2025 6-33
Table 6.11 Submittal Table 6-3 Retail: Wastewater Treatment and Outcomes within the City’s Service Area in 2025 6-34
Table 6.12 Submittal Table 6-4 Retail: Recycled Water Direct Beneficial Uses Within Service Area 6-35
Table 6.13 Submittal Table 6-5 Retail: 2020 UWMP Recycled Water Use Projection Compared to 2025 Actual 6-35
Table 6.14 Submittal Table 6-6 Retail: Methods to Encourage Future Recycled Water Use within the Service Area 6-36
Table 6.15 Optional Submittal Table O-1A Recommended Energy Intensity Reporting 6-41 Table 6.16 Optional Submittal Table O-2: Recommended Energy Reporting – Wastewater and Recycled Water 6-43
Table 7.1 Optional Submittal Table 7-1 Retail: Basis of Water Year Data (Reliability Assessment) 7-2
Table 7.2 Submittal Table 7-2 Retail: Normal Year Supply and Use Comparison 7-8 Table 7.3 Optional Submittal Table 7-2 Retail: Normal Year Supply and Use Comparison-Potable 7-9
Table 7.4 Optional Submittal Table 7-2 Retail: Normal Year Supply and Use Comparison-Non-Potable 7-9
Table 7.5 Submittal Table 7-3 Retail: Single Dry Year Supply and Demand Comparison 7-10
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Table 7.6 Submittal Table 7-4 Retail: Multiple Dry Years Supply and Demand Comparison 7-10
Table 7.7 Submittal Table 7-5 Retail: Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment 7-14 Table 8.1 Submittal Table 8-1: Cross-Reference for Standard vs Supplier Shortage Levels 8-3
Table 8.2 Submittal Table 8-2 Retail: Supply Augmentation and Other Actions 8-4 Table 8.3 Submittal Table 8-3 Retail: Demand Reduction Actions 8-5 Table 9.1 DMM Implementation Responsibility and Regional Programs in Orange County 9-2
Table 9.2 City of Fountain Valley Water Use Efficiency Program Participation 9-9 Table 9.3 MWDOC Programs to Help OC Retail Agencies Meet their Urban Water Use Objectives 9-13
Table 9.4 City of Fountain Valley CII BMP and Water Efficiency Programs and Incentives 9-14 Table 10.1 External Coordination and Outreach 10-1
Table 10.2 Submittal Table 10-1 Retail: Notification to Cities and Counties 10-2 Figures
Figure 3.1 Regional Location of City of Fountain Valley and Other MWDOC Member Agencies 3-1
Figure 3.2 City of Fountain Valley Water Service Area 3-1 Figure 4.1 Historical Water Use and Population in Orange County 4-2 Figure 4.2 Projected Water Use Across All Orange County Water Agencies 4-3 Figure 4.3 Econometric Demand Forecast Development Process 4-10 Figure 6.1 City’s Projected Water Supply 6-3
Figure 6.2 Major Aqueducts that Supply Imported Water to Southern California (MET, 2025) 6-6
Figure 6.3 MET Feeders and Transmission Mains that Serve Orange County 6-7 Figure 6.4 Map of the OC Basin (OCWD, 2022) 6-24
Figure 6.5 MWDOC Imported Water Sales for Groundwater Replenishment 6-29 Figure 8.1 Purpose and Relationships of the UWMP, WSCP, and Water Shortage Response Ordinance 8-1
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Abbreviations
AB Assembly Bill (California)
ACS American Community Survey
Act Water Conservation Ace of 2009
ACWA Association of California Water Agencies
ADU accessory dwelling unit
AF acre-feet
AFY acre-feet per year
AMI Advanced Metering Infrastructure
AMP Allen McColloch Pipeline (MET)
AVEK Antelope Valley–East Kern Water Agency
AWWA American Water Works Association
BEA Basin Equity Assessment
bgs below ground surface
BiOps Biological Opinions
BMP Best Management Practice(s)
BPP Basin Production Percentage
BSA Boy Scouts of America
CAMP4W Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water
CCF hundred cubic feet
C Celsius
CDR Center for Demographic Research
CEE Consortium for Energy Efficiency
cfs cubic feet per second
CII Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional
CIP Capital Improvement Plan
City City of Fountain Valley
Conservation Framework “Making California a Conservation Way of Life” Framework CRA Colorado River Aqueduct
CRSS Colorado River Simulation System
CPTP Coastal Pumping Transfer Program
CVP Central Valley Project
CUWCC California Urban Water Conservation Council
CY Calendar Year
DDW Division of Drinking Water (SWRCB)
DCP Delta Conveyance Project
DCR Delta planning reference
Delta Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
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DIM dedicated irrigation meter
DMM Demand Management Measures
DOF Department of Finance
DRA Drought Risk Assessment
DVL Diamond Valley Lake
DWR California Department of Water Resources
EIR Environmental Impact Report
EO Executive Order
EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
ESA Endangered Species Act
ETo Reference Evapotranspiration
FIRO Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations
FVCSP Fountain Valley Crossings Specific Plan
FY Fiscal Year
GAC granular activated carbon
GAP Green Acres Project
GDP gross domestic product
GHG greenhouse gas
GIS Geographic Information System
gpcd gallons per capita per day
gpf gallons per flush
gpm gallons per minute
GRP Groundwater Reliability Plan
GSA Groundwater Sustainability Agency
GSP Groundwater Sustainability Plan
GSWC Golden State Water Company
GWRS Groundwater Replenishment System
HDI Hot-Dry Index
HECW High-Efficiency Clothes Washer
HET High-Efficiency Toilet
HRL Healthy Rivers & Landscapes (Voluntary Agreements)
ICS Intentionally Created Surplus
IPR Indirect Potable Reuse
IRP Integrated Resources Plan
IRWD Irvine Ranch Water District
ITP Incidental Take Permit
IWCM Interim Water Control Manual
JADU Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit
kkh Kilowatt-hours
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LAM Landscape Area Measurement
LRP Local Resources Program
LVL Leo J. Vander Lans AWTF
MAF million acre-feet
MET Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
MF Microfiltration
MG million gallons
mgd million gallons per day
M&I municipal & industrial
MCL maximum contaminant level
mg/L milligrams per Liter
MUM Mixed-Use CII Meter
MWDOC Municipal Water District of Orange County
MWDOC 2025 2025 Orange County Water Demand Projection Model ND non-detect
NDMA N nitrosodimethylamine
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
OC Basin Orange County Groundwater Basin
OC San Orange County Sanitation District
OCWD Orange County Water District
OCLAFCO Orange County LAFCO
O&M operations and maintenance
OWWD #8 Orange County Waterworks District No. 8
PFAS Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
PLC programmable logic controller
PPCP Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care Products
ppt / ng/L Parts per trillion / nanograms per liter
PRISM Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model PRS Pressure Reducing Station
psi pounds per square inch
QSA Quantification Settlement Agreement
QWEL Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper
R&I retail and municipal
RA Replenishment Assessment
R-gpcd Residential gpcd
RHNA Regional Housing Needs Assessment
RO reverse osmosis
RTU remote terminal unit
RZ/WZ Retail Zone / Wholesale Zone
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SARCCUP Santa Ana River Conservation & Conjunctive Use Program SB Senate Bill
SCAB South Coast Air Basin
SCAG Southern California Association of Governments
SCE Southern California Edison
SDCWA San Diego County Water Authority
sf square feet
SFR single family residential
SGMA Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
STEM science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
Supplier urban water supplier
SWP State Water Project
SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board
TAZ traffic analysis zone
TAP Technical Assistance Program
TDS total dissolved solids
TM technical memorandum
USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
USBR U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
USGS U.S. Geological Survey
UV Ultraviolet
UWMP Urban Water Management Plan
UWMP Act Urban Water Management Planning Act
UWUO Urban Water Use Objective
Valley San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District
VFD variable frequency drive
Water Code California Water Code
WCM Water Control Manual
WDR Water Replenishment District of Southern California WEEA Water Energy Education Alliance
WSAP Water Supply Allocation Plan
WSCP Water Shortage Contingency Plan
WUE / WUEdata Water Use Efficiency / State submittal portal WSIP Water Savings Incentive Program
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ES.1 Introduction and UWMP Overview
The City of Fountain Valley (City) prepared this 2025 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) to submit to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to satisfy the UWMP Act of 1983 (UWMP Act or Act) and subsequent California Water Code (Water Code) requirements. UWMPs are comprehensive documents that present an evaluation of a water supplier’s reliability over a long-term (20-25 year) horizon. This 2025 UWMP provides an assessment of the present and future water supply sources and demands within the City’s service area. It presents an update to the 2020 UWMP on the City’s water resource needs, water use efficiency programs, water reliability assessment, and strategies to mitigate water shortage conditions. It also presents the City’s updated 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP), designed to prepare for and respond to water shortages. This 2025 UWMP contains all elements required by the UWMP Act.
ES.2 UWMP Preparation
The City coordinated the preparation of this 2025 UWMP with other key entities, the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), the regional wholesaler of imported water for Orange County, and the Orange County Water District (OCWD), Orange County Groundwater Basin (OC Basin) manager and provider of recycled water in north Orange County. The City also coordinated with other entities that provided valuable, regionally consistent data for the analyses prepared in this UWMP, including population projections from the Center for Demographic Research (CDR) at California State University, Fullerton, and the Orange County Water Demand Projection Model Technical Memorandum (TM).
ES.3 System Description
The City was incorporated in 1957 as the 21st city in the County of Orange. Governed by a non-partisan five-member City Council, the City established the Fountain Valley Municipal Water Department (now known as the Fountain Valley Water Utility) in April of 1962. The Fountain Valley Water Utility operates as a division of the Public Works Department, and in conjunction with other water agencies and water suppliers in Orange County, to provide water to its customers.
The City’s water service area covers 9.87 square miles, on the coastal plain, adjacent to the Santa Ana River, four miles north of the Pacific Ocean coastline in the western-central part of Orange County. The City’s Water Utility operates two 5-million-gallon (MG) storage and distribution reservoirs at two sites and manages a 218-mile water distribution system with approximately 17,407 service connections.
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ES.4 Water Use Characterization
ES.4.1 Water Use in the Last Five Years
Total water use within the City’s service area has fluctuated over the past five years (fiscal year [FY] 2021-25), with an annual average of approximately 9,768 AF. FY2020-21 through FY 2021-22 saw the highest water use over the last five years due to region-wide drought conditions. FY2022-23 proved to be one of the wettest years on record in the State and the City saw a general decrease in water demand following this wet year, as precipitation offsets landscape irrigation demands. These year-to-year fluctuations in precipitation will continue to influence the City’s annual demands. In general, the City saw a decrease in demand of 7.7 percent over the 5-year reporting period.
ES.4.2 Projected Water Use
The water use projection for this UWMP is based on the 2025 Orange County Water Demand Projection Model Technical Memorandum (TM). This demand projection represents the City’s total water demand and considers factors such as weather, water price, regional economic conditions, and housing density through a regression, or econometric, model.
Over the next 25 years, the City’s total water demands are projected to remain stable from 9,938 acre-feet (AF) in 2025 to approximately 9,913 AF in 2050. The Orange County Groundwater Basin is expected to continue meeting a notable share of total water demand between 2025 and 2050 (with a Basin Pumping Percentage [BPP] of 85 percent forecasted through 2050).
ES.5 Conservation Target Compliance
The City participated in the Orange County 20x2020 Regional Alliance along with all other Orange County water agencies. The alliance was created by MWDOC in collaboration with all its retail member agencies as well as the Cities of Anaheim, Fullerton, and Santa Ana, to assist Orange County retail agencies in complying with the requirements of the Water Conservation Act of 2009, also known as SBx7-7 (Senate Bill 7 as part of the Seventh Extraordinary Session). Signed into law on February 3, 2010, it required the State of California to reduce urban water use by 20 percent by 2020.
Retail water suppliers are required to comply with SBx7-7 individually or as a region in collaboration with other retail water suppliers, to be eligible for water-related state grants and loans. Orange County, as a region, achieved its 2020 target water use of 159 gallons per capita per day (GPCD) prior to 2020, indicative of the collective efforts in reducing water use in the region. All Orange County water retailers, achieved individual compliance prior to 2020. By 2020, the City achieved a per capita per day water use of 91 GPCD (compared to its 142 GPCD target) and continues to implement water use efficiency measures.
ES.6 Water Supply Characterization
The City’s main source of water supply is groundwater from the OC Basin. Imported water and recycled water make up the rest of the City’s water supply portfolio. In FY 2024-25, the City relied on approximately 86 percent groundwater and 14 percent recycled water; imported water accounted for less than one percent of total supply. This supply portfolio is projected to remain stable for the next 25 years with the BPP of 85 percent forecasted through 2050.
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ES.7 Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment Every urban water supplier is required to assess the reliability of their water service to its customers under a normal year, a single dry year, and multiple dry years. The water service reliability assessment compares projected supply to projected demand for three long-term hydrological conditions. The City’s water sources are local groundwater from the OC Basin and imported water purchased from MWDOC/Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET).
The OC Basin manager, OCWD, has developed programs and projects to improve groundwater recharge and augment groundwater through recycled water, conjunctive use, and water transfers. OCWD assesses groundwater conditions and sets its BPP, which determines how much water will be pumped from the basin year, and the Basin Equity Assessment (BEA), which is a surcharge for exceeding the BPP. The BPP is set at 85 percent and is forecasted to remain so through 2050.
MET, the Southern California regional wholesaler of imported water, has also invested in numerous programs and projects to augment its direct deliveries of imported water, such as water transfers, groundwater banking, and use of its reservoir storage. MET’s 2025 UWMP demonstrates that MET will be able to meet its projected water demands for its entire service area for the next 25 years under normal, dry, and five consecutive dry year conditions.
Overall, the City’s service area is projected to meet full-service demands from 2026 through 2050 under normal years, single dry year, and five consecutive dry year conditions.
ES.8 Water Shortage Contingency Planning
The Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) is a standalone document adopted by the City serving as the guidance document used to prepare for and respond to water shortages and service disruptions of the City’s water supplies through proactive mitigation measures. A water shortage, when water supply available is insufficient to meet the normally expected customer water use at a given point in time, may occur due to a number of reasons, such as water supply quality changes, climate change, drought, and catastrophic events (e.g., earthquake). The City’s WSCP provides a water supply availability assessment and structured steps designed to respond to actual conditions. This level of detailed planning and preparation will help maintain reliable supplies and reduce the impacts of supply interruptions.
The WSCP contains the processes and procedures that will be deployed when shortage conditions arise so that the City’s governing body and its staff can easily identify and efficiently implement pre-determined steps to mitigate a water shortage to the level appropriate to the degree of water shortfall anticipated.
ES.9 Demand Management Measures
The City has demonstrated its commitment to water use efficiency through multi-faceted and holistic water use efficiency programs. The City’s water use efficiency implementation can be described broadly under five categories: Operations Practices (e.g., conservation pricing, water waste prevention, water loss control, and metering with commodity rates), Education and Outreach (e.g., public outreach programs, K-12 school programs, Water Awareness Poster Contest, Qualified Water Efficiency Landscaper Training Program), Residential Indoor Program (e.g. various rebates), Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Program (e.g., rebates, Water Savings Incentive Program, On-site Retrofit Program), and Landscape Programs (e.g., turf replacement, spray-to-drip irrigation rebate, residential landscape design assistance).
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ES.10 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Implementation
The Water Code requires both the UWMP and the WSCP to be adopted by the Supplier’s governing body.
Before the adoption of the UWMP, the City notified the public and the cities and counties within its service area that MWDOC was in the process of preparing an UWMP and WSCP per the Water Code. The City circulated the final draft of the UWMP and WSCP to facilitate public review and held a public hearing to receive input from the public on the UWMP and WSCP. Upon completion of the public hearing, the City moved to adopt both the UWMP and WSCP. Post adoption, the City submitted the UWMP to DWR and other key agencies and made the document available for public review within 30 days after filing with DWR.
The UWMP serves as a legal and technical water management foundation for the City and can be referenced as needed, until its next required update cycle in 2030. With approval from DWR, the City shall implement this plan into its public resources, providing City staff, the public, and elected officials with an understanding of past, current, and future water conditions and management. Furthermore, the WSCP serves as a strategic planning document designed to prepare for and respond to water shortages and service disruptions of the City’s water supplies.
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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND UWMP OVERVIEW
The City of Fountain Valley (City) prepared this 2025 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) to submit to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to satisfy the UWMP Act of 1983 (UWMP Act or Act) and subsequent California Water Code (Water Code) requirements.
The City is a retail water supplier that provides water to its residents and other customers using the imported potable water supply obtained from its regional wholesaler, Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), local groundwater from the Orange County Groundwater Basin (OC Basin), which is managed by the Orange County Water District (OCWD), and recycled water from OCWD. The City, as one of MWDOC’s 27 member agencies, prepared this 2025 UWMP in collaboration with MWDOC, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET), OCWD, and other key agencies.
UWMPs are comprehensive documents that present an evaluation of a water supplier’s reliability over a long-term (20-25 year) horizon. In response to the changing climatic conditions since the 2020 UWMP, the City has been proactively managing its water supply and demands. The water loss audit program, water conservation measures, public outreach and education on conservation and efforts for increased self-reliance to reduce dependency on imported water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (the “Delta”) are some of the water management actions that the City has taken to maintain the reliability of water supply for its service area. In addition, the City has been proactive in managing local water supplies through the rehabilitation of existing wells, reservoirs, booster pump stations, and the City’s imported water connection.
This UWMP provides an assessment of the present and future water supply sources and demands within the City’s service area. It presents an update to the 2020 UWMP on the City’s water resource needs, water use efficiency programs, water reliability assessment and strategies to mitigate water shortage conditions.
It also includes the City’s updated 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) designed to prepare for and respond to water shortages. This 2025 UWMP contains all elements required by the Act.
1.1 Overview of UWMP Requirements
The UWMP Act enacted by California legislature requires every urban water supplier (Supplier) providing water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 customers or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet (AF) of water annually to prepare, adopt, and file an UWMP with the DWR every five years in the years ending in six and one.
For this 2025 UWMP cycle, DWR continues to place emphasis on achieving improvements for long term reliability and resilience to drought and climate change in California. Despite there being no new statutory requirements, Suppliers must now report progress on meeting their 2028 Water Loss Standards and continue to state their compliance with Senate Bill (SB) X7-7 2020 Targets. Additional guidance on stored water accounting and recommendations on identifying the need for future or proposed water supply projects are provided by DWR as well.
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1.2 UWMP Organization
This UWMP is organized into 10 chapters aligned with the DWR Guidebook recommendations.
The sections within each chapter are customized to include the City’s water supply reliability and future projections as well as plans to overcome any water shortages over a planning horizon of the next 25 years. The chapters for this UWMP are listed below:
Chapter 1 Introduction and UWMP Overview gives an overview of the UWMP fundamentals and requirements for the 2025 UWMP.
Chapter 2 UWMP Preparation identifies this UWMP as an individual planning effort of the City, lists the type of year and units of measure used and introduces the coordination and outreach activities conducted by the City to develop this UWMP.
Chapter 3 System Description gives a background on the City’s water system and its climate characteristics, population projections, demographics, socioeconomics, and predominant current and projected land uses of its service area.
Chapter 4 Water Use Characterization provides historical, current, and projected water use by customer category for the next 25 years for the City and the projection methodology used by the City to develop the 25-year projections.
Chapter 5 Conservation Target Compliance restates that the City’s 2020 per capita water use in gallons per capita per day (gpcd) met the compliance target defined by SB X7-7.
Chapter 6 Water Supply Characterization describes the current water supply portfolio of the City as well as the planned and potential water supply projects and water exchange and transfer opportunities.
Chapter 7 Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment (DRA) describes the assessment of the reliability of the City’s water supply service to its customers for a normal year, single dry year and five consecutive dry years scenarios. This section also includes a Drought Risk Assessment (DRA) of all the supply sources for a consecutive five-year drought period beginning 2026.
Chapter 8 Water Shortage Contingency Planning is a brief summary of the standalone WSCP document which provides a structured guide for the City to deal with water shortages, incorporating prescriptive information and standardized action levels, lists the appropriate actions and water use efficiency measures to be taken to ensure water supply reliability in times of water shortage conditions, along with implementation actions in the event of a catastrophic supply interruption.
Chapter 9 Demand Management Measures provides a description of the City’s current and planned measures and programs to help the retail customers in its service area be water efficient and comply with the City’s urban water use reduction targets.
Chapter 10 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Implementation provides a record of the process the City followed to adopt and implement its UWMP.
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CHAPTER 2 UWMP PREPARATION
The City of Fountain Valley's (City's) 2025 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) is prepared to meet the California Water Code (Water Code) compliance as a retail water supplier to its customers. The development of this UWMP involved close coordination with its wholesale supplier, the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), along with other key entities within the region.
2.1 Individual Planning and Compliance
As described in Chapter 1, every urban water supplier providing water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 customers or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet (AF) of water annually must prepare, adopt, and file an UWMP with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) every five years to meet the compliance requirements of the UWMP Act. As shown in Table 2.1. The City of Fountain Valley meets this requirement as it has 17,407 municipal connections and supplied 9,938 AF in Fiscal Year 2025.
Table 2.1 Submittal Table 2-1 Retail: Public Water Systems Submittal Table 2-1 Retail: Public Water Systems
Public Water
System Number Public Water System Name Number of Municipal Connections 2025 Volume of Water Supplied
2025 (AF)
CA3010069 City of Fountain Valley 17,407 9,938
Total 17,407 9,938
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Table 2-3.
NOTES:
The City opted to prepare its own UWMP and comply with the Water Code individually, while closely coordinating with MWDOC and various key entities as discussed in Chapter 2.2 to streamline regional integration. The UWMP Checklist was completed to confirm the compliance of this UWMP with the Water Code (Appendix A). All DWR standardized tables are provided in Appendix B. The City has selected to report demands and supplies using fiscal year as the basis (Table 2.3).
Table 2.2 Submittal Table 2-2: Plan Identification
Submittal Table 2-2: Plan Identification
Select One
or Both Type of Plan Name of Regional Alliance or RUWMP (Drop Down List)
Individual UWMP
If Water Supplier is also a member of a SB X7-7
Regional Alliance, select name from the drop-down. Orange County 20x2020 Regional Alliance Regional Urban Water Management Plan (RUWMP)
If Supplier selected RUWMP, select name from the
drop-down.
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Table 2.3 Submittal Table 2-3: Supplier Identification
Submittal Table 2-3: Supplier Identification
Type of Supplier (select one or both)
Supplier is a wholesale supplier
Supplier is a retail supplier
Fiscal or Calendar Year (select one)
UWMP Tables are in calendar years
UWMP Tables are in fiscal years
If using fiscal years provide month and date that the fiscal year begins (mm/dd) 07/01
Units of measure used in UWMP
(select from drop down)
Unit AF
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
2.2 Coordination and Outreach
2.2.1 Integration with Other Planning Efforts
The City, as the retail supplier to its customers, coordinated the preparation of this UWMP with other key entities, including MWDOC (regional wholesale supplier for Orange County), the Orange County Water District (OCWD) as the manager of the Orange County Groundwater Basin, and MET (regional wholesaler for Southern California and the direct supplier of imported water to MWDOC). The City also developed this Plan in conjunction with other regionally consistent efforts such as population projections from the Center for Demographic Research at California State University, Fullerton (CDR) and the Orange County Water Deland Projection Model Technical Memorandum. Key planning and reporting documents that were used to develop this UWMP are:
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's (MET's) 2025 UWMP uses assumptions that fall within the plausible futures contemplated in MET's Integrated Water Resources Plan to evaluate MET's future imported water supply reliability.
MET's 2020 Integrated Water Resources Plan (IRP) Regional Needs Assessment is a long-term, scenario-based planning document that guides Metropolitan's programs and investments to ensure reliable water supplies in Southern California and provides a basis for water supply reliability in Orange County.
MET's Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water (CAMP4W) is an ongoing planning and decision-making tool that accounts for the complexities and uncertainties of climate change. Part of the second phase of MET's long-term IRP planning process, CAMP4W incorporates the results and findings of MET's 2020 IRP Regional Needs Assessment into a collaborative process to identify and evaluate integrated regional solutions.
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MET's 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) provides a water supply availability assessment and guide for MET's intended actions during water shortage conditions.
MWDOC's 2025 WSCP provides a water supply availability assessment and structured steps designed to respond to actual conditions that will help maintain reliable supplies and reduce the impacts of supply interruptions.
MWDOC's 2023 Orange County Water Reliability Study is a planning document to help guide planning for future water supply reliability for water providers in Orange County and provide input on regional water supply issues for MET.
2025 Orange County Water Demand Projection Model Technical Memorandum is a collaborative effort amongst MWDOC, OCWD, and all retail water suppliers in Orange County that developed water demand projections to produce regionally consistent forecasts across all Orange County water agencies.
OCWD's 2025 Groundwater Resilience Plan (GRP) was completed in February 2025. The GRP is an adaptive strategies management plan outlining strategic projects to secure reliable future water supplies in the Orange County Groundwater Basin (OC Basin).
OCWD's 2023-24 Engineer's Report provides information on the groundwater conditions, water supply and basin utilization of the OC Basin.
2022 Basin 8-1 Alternative is an alternative to the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the OC Basin and provides significant information related to sustainable management of the basin in the past and hydrogeology of the basin, including groundwater quality and basin characteristics, and addresses DWR's recommendations to ensure long-term basin sustainability.
City of Fountain Valley Hazard Mitigation Plan (2025) provides the basis for the seismic and other natural and natural disaster risk analysis of the water system facilities.
City of Fountain Valley Capital Improvement Program of the City's service area provides information on water infrastructure planning projects and plans to address any required water system improvements.
City of Fountain Valley General Plan (2023) provides updates regarding future developments and housing plans within the City's service area that would influence water demands.
2.2.1.1 Statewide Water Planning
In addition to regional coordination with the various agencies described above, the City, as a MWDOC member agency, is currently a part of MET's statewide planning effort to reduce reliance on the water imported from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta).
It is the policy of the State of California to reduce reliance on the Delta in meeting California's future water supply needs through a statewide strategy of investing in improved regional supplies, conservation, technology innovation, partner collaborations and water use efficiency measures. This policy is codified through the Delta Stewardship Council's Delta Plan Policy WR P1 (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 23, § 5003) requires state and local water suppliers to reduce reliance on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta by improving regional water self-reliance. It mandates that water exported from, transferred through, or used in the Delta must demonstrate efforts in water conservation, recycling, and supply diversification.
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Progress towards achieving the goal of WR P1 is measured through Supplier reporting in each Urban Water Management Planning cycle. WR P1 is relevant to water suppliers that plan to participate in multiyear water transfers, conveyance facilities, or new diversions in the Delta. Additionally, with the recent amendments to the Bay Delta Plan, tributary flow objectives to the Delta are being updated to account for quality and habitat improvements for local environmental resources. This results in reduced reliance on Delta water supplies. Since 2022, the Bay-Delta Plan Amendment update has been in development. This effort considers additional tributaries from the southern San Joaquin Valley, triggering a re-evaluation of Delta flow requirements and conservation objectives, which ultimately may impact available supply to the State Water Project (SWP).
Through significant local investment, collaboration at both a local and regional scale and integration with MWDOC's water use efficiency strategies and conservation programs, the City has demonstrated a reduction in Delta reliance. For member agencies of MWDOC that receive imported water from MET, these agencies have passively demonstrated a reduction in Delta reliance and a subsequent improvement in regional self-reliance by participating in MWDOC led regional strategies. A detailed description and documentation of the City's consistency with Delta Plan Policy WR P1 is included in Chapter 7.4 and Appendix C.
2.2.2 Wholesale and Retail Coordination
The City developed its UWMP in conjunction with MWDOC's 2025 UWMP. As a retail water supplier, the City provided its historical water use and water use projections data to MWDOC (Table 2.4).
The City has also been taking part in multiple regional programs administered by MWDOC to assist retail agencies in meeting various State compliance, such as the OC Regional Alliance for Senate Bill (SB)x7-7 compliance, regional water loss program or SB555 compliance, and regional water use efficiency programs. Chapters 5 and 9 provide detailed information on these programs.
Table 2.4 Submittal Table 2-4 Retail: Water Supplier Information Exchange Submittal Table 2-4 Retail: Water Supplier Information Exchange Water Code Section 10631(h)
The retail Supplier has informed the following wholesale supplier(s) of projected water use in accordance with Water Code Section 10631 (h).
Wholesale Water Supplier Name
Municipal Water District of Orange County
Orange County Water District
NOTES:
2.2.3 Public Participation
For further coordination with other key agencies, and to encourage public participation in the review and update of this Plan, the City held a public hearing on May 19, 2026 and notified key entities and the public per the Water Code requirements.
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CHAPTER 3 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
The City of Fountain Valley (City) was incorporated in 1957 as the 21st city in the County of Orange.
Governed by a non-partisan five-member City Council, the City established the Fountain Valley Municipal Water Department (now known as the Fountain Valley Water Utility) in April of 1962. The Fountain Valley Water Utility operates as a division of the Public Works Department, and in conjunction with other water agencies and water suppliers in Orange County, to provide water to its customers.
The City’s water service area covers 9.87 square miles, on the coastal plain, adjacent to the Santa Ana River, four miles north of the Pacific Ocean coastline in the western-central part of Orange County. The City’s Water Utility operates two 5-million-gallon (MG) storage and distribution reservoirs at two sites and manages a 218-mile water distribution system with approximately 17,407 service connections.
The City’s climate is characterized by southern California’s “Mediterranean” climate with mild winters, warm summers and moderate rainfall. In terms of land use, the City is almost built out with predominantly single and multi-family residential units and commercial establishments. Recent developments are mainly additions of small single-family subdivisions and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Moving forward, the City will continue planning for its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation. The current population (2025) of 57,927 is projected to increase by 12.5 percent over the next 25 years to 65,180. This equates to an annual growth rate of 0.5 percent.
3.1 Agency Overview
This section provides information on the formation and history of the City, its organizational structure, roles, and relationship to the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC).
3.1.1 Formation and Purpose
The City was incorporated in 1957 as the 21st city in the County of Orange. Since its incorporation, the City has established itself, both locally and nationally, as a youthful, forward-looking community dedicated to improving the quality of life for its citizens.
The City established the Fountain Valley Municipal Water Department (now known as the Fountain Valley Water Utility) in April of 1962, by adopting Ordinance Number 85. The Ordinance provided the City with regulations for water usage and set rates for water supply. Occasionally, as required, the Municipal Code ordinances have been updated and the water rates adjusted to provide sufficient revenue for operation, maintenance, capital improvements, and long-range planning. The Fountain Valley Water Utility operates as a division of the Public Works Department, and in conjunction with other water agencies and water suppliers within Orange County, to provide water to its customers.
3.1.2 City Council
The City is governed by a non-partisan five-member City Council elected at large to serve staggered four-year terms. The Mayor and the Vice Mayor are elected by the Council from among its members to serve for one-year terms. The City Council appoints a City Manager who, as the City's Chief Administrative Officer, is responsible for all City Departments, including the City’s Water Utility. The City Council also
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appoints various members of commissions, committees, and citizen advisory groups. The current City Council members include:
Jim Cunneen, Mayor
Patrick Harper, Vice Mayor
Kim Constantine, Council Member
Glenn Grandis, Council Member
Ted Bui, Council Member
3.1.3 Relationship to MWDOC
The City is one of MWDOC’s 27 member agencies purchasing imported water from MWDOC, Orange County’s wholesale water supplier and a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET). The City’s location within MWDOC’s service area is shown on Figure 3.1.
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Figure 3.1 Regional Location of City of Fountain Valley and Other MWDOC Member Agencies
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3.2 Water Service Area and Facilities
3.2.1 Water Service Area
The City covers nearly 10 square miles and is located on the coastal plain, four miles north of the Pacific Ocean coastline. The City is surrounded by the cities of Huntington Beach to the south and west, Westminster and Garden Grove to the north, Santa Ana to the northeast, and Costa Mesa to the southeast. Ground elevation range from 10 to 45 feet above sea level. The City’s water service area is consistent with the City’s boundary, with the exception of a small county island in the northeast corner of the City (Figure 3.2). As of 2025, the City serves more than 57,927 residents.
Figure 3.2 City of Fountain Valley Water Service Area
3.2.2 Water Facilities
Reservoirs
The City’s Water Utility operates two 5-MG storage and distribution reservoirs at two sites with a combined capacity of 10 MG. Reservoir capacity throughout each day averages approximately 50 percent
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to maintain water quality, protect equipment longevity, and provide enough flow for fire protection. The storage volume is greater than two days’ average use and is more than adequate for peaking demands and firefighting needs. The fire reserve capacity from Reservoir No. 1 is 7,600 gallons per minute (gpm) and from Reservoir No. 2 is 7,500 gpm.
Reservoir No. 1, located at Euclid Street and Ellis Avenue in the southeast part of the City, is powered by four electric variable frequency drive (VFD) pumps. Reservoir No. 2, located in Cordata Park off Tanager Avenue in the southwest part of the City, is powered by three electric VFD pumps. The storage system is supported with seven booster pumps located at the reservoir sites. The booster pumps have a total capacity of 15,100 gpm, which is more than enough to keep the system pressurized under peak flow conditions.
Conveyance and Distribution Area
The City’s Water Utility manages 218 miles of distribution piping and 17,407 service connections. In addition, approximately 6,000 isolating valves and 2,070 fire hydrants provide fire protection in the service area. Over 2,020 backflow prevention devices are in place in the service area to protect water quality. The Water Utility is usually staffed by 23 people to manage customer service, water conservation and water use efficiency (WUE), water quality compliance, cross connection control program, water production, water construction and repair (such as water main maintenance), and metering.
Management of Water System
The City’s Water Utility system is carefully managed by a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System. The SCADA system is a computer-based control with several backup features. The SCADA system enables 24-hour remote monitoring and control of the various water system facilities, flood control pump stations, and the sewer lift station in the City from a central station located at the City’s Field Services Operations Yard. Each of these locations has an "at location" programmable logic controller (PLC) and remote terminal unit (RTU) which can maintain operations if the communication network between pumping stations and the Central Control Station at the Fountain Valley Water Utility office is lost.
System Pressure
The City’s service area is relatively flat and has only one pressure zone. This pressure zone has a pressure differential due to land elevation of approximately 13-15 pounds per square inch (psi) from the high end at the Garfield/Newland intersection to the low pressure end at the Harbor/Lilac intersection.
The City’s water distribution system operates at an average of 72 psi. Water is precisely controlled by several variable speed (pressure) wells, booster pumps and automatic control valves. In the event of malfunction or pressure greater than 90 psi, excess pressure is returned to one of the City’s storage reservoirs for later use. During drought conditions in 1976-77, the City reduced its pressure zone to an average of 60 psi. This type of action enables the City to conserve water in two ways: 1) Reduces leaking in water and plumbing systems; and 2) Reduces waste of water when turning water fixtures on. According to the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Manual M22, a standard 3/4 inch garden hose would use 1-1/2 gpm less at the reduced pressure (70-60 psi). This lower pressure continues to provide the minimum pressure necessary for adequate fire flow protection.
The City’s distribution system is managed to deliver a water pressure that is within acceptable ranges for both domestic use and fire flow demands. Peak demands can be met with combinations of increased pressure rates and water from storage tanks.
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Peak Demand
Water system demand patterns are a result of climatological, land use, sociological, and institutional factors, all of which affect the amount of water consumed. The balance of demand and system pressure between wells and reservoirs can be extremely delicate. The most notable variation in demand is seasonal.
For the City’s service area during the winter or colder months, the peak demand during the workweek is between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., and on the weekends between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. During the summer or hotter months, the peak demand can remain constant throughout the day when ambient temperatures reach above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Leak Detection
The City’s water system is approximately 60 years old. However, most of the system pipelines have been in service for less than 50 years. Due to the high cost of leak detection programs, MWDOC has assisted several of its member agencies in obtaining grant funding from the DWR’s Office of Water Use Efficiency to implement programs. In FY 2023-24, the City participated in MWDOC’s comprehensive acoustic survey program to identify unreported leaks in the City’s water distribution system so they could be repaired.
Prior to this, the City started its own leak detection program in 2016 in conjunction with pipeline condition assessments to check for leaks within its system and take appropriate actions accordingly.
Water Meters
The City completed replacing all of the water meters in the entire system and transitioned to an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system in 2015, with warranty meter replacements that finished in 2020. The City replaces its residential meters in accordance with AWWA meter accuracy standards. This assists in achieving accurate readings and the timely detection of problems. In addition, every year, approximately 90 large distribution meters are tested for accuracy and repairs are made as necessary.
3.3 Climate
The City's service area is located within the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB) that encompasses all of Orange County, and the urban areas of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. The climate in the SCAB area is characterized by southern California’s “Mediterranean” climate: a semi-arid environment with mild winters, warm summers, and moderate rainfall.
Local rainfall has limited impacts on reducing water demand in the City, except for the case of landscape irrigation demand. For example, in August 2023, Orange County as a region experienced the lowest seasonal water demand due to significant summer precipitation events from Tropical Storm Hilary. The increase in precipitation allowed landscape irrigation systems to be turned off, however other municipal and industrial uses (e.g., consumption, processing, and washing remained the same).
Water that infiltrates into the soil may enter groundwater supplies depending on the local geography.
However, due to the large extent of impervious cover in Southern California, rainfall runoff quickly flows to a system of concrete storm drains and channels that lead directly to the ocean. Orange County Water District (OCWD) has successfully captured stormwater along the Santa Ana River and in recharge basins for years and used it as an additional source of supply for groundwater recharge. Based on the 2022 Basin 8-1 Alternative Plan Update, OCWD captured an average annual stormwater volume of approximately 54,000 AF over the period of five years, from Water Year 2016-17 to 2020-21.
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MET's water supplies come from the State Water Project (SWP) and the Colorado River Aqueduct (CRA) are influenced by climate conditions in northern California and the Colorado River Basin, respectively.
Both regions have variable hydrologic conditions that can significantly affect MET’s supplies from year to year. This past decade has seen dramatic swings in annual precipitation, especially in the form of snowpack, which directly affect SWP supply allocations. Similarly, the Colorado River Basin also experienced year-to-year swings in hydrology ,and due to the prolonged drought conditions since year 2000, storage within the Colorado River system has declined to less than half of its reservoir capacity and has been fluctuating at that level (MET, 2025).
3.4 Population, Demographics, and Socioeconomics
3.4.1 Service Area Population
The City serves a 2025 population of 57,927 according to the Center for Demographic Research at California State University, Fullerton (CDR). Overall, the population is projected to increase 12.5 percent by 2050. Table 3.1 shows the population projections in five-year increments out to the year 2050 within the City’s service area.
Table 3.1 Submittal 3-1 Retail: Population - Current and Projected Submittal Table 3-1 Retail: Population - Current and Projected Water Code Section 10631(a)
Population
Served
2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050(opt)
57,927 63,687 66,721 66,660 66,115 65,180
Notes:
Source - Center for Demographic Research at California State University, Fullerton, 2025.
3.4.2 Demographics and Socioeconomics
As shown below in Table 3.2, the total number of dwelling units in the City service area is expected to increase by 29.9 percent in the next 25 years from 20,374 in 2025 to 26,468 in 2050.
Table 3.2 City of Fountain Valley Service Area Dwelling Units by Type Dwelling Units 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Single Family 13,297 13,441 13,526 13,591 13,654 13,713 All Other(1) 7,077 11,218 12,400 12,515 12,634 12,755
Total 20,374 24,659 25,926 26,106 26,288 26,468
Notes:
Source: Center for Demographic Research at California State University, Fullerton, 2025. (1) Includes duplex, triplex, apartment, condo, townhouse, mobile home, etc. Yachts, houseboats, recreational vehicles, vans, etc. are included if is primary place of residence. Does not include group quartered units, cars, railroad box cars, etc.
In addition to the types and proportions of dwelling units, various socio-economic factors such as age distribution, education levels, general health status, income and poverty levels affect the City’s water management and planning. Based on the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey, The City has about 21 percent of population of 65 years and over, 60 percent between the ages of 18 and 64 years, and 19 percent under the age of 18 years. Of the City’s population over 25 years of age,
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91.2 percent is at minimum a high school graduate, with 46.4 percent of this age group having at least a bachelor’s degree.
3.4.3 Demographic Projection Methodology
CDR is a collaborative research center established in 1996 to provide accurate and timely demographic data on population, housing, and employment in Orange County. CDR serves as Orange County’s authoritative source for demographic information. The City obtains its service area population and dwelling unit data from MWDOC via CDR.
MWDOC contracts with CDR to update the 2010 population estimates through to the current year and to provide an annual estimate of population served by each of its retail water suppliers within its service area. CDR uses geographic information system (GIS) mapping and data from the 2000, 2010, and 2020 U.S. Decennial Censuses, State Department of Finance (DOF) population estimates, and the CDR annual population estimates and Housing Inventory System (HIS). These annual estimates incorporate annual revisions to the DOF annual population estimates, often for every year back to the most recent Decennial Census. As a result, all previous estimates are set aside and replaced with the most current set of annual estimates. Annexations and boundary changes for water suppliers are incorporated into these annual estimates.
Demographic projections used for this UWMP reflect the most recently available set of projections developed by CDR based on its 2022 Orange County Projections. Demographic projections for Orange County are updated every 4 years, with the next set of projections expected in the late fall of 2026. The 2022 Orange County Projections accounted for Draft RHNA rezone sites with jurisdictions including the number of dwelling units that are most likely to occur/get built by the end of 2050 under assumptions and trends existing at the time of the forecasting effort, including a parcel-level inventory of additional housing capacity from sites that were to be rezoned to accommodate the 6th RHNA cycle. In the summer of 2025, projections by water supplier for population and dwelling units by type were estimated using the 2022 Orange County Projections dataset. Growth for each of the five-year increments was allocated using GIS and a review of the traffic analysis zones (TAZ) data with a 2023 aerial photo. The growth was added to the 2025 estimates for each respective water supplier.
3.5 Land Uses
3.5.1 Current Land Uses
The City’s service area can best be described as a predominantly single and multi-family residential community located in central Orange County. The City is mostly built out with the following list of ongoing developments, including those that occurred over the past five years:
Ongoing Developments
Fountain Valley Crossings Specific Plan (FVCSP) was adopted in 2018 targeting a 162-acre area containing approximately 3,089,758 square feet (sf) of industrial and commercial development. The FVCSP would enable an estimated net increase of 258,010 sf of such land use development. Also, an amendment to the Plan in 2025 would allow up to 1,100 residential units.
Southpark Specific Plan was amended in 2025 to allow up to 1,100 new residential units on a portion of the 35.5-acre site with the remainder utilized for mixed-use or retail uses.
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Warner/Newhope Specific Plan was amended in 2025 to allow up to an additional 676 residential units within the Plan.
Slater Avenue Mixed-Use Project consists of the construction and operation of a four and five-story mixed-use development with 270 residential units, a 7,000 sf restaurant with 5,000 sf of indoor dining space and 2,000 sf of outdoor dining space and a walkup coffee and lunch bar, a 1,660 sf art gallery, a 6-level parking garage, and associated amenities on the 3.34 acre project site located at the northeast corner of Slater Avenue and San Mateo Street.
Euclid + Heil Project consists of a residential community with 304 for-rent market rate apartments, 83 for-rent senior affordable apartments (82 affordable units and 1 manager unit), 183 for-sale townhomes, and 36 for-sale triplexes totaling 606 units on the 18.09-acre lot located at 16300 Euclid Street (northeast corner of Euclid Street and Heil Avenue). The Project was approved June 25, 2025 and is currently in plan check.
16800 Magnolia Project consists of a mixed-use development with 657 residential apartment units and 4,460 sf of ground-floor commercial use within two (2) seven-story buildings partially surrounding two (2) seven-story parking structures with rooftop parking on a 6.87-acre project site located at 16800 Magnolia Street and 9025-9063 Recreation Circle. The Project was approved June 11, 2025 and will soon be submitted for plan check.
Warner & Newland Parkside FV consists of a 72 unit apartment complex development on a
2.119 acre project site located at 8550 Warner Avenue. The Project has yet to be approved by the City.
Popeyes Chicken: 2,379 sf restaurant at Brookhurst/Garfield. Approved and under construction.
JUSU Retail Center: new 10,232 sf commercial building at Brookhurst/Warner. Approved and in plan check.
Bonani Homes: 15 detached homes at 8572 Talbert. Approved and almost complete.
Holy Spirit Church: 1,400 sf addition. Approved and complete.
Our Lady of Guadalupe: 2-story 13,498 sf building with 29 affordable units at 17103 Magnolia.
Approved and in plan check.
First Chinese Baptist Church: new 19,000 sf 2 story building at 16835 Brookhurst. Approved and under construction.
McDonalds: 4,000 sf restaurant w/ drive-thru at 17970 Magnolia. Complete.
Boys & Girls Club: 5,600 sf addition to the building at 16582 Brookhurst. Approved and in plan check.
Chew Chew Dental – new 3,119 sf dental office buildlng at 9080 Talbert. Under review and not approved yet by the City.
Developments Completed Since 2020
7 unit single-family subdivision with a total area of 1.02 acres was constructed in place of a part of an existing church.
74 unit single-family subdivision with a 1 acre public park replaced a former school, with a total project area of 12.9 acres.
12 unit single-family subdivision was constructed in place of an open space and surface parking for an existing church. The total development area was 4.07 acres.
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50 unit multi-family affordable project was constructed in place of a surface parking lot. The total development area was 1.95 acres.
A 109,000 sf headquarters building for Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) was constructed on an approximate 5.2 acre property. Improvements include a surface parking lot containing 264 parking stalls, landscape areas and site drainage, a public entry plaza, a private landscaped courtyard for employees, and a pedestrian bridge. The project site was previously developed with five industrial warehouse buildings, totaling approximately 114,744 sf.
Since 2020, the City has also issued 431 permits for ADUs out of a total of 542 applications received, with the remaining applications in some form of plan check. These ADUs are scattered throughout the community and have an average size of about 838 sf.
3.5.2 Projected Land Uses
The ongoing development projects that the City has identified (see Section 3.5.1) will change the City’s total water demand in the future. However, it should be noted that the 2025 Orange County Water Demand Projection Model discussed in Chapter 4 was based on CDR’s 2022 Orange County projections.
The developments listed above may have been added or modified since. As a result, the future demands associated with these developments may increase the City’s water demand beyond what is presented in this UWMP.
In addition to the developments listed above, the City will continue planning for the RHNA allocation imposed by the State. The City is mostly built out and new development will primarily be ADUs beyond 2025, with it also being anticipated that policy changes will make it easier for homeowners to add ADUs to existing residential properties.
The following requirements and changes in laws will impact the City’s future land use moving forward:
Regional Housing Needs Allocation – State law requires jurisdictions to provide their share of the RHNA allocation. SCAG determines the housing growth needs by income for local jurisdictions through RHNA. The City’s RHNA allocation for 2021-2029 is 4,839 dwelling units. This includes 1,307 units for very low-income households, 786 units for low-income households, 834 units for moderate-income households, and 1,912 units for above moderate-income households.
Accessory Dwelling Units – ADUs are separate small dwellings embedded within residential properties. There has been an increase in the construction of ADUs in California in response to the increasing need to provide affordable housing supply. Since 2020, several landmark laws were passed by State Legislature, updating ADU law to simplify the construction, rental, and sale of ADUs in California. The most significant laws that have recently come into effect include: » AB-1033 Accessory dwelling units: local ordinances: separate sale or conveyance which authorizes local governments to adopt ordinances permitting the sale of ADUs separately from the primary residence as condominiums. » AB-976 Accessory dwelling units: owner-occupancy requirements which prohibits a local agency from requiring owner-occupancy for property owners to build and rent an ADU. » AB-1154 Junior accessory dwelling units which no longer requires owner-occupancy for Junior ADUs (JADUs) as long as they have their own bathroom.
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» AB-1332 Accessory dwelling units: preapproved plans which requires local agencies to develop a program for pre-approved ADU plans, with projects using these plans having to be approved or denied within 30 days. » SB-543 Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units which requires local agencies to determine if an ADU/JADU application is complete within 15 business days of submittal, revises ADU size to now be measured by “interior livable space”, and now re-defines a JADU to be no more than 500 square feet of interior livable space. » SB-1211 Land use: accessory dwelling units: ministerial approval which authorizes multi-family property owners to build up to eight detached ADUs on a single lot, provided that the number of ADUs does not exceed the number of existing primary units. » AB-2533 Accessory dwelling units: junior accessory dwelling units: unpermitted developments which prohibits local agencies from denying permits for unpermitted ADUs/JADUs constructed before January 1, 2020 based on code violations unless the structure is a health or safety hazard.
The City’s recently adopted 2021-2029 Housing Element provides an 8-year strategy to provide adequate residential sites to accommodate the City’s RHNA allocations. Additionally, information on other planned future developments for the City is encapsulated in and can be found in the updated General Plan the City adopted in November 2023.
In 2023, ADUs comprised over 20 percent of all homes permitted in the state of California (CA Department of Housing and Community Development, January 2025). As of January 1, 2025, the City has a capacity for 26,224 ADUs and is working to get some credit for its ADU capacity toward the Regional Housing Needs allocation requirement. CDR projects that by 2050, approximately 13,000 more ADUs will be built in Orange County, with 100 ADUs expected within the City’s service area. The increase in ADUs is likely to result in an increase in number of people per lot of land. Depending on whether the addition of ADUs results in a net replacement of irrigated area (or other high water use features such as swimming pools), ADUs could increase or decrease water demands.
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CHAPTER 4 WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION
One of the main objectives of an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) is to provide an insight into the projected future water demands and supplies. This chapter describes the City of Fountain Valley's (City) current and future water demands for their service area, factors that influence demands, and the methodology used to forecast future water demands over the next 25 years. For this 2025 UWMP, water demand projections will span from planning year 2025 through planning year 2050.
Known for its suburban coastal communities and densely populated inland areas, Orange County has evolved greatly from its beginnings as an agricultural region. As some of the earliest cities in Orange County, from 1928 to 1931 the Cities of Anaheim, Fullerton, and Santa Ana all joined with 10 other southern California cities to form the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET) with the ambitious dream to bring Colorado River water across the Mojave Desert. The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) later joined MET as a member agency in 1951, and with the merger with Coastal Municipal Water District in 2001, now represents the remainder of Orange County to provide and manage the imported water supplies within its service area. Orange County is now mostly comprised of residential, mixed-use, and commercial developments, with less industry in the region. Agriculture in the region has also declined significantly as Orange County has grown more suburban. Thus, modern-day water use within Orange County can be largely summarized by the following four demand sectors:
Single-family Residential
Multi-Family Residential
Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII)
Dedicated Irrigation (potable, recycled & raw water)
Figure 4.1 shows Orange County's overall historical water usage compared to population since 1990, when local water conservation programs were first established. As shown, from the early 1990s through the mid-2000s, Orange County's water usage increased as the population increased. Population figures slowed significantly in 2018 and began to decrease during the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020-2021. Since 2007, retail, municipal, and industrial water use in Orange County has declined due to multiple contributing factors. Decades of sustained investments in water-use efficiency and public education have led to significant adoption of water-efficient appliances and fixtures, and increased public awareness of the need to use water wisely. Furthermore, in response to recurring droughts, growing urban demand, and increasingly limited water supplies, multiple regulatory requirements to promote water conservation have evolved and been implemented over the last two decades throughout California and Orange County.
Orange County's trending decline in water usage can most notably be attributed to Orange County water agencies' past efforts to achieve regional and individual compliance with Senate Bill (SB) X7-7, the Water Conservation Act of 2009, through the Orange County 20x2020 Regional Alliance and compliance with Executive Order (EO) B-29-15. EO B-29-15 mandated 25 percent reduction in potable water use in response to the 2013-2014 drought. Furthermore, Orange County water agencies' ongoing progress towards achieving SB 606 and Assembly Bill (AB) 1668, the "Making Conservation a California Way of Life" legislation, water use objectives continue to exemplify Orange County water agencies' commitment to water conservation, water use efficiency, and overall reduction in potable water usage in recent decades.
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Figure 4.1 Historical Water Use and Population in Orange County In 2025, MWDOC and Orange County Water District (OCWD), in collaboration with MWDOC's member agencies and the Cities of Anaheim, Fullerton, and Santa Ana, led the effort to develop the 2025 Orange County Water Demand Projection Model (MWDOC 2025). The MWDOC 2025 was used to project long-term water demand under three hydrologic conditions (normal year, single dry year, and five consecutive dry years) over a 25-year horizon in 5-year increments, consistent with the 2025 UWMP requirements.
Although Orange County demands are forecast to be relatively flat into the future, with water use efficiency efforts counterbalancing new growth, Figure 4.2 shows that annual variations in weather could cause high fluctuations. Some examples of this are described below:
Single-family consumption is highly seasonal, and the model correlates well with seasonality and temperature by capturing fluctuations in single-family outdoor irrigation.
Multi-family use is generally less responsive to weather than single-family demands, as much of multi-family outdoor irrigation has been shifted into the irrigation-specific water use sector (dedicated irrigation meters), and generally newer multi-family dwellings in Orange County have comparatively less landscaped area than generally older single-family dwellings due to Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinances (MWELO) mandated since 1993. Seasonal price elasticity varies the least between months for the multi-family sector.
Commercial, Industrial and Institutional use is positively correlated to each job proportion as well as gross domestic product throughout Orange County, which means a higher amount of CII jobs and production value trend in an increase in water demands.
Irrigation is the most responsive to temperature and precipitation compared to the other sectors.
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Figure 4.2 Projected Water Use Across All Orange County Water Agencies In terms of future development, north Orange County is substantially built out, with a majority residential land uses with some mixed-use areas dedicated to commercial, institutional, and governmental uses.
Future developments planned in north Orange County are mainly redevelopment and infill projects. As for the City's service area specifically, future developments include housing to meet the City's Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), including Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), which all shape the City's future water use.
Water use within the City's service area has been relatively constant in the past five years, with an annual average total water use of approximately 9,768 acre-feet (AF). Following one of the worst droughts in California history between 2017 and 2022, the significant wet year in 2023 saw a decrease in overall water use from Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 to FY 2022-23 in the City's entire service area.
Water use in FY 2024-25 included 8,562 AF of potable water and 1,376 AF of non-potable water for landscape irrigation. The City's water use is primarily residential. The projected water use in 2050 is 8,539 for potable water and 1,500 AF for non-potable water.
4.1 Water Use in the last Five Years
The five-year average water use within the City's service area is approximately 9,768 AFY provided by potable and non-potable sources. Demand trends have regionally remained flat due to water-use efficiency efforts and increased precipitation in recent wet years, such as FY 2023. As mentioned in Chapter 3, the City is almost completely built out, but due to densification its population is projected to
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increase. Despite these trends, total demands have remained relatively constant due to ongoing water conservation programs and improved water use efficiency efforts.
FY2020-21 through FY 2021-22 saw the highest water uses over the last five years due to region-wide drought conditions. FY 2022-23 proved to be one of the wettest years on record in the State and the City saw a general decrease in water demand following this wet year, as precipitation offsets landscape irrigation demands. These year-to-year fluctuations in precipitation will continue to influence the City's annual demands. In general, the City saw a decrease in demands of 7.7 percent over the 5-year reporting period.
Table 4.1 presents the City's actual water use in 2025 by use type and source for all direct uses. There are no indirect uses within the City's service area. As shown, the City's service area total water usage in FY 2024-25 was 9,938 AF. The total usage was met through a combination of potable and non-potable sources, including groundwater, imported water, and recycled water. In FY 2024-25, the total potable demand was 8,562 acre-feet per year (AFY), while 1,376 AFY or nearly 14 percent of the total demand was served with non-potable supplies for landscape irrigation.
Table 4.1 Submittal Table 4-1 Retail: Total Uses for Potable and Non-Potable Water – Actual Submittal Table 4-1 Retail: Total Uses for Potable and Non-Potable Water – Actual Water Code Section 10631(d)(1)
Use Type
Additional
Description
(as needed)
2025 Actual Water Use
Drop down list
May select each use multiple times
These are the only use types that will be
recognized by the WUEdata online submittal tool
Potable and Non-Potable
(OPTIONAL)
Drop down list Volume (AF)
Add additional rows as needed
Single Family Potable 4,486.3
Multi-Family Potable 662.8
Commercial Potable 1,148.3
Industrial Potable 201.3
Institutional/Governmental Potable 1,013.7
Landscape Potable 577.4
Landscape(1) Non-Potable 1,376.5
Agricultural Potable 14.6
Other (optional) Potable 19.5
Distribution System Water Loss(2) Potable 437.6
Subtotal Potable 8,562
Subtotal Non-Potable 1,376
Total 9,938
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES:
1) Non-potable landscape water use provided by the City was adjusted to match the total non-potable water supply, including recycled water system losses not accounted for the AWWA water loss audit. 2) Distribution System Water Loss is calculated as the difference between total potable production and total potable water use for FY 2025.
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4.1.1 Direct Municipal & Industrial Use
4.1.1.1 Potable Municipal & Industrial Use
Table 4.1 summarizes the City's potable water demand for FY 2024-25. As shown, a total of 8,562 AF of potable water was used. The City has a mix of single and multi- family residential water use which account for 60.1 percent of their total potable water demand. CII use accounts for a combined 27.6 percent of total potable demand while landscape irrigation accounts for 6.7 percent of total potable demand.
Agricultural use and other use each account for 0.2 percent total potable demand, respectively.
Distribution system water loss was calculated to be 438 AFY in FY 2024-25 or 5.1 percent of total potable water demand.
Since the City is essentially built out with only a number of residential projects anticipated and given the City's continual water conservation efforts, potable demands are ultimately projected to decrease slightly in the long term.
4.1.1.2 Non-Potable Municipal & Industrial Use
Table 4.1 also summarizes the City's non-potable, or outdoor irrigation, water demand for FY 2024-25. As shown, a total of 1,376 AF was served by non-potable supplies for landscape irrigation. Landscape irrigation use accounts for all of the City's non-potable water use, with 1,252 AF being billed to customers in FY 2024-25. The City's non-potable water demands are not expected to change significantly in the future.
4.2 Projected Water Use
The water use projection for this UWMP is separated into a near-term period covering the next five years (2026-2030) and a long-term period extending from 2030 through 2050.
The water use projection is based on the 2025 Orange County Water Demand Projection Model Technical Memorandum (TM), which is included in Appendix H of this UWMP. The methodology used in this demand forecast links water use statistically to a set of explanatory variables through a regression, or econometric, model. Section 4.3 offers a description of the methodology used to calculate the City's demand projections.
4.2.1 Water Use Projections for 2026-2030
Total demands (direct) are met through imported water (treated), groundwater, and recycled water. The City utilizes the projected total demands to incorporate the best available planning information when projecting the imported water demands of its service area. The City's total water demand projection for the next five years is shown in Table 4.2. As shown, the City's total service area water demands are expected to remain relatively flat, with a minor net decrease over the next four years (2026 to 2029) due to a projected decline in the service area's municipal & industrial (M&I) demands. The City's total water demands are expected to increase thereafter in 2030.
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Table 4.2 City of Fountain Valley's Service Area Total Potable and Non-Potable Demand for 2026-2030 Fiscal Year Ending 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Total Water Demand (AF) 9,854 9,839 9,844 9,806 9,934
4.2.2 Water Use Projections for 2030-2050
The City's service area's total water demands (by use type) for the next 25 years are shown in Table 4.3. By 2050, total water demand is projected to be 10,039 AF, which is a 1 percent increase from the 2025 demand of 9,938 AF. Table 4.4 indicates additional information for both future conservation efforts and low-income water demands included in the projections, while Table 4.5 presents the passive water savings included in Table 4.3 projections for 2030-2050.
Table 4.3 Submittal Table 4-2 Retail: Total Uses of Potable, and Non-Potable Water - Projected Submittal Table 4-2 Retail: Total Uses of Potable, and Non-Potable Water - Projected Water Code Section 10631(d)(1)
Use Type
Additional Description (as
needed)
Projected Water Use (Report To the Extent that Records are Available)
Drop down list
May select each use
multiple times
These are the only Use
Types that will be
recognized by the WUE
data online submittal tool
Potable or
Non-Potable
(OPTIONAL)
Drop down
list
2030
(AF)
2035
(AF)
2040
(AF)
2045
(AF)
2050
(opt) (AF)
Single Family Potable 4,427 4,436 4,448 4,427 4,407
Multi-Family Potable 866 944 955 952 948
Commercial Includes Institutional and
Industrial uses
Potable 1,942 1,964 1,982 1,980 1,979
Landscape Includes Agriculture use Potable 675 675 676 675 675 Landscape Includes Agriculture use Non-Potable 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 Distribution System
Water Loss
Includes Other uses Potable 524 530 532 531 529
Subtotal Potable 8,434 8,548 8,593 8,564 8,539
Subtotal Non-Potable 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500
Total 9,934 10,048 10,093 10,064 10,039
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES: Source – 2025 Orange County Water Demand Projection Model Forecast for the City of Fountain Valley.
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Table 4.4 Submittal Table 4-3 Retail: Inclusion in Water Use Projections Submittal Table 4-3 Retail: Inclusion in Water Use Projections Water Code Section 10631 (a), 10631 (d)(4)(A), and 10631 (d)(4)(B) Are Future Water Savings Included in Projections?
Drop down list (y/n) Yes
If "Yes" to above:
State the section or page number, in the cell to the right, where citations of the codes, ordinances, or otherwise are utilized in demand projections are found.
Optional Suppliers may complete Optional Submittal Table 4-4 R to quantify the expected savings.
Chapter 4.3
Are Lower Income Residential Demands Included In Projections? Drop down list (y/n) Yes
Optional If the method for accounting Lower Income Residential Demands has been included, provide page number where this accounting can be found. Chapter 4.3 DWR NOTES: Additional guidance is provided in Appendix K.
NOTES: Future water savings include passive conservation (defined as water savings that occur without incentives).
Active conservation (defined as water savings that occur with incentives) is not included in the projections.
The demand projection methodology accounted for the entire population of the service area (i.e. all income levels).
Table 4.5 Optional Submittal Table 4-4 Retail: Passive Water Savings Projections OPTIONAL Submittal Table 4-4 Retail: Passive Water Savings Projections Water Code Section 10631(d)(4)(A)
Description
(Codes, Standards, Ordinances, or Plans)
Passive savings
2030
(AF)
2035
(AF)
2040
(AF)
2045
(AF)
2050 (opt)
(AF)
Passive Water Savings 101 103 103 103 102
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES: Passive conservation here is defined as water savings that occur without incentives. Based on the 2025 Orange County Water Demand Projection Model, passive conservation is assumed to equal a 1.9% decrease in residential demand due to conservation by 2030 (linearly extrapolated), then remains constant in subsequent years.
4.2.2.1 Direct Municipal & Industrial Use
Potable Municipal & Industrial Use
As shown in Table 4.3, the total potable water demands are projected to increase to 8,539 AF by the year 2050, an increase of about 1.2 percent between 2030 and 2050. It is projected that combined single- and multi-family residential water use will account for 62.7 percent of total potable water demand, combined CII water use is expected to account for 23.2 percent, and landscape irrigation water use will account for
7.9 percent of total potable water use in the City by 2050. Distribution system water loss and other uses are expected to account for 6.2 percent of total potable water use by 2050.
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Non-Potable Municipal & Industrial Use
As shown in Table 4-3, the total non-potable, or outdoor irrigation, water demands are projected to remain constant at 1,500 AF between 2030 and 2050. It is projected that outdoor irrigation water use will continue to account for 100 percent of total non-potable water use in the City by 2050.
4.3 Water Demand Projection Methodology
In 2025, MWDOC and OCWD, in collaboration with MWDOC's member agencies and the Cities of Anaheim, Fullerton, and Santa Ana, led the effort to develop the 2025 Orange County Water Demand Projection Model, (MWDOC, 2025). This effort developed a demand model by regressing historical water consumption data provided by each Orange County water agency against several explanatory variables known to influence water demand (including weather, water price, regional economic conditions, and housing density). The water demand projections were for the Orange County region as a whole and provided retail agency specific demands, spanning the years of 2025-2050. The full TM can be found in Appendix H.
The demand projections created four econometric, or regression, demand models representing the following four water billing sectors for each Orange County retail agency:
Single-family Residential
Multifamily Residential
Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII)
Dedicated Irrigation (potable, recycled & raw water)
Prior to developing the forecasts, model calibration and fine tuning for each of the four demand sectors occurred at the individual retail agency level. The demand across all four models, plus other uses for each agency, is summed to a total forecast for each agency, the MWDOC service area, the OCWD service area, and total Orange County.
The demand projection methodology accounted for the entire population of each individual retail agency's service area (i.e., all income levels), thus accounting for the water demand projections for lower income households within the City's service area.
4.3.1 Econometric Approach, Data Acquisition, and Model Development A regression, or econometric, approach to demand forecasting statistically links retail level water use to weather, economic, and socioeconomic factors (explanatory variables). The model relies on a comprehensive dataset of historical water-use data for almost 40 different billing sectors collected from Orange County retail agencies. MWDOC obtained explanatory variables from reputable sources, including weather databases and Census-based reports. The explanatory variables used in the regression were based on industry experience regarding what factors affect water use nationwide, as well as in Southern California.
By statistically linking water use to explanatory variables, the econometric models provide a robust foundation for understanding variability and projecting future consumption patterns. Modeled water use is the product of the driver count (e.g., number of accounts), and the rate of water use per driver: = ×
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Each of the four demand sectors modeled (single family, multifamily, CII, and irrigation) has a separate equation. Driver units change into the future based on housing, employment, and population projections.
The rate of water use per driver is based on the historical response of the use rate to explanatory variables (measured by coefficients) and the future values of those same explanatory variables.
Linear regression produces the coefficients for each explanatory variable to closely reproduce the historical rate of use per driver unit. The coefficients explain how (both in terms of magnitude and sign) water use responds to changes to explanatory variables.
MWDOC identified driver units based on data provided by agencies and the Center for Demographic Research at Cal State Fullerton (CDR) that can be easily projected into the future. The rate of water use per driver is based on agency provided billing sector uses from 2010 through 2024. Table 4.6 shows the driver units and rate of use for each of the four models.
Table 4.6 Summary of Demand Sectors
Sector Driver Units Rate of Use Definition
Single-Family Residential Accounts gallons/account/day
Multi-Family Residential Accounts gallons/account/day
Commercial, Institutional, Industrial Jobs gallons/job/day Dedicated Irrigation (potable, recycled & raw water) Accounts gallons/account/day The rates of water use for each sector model are based on the historical responses to explanatory variables, and the future values of those explanatory variables. Addressing multiple influences on demand improves the accuracy and precision of all estimated parameters, and the modeling team identified a large range of explanatory variables based on past experience with demand modeling and available data.
Table 4.7 displays the explanatory variables.
Table 4.7 Summary of Historical Data Collected for Model Development Dataset Data Source(s)
Observed weather (monthly precipitation,
monthly maximum temperature)
Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) Water Price Retail agency provided (2010 – 2024)
Drought Restrictions State Water Resources Control Board Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Real Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Orange County, CA
Median Income US Census American Community Survey (ACS) Housing Density US Census American Community Survey (ACS), California State University Fullerton Center for Demographics Research (CDR), Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) land use data
Persons Per Household
Relative Sectoral Economic Activity US Census LODES, CDR Passive Efficiency Estimates Analysis of trend indicators and MWDOC/FLUME insight COVID Binary Indicator Assumed active from March 2020 – May 2023 The MWDOC Water Use Efficiency Group provided annual water savings achieved by various active conservation measures. To avoid potential errors in the classification of historical conservation data, total historical conservation was modeled in each sectoral regression model using a linear trend to capture steady change over time. While historical conservation is captured in a linear trend, projected passive
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conservation is based on best available data from the 2021 Orange County Residential Water Efficiency Potential and Opportunities Study and assumes a 1.9 percent decrease in annual residential demand from 2025 to 2030, at which point passive conservation is projected to remain constant. Future active conservation is not accounted for in baseline demand forecast, as water savings from active programs (programs that require customers to change behavior) are highly specific to retail agencies and to the formulation and timing of their implementation.
The process of identifying the explanatory variables to include in the regression equation and developing coefficients that accurately measure the response of water use to changes in these variables is the most time-intensive part of the demand forecasting process.
Prior to developing the forecasts, model calibration and fine tuning for each of the four demand sectors occurred at the individual retail agency level. The modeling team worked with each retail agency to calibrate sectoral model equations and quantify other uses (those not included in the single-family, multifamily, irrigation, or CII demand sectors).
Figure 4.3 presents the iterative process undergone to develop the econometric demand forecasts.
Figure 4.3 Econometric Demand Forecast Development Process
4.3.2 Forecasted Demands
Forecasted demand is a function of both the change in driver units into the future as well as the change in explanatory variables. Table 4.8 summarizes the future drivers and variables and assumptions for the baseline forecast. It should be noted that the CDR demographic forecast accounts for both the RHNA allocations and projected increase in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). The 2022 Orange County Projections accounted for Draft RHNA rezone sites1 with jurisdictions including the number of dwelling
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units that are most likely to occur/get built by the end of 2050 under assumptions and trends existing at the time of the forecasting effort.
Table 4.8 Future Model Parameters
Data Category Variable Source Assumptions
Driver Units Single-Family and
Multi-Family accounts
CDR Historical households per account; averages are
multiplied by households projected by CDR
Irrigation accounts Agency Billing Data Accounts are assumed to be constant into the future Sectoral Employment CDR Proportion of jobs within CII sectors projected by CDR
Explanatory
Variables
Monthly Maximum
Temperature and Total
Precipitation
PRISM 30-year historical normal weather
Water Price Retail Agencies Prices increase by 3% per year above inflation for 2025-2030 and keeps pace with inflation thereafter
(zero difference from inflation trend)
Water Use Restrictions State and Local
Restrictions
None
Seasonality Sine/cosine functions to capture monthly pattern Median Income US Census Constant income at 2022 value (real dollars) Housing Density CDR Derived from CDR housing unit projections, assuming residential area remains at 2024 levels
Persons Per Household CDR CDR projected demographics
Gross Domestic Product Federal Reserve Long-term GDP trend Relative Sectoral
Employment
CDR Calculated based on CDR projections
Passive Efficiency
Estimates
Flume Insight Assumes a 2% decrease in residential demand due to conservation by 2030 (linearly extrapolated), then
no change
COVID Binary Indicator None (occurred between March 2020 and May 2023) The normal year scenario was provided by the baseline forecast. In this model, the single dry year scenario used a hot-dry index (HDI) to identify the year with the most weather-sensitive demand, with 2014 selected for most agencies. The multiple dry year was developed to describe the potential impact of consecutive dry years.
The forecasts for individual agencies, including the City's, was then summed to the regional level, providing regionally consistent forecasts for all of Orange County.
4.4 Water Loss
The City has conducted annual water loss audits since 2015 per the AWWA (American Water Works Association) methodology per SB 555 to understand the relationship between water loss, operating costs and revenue losses. Non-revenue water for Calendar Years (CY) 2020-2024 consists of three components:
real losses (e.g., leakage in mains and service lines, and storage tank overflows), apparent losses (unauthorized consumption, customer metering inaccuracies and systematic data handling errors), and
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unbilled water (e.g. hydrant flushing, firefighting, street sweeping, and sewer/storm drain maintenance).
Table 4.9 summarizes the status of the last five years of water loss audit reporting for the water system.
Reports can be found online at WUEdata - Water Audit Plans. Understanding and controlling water loss from a distribution system is an effective way for the City to achieve regulatory standards and manage their existing resources.
Table 4.9 Submittal Table 4-5 Retail: Water Loss Audit Reporting Submittal Table 4-5 Retail: Water Loss Audit Reporting
Water Code Section 10631(d)(3)(A)
Public Water System ID # Reported
in Table 2-1 R Reporting Period Submitted to DWR Water Loss Audit Program (yes/no) Report submittal status for all five years for each Public Water System as available.
Add rows as needed
CA3010069
2020 Yes
2021 Yes
2022 Yes
2023 Yes
2024 Yes
DWR NOTES: Suppliers will provide a link to the WUE data submittals of their Water Loss Audit Reports.
NOTES: Water Loss Audits reported in Calendar Years (CY).
Signed in 2018 and adopted in 2024, the "Making Conservation a California Way of Life" legislation (SB 606 and Assembly Bill (AB) 1668) establishes a new framework for long-term improvements in urban water use efficiency and drought planning as California adapts to climate change impacts. Under the regulation, Suppliers must annually calculate Urban Water Use Objectives based on standards applied at the service-area scale, including the Water Loss Performance Standard developed by the State Water Resources Control Board to minimize water waste through system leaks. The Water Loss Performance Standard requires that Suppliers must meet the real water loss standard and apparent water loss standard by 2028.
Table 4.10 presents the City's progress towards compliance with the 2028 Water Loss Standard, as of the time of writing this UWMP. The most recent American Water Works Association (AWWA) Water Loss Audit for CY 2024 was utilized for the calculations presented.
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Table 4.10 Submittal Table 4-6 Retail: Progress Towards 2028 Water Loss Standard Submittal Table 4-6 Retail: 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?
(y/n)
If no,
Supplier will
not complete
this row.
Real Water Loss Apparent Water Loss
State Water Board
Standard
Most Recent AWWA
Water Loss Audit
Real Water
Loss Per
Unit per
Day
State Water Board
Standard
Most Recent AWWA
Water Loss Audit
Apparent
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
(Connections
or Miles
corresponding
with units
selected)
Volume of
Total Real
Loss (from
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)
(AF) (AF)
Add additional rows as needed.
CA3010069 Yes 24.1
Gallons
per Service
Connection
per Day
(GPSCD)
17,391 405.28 20.8 4.4
Gallons per
Service
Connection
per Day
(GPSCD)
17,391 39.28 2.0
Water Board's Calculated Water Loss Standards
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) for Water Loss MUST remain consistent with units reported in Submittal Table 2-3. The units reported in Submittal Table 2-3 are used in this table's calculations.
NOTES: Uses the Water Board's calculated water loss standards updated as of 01/30/2026 and AWWA Water Loss Audit for CY 2024. Connection count may differ from what is reported in Table 2-1 R for FY 2025.
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CHAPTER 5 CONSERVATION TARGET COMPLIANCE
The Water Conservation Act of 2009 (Act), also known as Senate Bill (SB) X7-7, mandated a 20 percent reduction in urban per-capita water use across California by 2020. To achieve this goal, the Act required each retail water supplier to establish an urban water-use target, contributing to the State’s collective efforts. The Legislature stated that the combined reductions from all retail suppliers would fulfill the statewide legislative mandate.
The goal of this chapter is to allow the retail water supplier to report on their progress toward meeting their urban water-use targets in their Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP), pursuant to Water Code Section 10608.40. Suppliers that did not meet their 2020 target in 2020 are required to compare their 2025 water use to the 2020 target.
Retail water suppliers are required to comply with SB X7-7 individually or as a region in collaboration with other retail water suppliers or demonstrate they have a plan or have secured funding to be in compliance, in order to be eligible for water related state grants and loans.
When determining water use in an UWMP, two terms are often used interchangeably:
Daily Per-Capita Water Use. The amount of water used per person per day. In the UWMP calculations, this is total water use within a service area, divided by population, and it is measured in gallons.
Gallons Per-Capita Per Day (gpcd). This is the “daily per-capita water use” measured in gallons.
Therefore, the term commonly used when referring to “daily per-capita water use” is “gallons per-capita per day” or gpcd1. 5.1 Reporting Requirements Municipal Water District of Orange County’s (MWDOC’s) Water Use Efficiency (WUE) programs helped Orange County meet the state’s 20x2020 mandate by coordinating conservation efforts across its member agencies, funding and implementing regionally cost-effective efficiency programs, and enabling compliance through the Orange County 20x2020 Regional Alliance. By aligning its WUE portfolio directly with SB X7-7 requirements, supporting high-impact measures (especially outdoor water savings), documenting eligible indirect potable reuse credits, and centrally handling regional target calculations and reporting, MWDOC allowed participating retailers to comply collectively rather than individually resulting in regional per-capita water use well below the required 2020 target. 1 It is important to distinguish gpcd (as used in Urban Water Management Plans [UWMPs]) from the Residential Gallons Per Capita Per Day (R-gpcd) that is used in some reporting to the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). gpcd is the total water use from all sectors within a service area (residential, commercial, institutional, and any others) minus allowable exclusions (as defined in SB X7-7), then divided by the population. This is used in UWMPs. R-gpcd is only a part of the gpcd; it is the estimated residential water use in a service area divided by population.
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As a result of MWDOC’s WUE program, all Orange County water retailers, including all MWDOC’s member agencies and the participating cities of Anaheim, Fullerton, and Santa Ana, achieved compliance prior to 2020. The following table with information taken from the 2020 UWMP verifies that City of Fountain Valley met their SB X7-7 requirement. A discussion of programs implemented to support the achievement of the agency’s per capita water reduction goals is covered in Section 9 – Demand Management Measures of this UWMP.
Table 5.1 Submittal Table 5-1 Retail: SB X7-7 2020 Target Progress Actual 2025 GPCD
(From SB X7-7
Compliance Form)
Did Supplier meet
the 2020 Target in
2025?
No Individual Target 142 91 Yes NA
Submittal Table 5-1 Retail: SB X7-7 2020 Target Progress Water Code Section 10608.40
NOTES: Supplier met the 2020 target, actual 2025 GPCD not required.
Did Supplier
Achieve Targeted
Reduction for
2020?
2020 Target Actual 2020 GPCD
Regional Alliance
Target or
Individual
Target?
Drop down list
DWR NOTES:
Suppliers calculating a 2025 GPCD will need to complete and submit SB X 7-7 Compliance Tables to verify the use of SB X7-7 Methodologies.
Suppliers that were part of a merger or consolidation since 2020 see Chapter 5 and Appendix P for guidance.
NA=Not Applicable
Check the box if the Supplier was not an Urban Water Supplier during or before the 2020 UWMP reporting cycle.
Proceed to the next table.
Only for suppliers that did not meet the
Target in 2020
See DWR NOTES below. Was Supplier part of
a merger or
consolidation since
2020?
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CHAPTER 6 WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION
Orange County has a water supply portfolio made up from a variety of local and imported sources.
Groundwater is produced from the Orange County Basin, which is managed by the Orange County Water District (OCWD). To enhance the reliability of groundwater, OCWD has implemented projects and programs over the years that include: (1) the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), which is the world’s largest water purification system for indirect potable reuse; (2) increased stormwater capture for groundwater recharge; and (3) participation in the Santa Ana River Conservation and Conjunctive Use Program (SARCCUP), a collaborative, watershed-scale approach for groundwater basin management, replenishment, and water transfers.
Imported water is provided by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET), the wholesale water provider to 26 member agencies in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura Counties. MET’s imported water sources are delivered through its own Colorado River Aqueduct (CRA) and the California Aqueduct, under contract with the State Water Project (SWP). To enhance its reliability of its imported water, MET has implemented many programs such as canal lining and transfers of agricultural water, land fallowing programs with irrigation districts, water banking programs, and use of its storage reservoirs.
Local and imported water sources in Orange County are managed in such a way that they complement each other. For example, during wet and normal years additional MET water is purchased for groundwater replenishment in the Orange County Basin. During dry and drought years, when imported water is more limited, more groundwater can be produced to meet Orange County water demands. This coordinated management of water supplies has resulted in reliable water service even during multi-year droughts.
Based on the water supply assessment described in this chapter and in Chapter 7, the Orange County region will continue to receive a reliable water supply through the next 25 years.
Specifically, this chapter includes: (1) descriptions of each water supply source and their management; (2) quantification of water supply sources through 2050 under normal, dry, and multi-dry weather conditions; (3) opportunities for exchanges and transfers; and (4) discussion regarding any planned or potential future water supply projects. This chapter also includes the energy intensity of the water service.
6.1 Water Supply Overview
The City of Fountain Valley (City) meets all of its demands with a combination of imported water and local groundwater to meet its water needs. The City works together with the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) and OCWD to deliver a safe and reliable water supply that will continue to serve the community in periods of average, dry and drought hydrologic conditions. MWDOC is the Orange County wholesaler of imported water and one of MET’s 26 member agencies. MET’s imported water is delivered from the SWP and MET’s CRA to Southern California. The City purchases imported water through MWDOC to supplement its local supplies as needed.
Local sources presently account for almost 100 percent of the City’s water supplies, whereby groundwater is the major source of local supply. The primary source of groundwater originates from the Orange County Basin (OC Basin), which is located in the middle portion of MWDOC’s service area and is managed
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by OCWD. The Orange County GWRS is a joint project between OCWD and the Orange County Sanitation District (OC San). Using advanced treatment, recycled wastewater is transformed into a high-quality water supply for groundwater replenishment.
The City’s main source of water supply is groundwater from the OC Basin. Recycled water makes up the rest of the City’s water supply portfolio. In FY 2024-25, the City relied on approximately 86 percent groundwater and 14 percent recycled water; imported water accounted for less than one percent of total supply (Table 6.1).
In 2025, MWDOC developed a water demand forecast model for its participating water agencies that statistically correlates municipal and industrial (M&I) water use with demographic, socioeconomic, conservation and weather variables—as reported in the 2025 Orange County Water Demand Projection Model TM (MWDOC, 2025). Because the model isolates weather, future water demand projects can be estimated under single and multiple-year droughts and under future climate change scenarios.
It is projected that by 2050, the City’s water portfolio will change to approximately 72 percent groundwater, 13 percentimported water, and 15 percent imported recycled water (Table 6.2 and Figure
6.1). It should be noted that these representations of supply match the projected demand. However, the City can purchase more MET imported water through MWDOC, should the need arise. Note that GWRS supplies are included as part of groundwater pumping numbers.
The following subsections provide a detailed discussion of the City’s water sources as well as the future water supply portfolio for the next 25 years.
Table 6.1 Submittal Table 6-8 Retail: Water Supplies – 2025 Actual Submittal Table 6-8 Retail: Water Supplies — 2025 Actual Water Code Section 10631(b)
Water Supply Additional Description
2025
Potable or Non-Potable
(after treatment if treated)
Actual Volume
(AF)
Groundwater (not
desalinated) Orange County Groundwater Basin Potable 8,559 Recycled Water OCWD Non-Potable 1,376
Purchased or Imported
Water MWDOC Potable 3
Subtotal Potable 8,562
Subtotal Non-Potable 1,376
Total 9,938
NOTES: Source - City of Fountain Valley, 2025
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Figure 6.1 City’s Projected Water Supply
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
7,169 7,266 7,304 7,279 7,258
1,265 1,282 1,289 1,285 1,281
1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500
Groundwater Imported Water Recycled Water
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Table 6.2 Submittal Table 6-9 Retail: Water Supplies – Projected Submittal Table 6-9 Retail: Water Supplies — Projected
Water Code Section 10631 (b)
Water Supply Additional Detail
on Water Supply
Water
Type
(after
treatment
if treated)
Projected Water Supply (Report to the Extent Practicable) 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Reasonably Available
Volume
Reasonably
Available Volume
Reasonably
Available
Volume
Reasonably
Available
Volume
Reasonably
Available
Volume
(AF) (AF) (AF) (AF) (AF)
Purchased or Imported Water MWDOC Potable 1,265 1,282 1,289 1,285 1,281 Groundwater (not desalinated) OC Basin Potable 7,169 7,266 7,304 7,279 7,258 Recycled Water OCWD NonPotable 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 Subtotal Potable 8,434 8,548 8,593 8,564 8,539
Subtotal Non-Potable 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500
Total 9,934 10,048 10,093 10,064 10,039
NOTES: Source – MWDOC, 2025. Groundwater volumes assume OCWD’s basin production percentage (BPP) to be 85 percent starting in 2025. Volumes of groundwater and imported water may vary depending on OCWD's actual BPP projections, which are established annually. This table only considers direct use of recycled water - this does not include indirect potable recharge.
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6.2 Imported Water
The City supplements its water supply with imported water purchased from MET through MWDOC. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25, the City was billed for approximately 3 acre-feet (AF) – less than 1 percent of the City’s water supply portfolio for FY 2024-25 – of imported water from MET / MWDOC. The City did not use this water to meet its demands. The usage was the result of a MET arterial line break.
MET’s two principal sources of water are the Colorado River and the SWP. MET receives water from the Colorado River through the CRA and from the SWP through the California Aqueduct. For Orange County, the water obtained from these sources is treated at the Robert B. Diemer Filtration Plant located in the City of Yorba Linda. Typically, the Diemer Filtration Plant receives a blend of Colorado River water from Lake Mathews through the MET Lower Feeder and SWP water through the Yorba Linda Feeder. The OC-32A connection is the City’s only connection to the MET system. This connection has a capacity of 10 cubic feet per second (cfs).
6.2.1 Metropolitan Water District of Southern California MET is the largest water wholesaler in California, serving approximately 19 million customers in a 5,200 square mile service area. MET wholesales imported water supplies to 26 member agencies located in the six southern California counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura.
MET is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of 38 appointed individuals with a minimum of one representative from each of MET’s 26 member agencies. The allocation of directors and voting rights is determined by each agency’s assessed valuation. Each member of the Board is entitled to cast one vote for each ten million dollars of assessed valuation of property taxable for district purposes, in accordance with Section 55 of the Metropolitan Water District Act. Directors may be appointed by the chief executive officer of the member agency or by a majority vote of the agency's governing board. Directors are not compensated by MET for their service (The Metropolitan Water District Act, 1969).
MET is responsible for importing water into the region through its operation of the CRA, which brings Colorado River supply to its service area, and its SWP contract, which brings water from northern California via the California Aqueduct. MET supplements its direct deliveries of imported supplies with its storage reservoirs, water transfers, agricultural irrigation water conservation, and water banking programs.
Major imported water aqueducts bringing water to Southern California are shown in Figure 6.2. It should be noted that the Los Angeles Aqueduct is owned and operated by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and is not part of MET’s imported water supplies. Member agencies receive water from MET through various delivery points and pay for service through a rate structure comprising volumetric rates, capacity charges, and readiness-to-serve charges. Member agencies provide MET with estimates of imported water demand in April each year, indicating the amount of water they anticipate they will need to meet their demands over the next five years.
In Orange County, MWDOC and the cities of Anaheim, Fullerton, and Santa Ana are MET member agencies that purchase imported water directly from MET. MWDOC purchases both treated potable and untreated water from MET to supplement its retail agencies’ local water supplies and for groundwater replenishment. Figure 6.3 illustrates the MET feeders and major transmission pipelines that deliver water within Orange County.
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Figure 6.2 Major Aqueducts that Supply Imported Water to Southern California (MET, 2025)
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Figure 6.3 MET Feeders and Transmission Mains that Serve Orange County
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6.2.2 Colorado River Aqueduct
6.2.2.1 Background
The Colorado River was MET’s original source of water after MET’s establishment in 1928. The original founding members created MET with the goal to build the CRA to bring water to Southern California. The CRA, which is owned and operated by MET, transports water from the Colorado River to its terminus Lake Mathews, in Riverside County. The actual amount of water per year that may be conveyed through the CRA to MET’s member agencies is subject to the availability of Colorado River water. Approximately 40 million people rely on the Colorado River and its tributaries for potable water with 5.5 million acres of land using Colorado River water for irrigation. The CRA includes supplies from the implementation of the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA) and its related agreements to transfer water from agricultural agencies to urban uses. The 2003 QSA enabled California to implement major Colorado River water conservation and transfer programs to stabilize water supplies and reduce the state’s demand on the river to its 4.4 million acre-feet (MAF) entitlement. Colorado River transactions are potentially available to supply additional water up to the CRA capacity of 1.25 MAF on an as-needed basis. Water from the Colorado River or its tributaries is available to users in California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and Mexico. California is apportioned the use of 4.4 MAF of water from the Colorado River each year plus one-half of any surplus that may be available for use collectively in Arizona, California, and Nevada. In addition, California has historically been allowed to use Colorado River water apportioned to, but not used by, Arizona or Nevada. MET has fourth-priority rights, with a basic entitlement of 550,000 AFY of Colorado River water, plus surplus water up to an additional 662,000 AFY when the following conditions exist (MET, 2025):
Water is unused by the California holders of priorities 1 through 3.
Water is saved by the Palo Verde land management, crop rotation, and water supply program.
When the U.S. Secretary of the Interior makes available either one or both of the following: » Surplus water. » Colorado River water that is apportioned to but unused by Arizona and/or Nevada.
6.2.2.2 Current Conditions and Supply
The Colorado River supply faces current and future imbalances between water supply and demand in the Colorado River Basin due to reductions in snowpack, long-term drought conditions, and climate change.
The last 25-year period has been called a megadrought, with Lake Mead’s elevation dropping from a high of 1,215 feet in 2000 to its lowest level of 1,040 feet in July 2022. While extreme wet conditions resulted in lake levels exceeding 1,077 feet in February 2024, levels have been persistently hovering around 1,057 feet since May of 2025. The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) projects that there is a 53 percent likelihood that Lake Mead elevation could fall below 1,035 feet, which would trigger water shortages for MET under the current operating guidelines. As of August 2025, Lake Mead storage was approximately 31 percent of capacity per USBR’s 24-Month Study, which also projected continued Lower Basin shortage conditions in 2026 (MET, 2025).
The current operating guidelines for the Colorado River expire at the end of 2026, and a new, long-term operating plan must be in place by November 2026 to manage the river’s water supply. The ongoing Colorado River allocation negotiations are focused on creating a post-2026 operating plan, with states
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and the federal government aiming for consensus on how to manage the river’s declining water supply due to the severe, prolonged drought in the Colorado River Basin. The drought on the Colorado River began around 2000 and has continued, in various degrees of severity, for over two decades, making it a historic megadrought that has significantly reduced water flow into the river and lowered water levels in reservoirs like Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Although some periods, like the wet winter of 2023, brought temporary relief with increased snowfall, they were not enough to fully replenish the system or overcome the prolonged lack of water and effects of climate change, such as aridification and increased evaporation according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS, 2024). Under the 2007 Interim Guidelines, together with the Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan (2019), the Intentionally Created Surplus (ICS) program has allowed MET to store conserved water in Lake Mead for subsequent recovery; these frameworks sunset with the Guidelines at the end of 2026 and are expected to be addressed in the post-2026 rules (MET, 2025).
The USBR, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, is the federal agency leading the negotiations and responsible for managing the river system. The ongoing Colorado River negotiations aim to find a fair and sustainable way to allocate the available water, which is significantly less than in the past. Talks are centering on a “natural flow” proposal that divides water based on current river conditions, rather than historical allocations. However, states remain at odds over how much water to allocate to the Upper and Lower Basins, with the federal government planning to impose its own plan if an agreement is not reached by the November 2026 deadline. Some key challenges that remain to be resolved are the different interests of the Upper Basin states (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico) and the Lower Basin states (California, Arizona, Nevada) to reach consensus on how much water the Upper Basin should send downstream. In addition, Tribal nations are also seeking recognition of their rights and a role in the future management of the river. Given MET’s junior priority status within California’s Colorado River priority system, reductions to MET’s supplies are a possibility under future operating criteria; MET’s planning reflects this risk (MET, 2025).
Consistent with MET’s 2025 UWMP, supply capability planning uses USBR’s August 2023 Colorado River Simulation System (CRSS) assumptions, including a climate-adjusted flow reduction factor of approximately 9.3 percent per 1 degree Celsius (°C) of warming over the planning horizon (2025–2050).
MET continues to utilize supply, storage, transfer, and conservation programs, including ICS participation under the current Guidelines, to manage risk and buffer shortages. In addition, conserved QSA-related transfer water delivered at Lake Havasu (including Imperial Irrigation District and canal-lining exchanges) is categorized in MET’s 2025 UWMP as Colorado River imported supply (previously treated as local supply), aligning accounting with current practice (MET, 2025).
6.2.2.3 MET Colorado River Current Programs
Over the years, MET has helped fund and implement various programs to improve Colorado River supply reliability and help resolve the imbalance between supply and demand. Implementation of such programs has contributed to achievements such as a record-low diversion of the Colorado River in 2019, a level not seen since the 1950s. Colorado River water management programs include:
Lower Colorado Water Supply Projects – Authorized in 1980s, this project provides up to 10,000 AFY of water to certain entities that do not have or have insufficient rights to use Colorado River water. A contract executed in 2007 allowed MET to receive project water left unused by the
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project contractors along the River – nearly 10,000 acre-feet (AF) were received in recent years when unused supplies were available.
Imperial Irrigation District / MET Conservation Program – Under agreements executed in 1988 and 1989, this program allows MET to fund water efficiency improvements within Imperial Irrigation District’s service area in return for the right to divert the water conserved by those investments. An average of 105,000 AFY of water has been conserved since the program’s implementation.
Management of MET-Owned Land in Palo Verde – Since 2001, MET has acquired approximately 21,000 acres of irrigable farmland that are leased to growers, with incentives to grow low water-using crops and experiment with low water-consumption practices. MET continues to evaluate opportunities to formally account for verified long-term water savings associated with these lands as part of its Colorado River supply reliability strategy.
Palo Verde Land Management, Crop Rotation, and Water Supply Program – Authorized in 2004, this 35-year program allows MET to pay participating farmers to reduce their water use, and for MET to receive the saved water. Over the life of the program, an average of 84,500 AFY has been saved and made available to MET.
Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and MET Storage and Interstate Release Agreement – Entered in 2004, this agreement allows SNWA to store its unused, conserved water with MET, in exchange for MET to receive additional Colorado River water supply. MET has relied on the additional water during dry years, especially during the 2011-2016 California drought, and SNWA is not expected to call upon MET to return water until after 2026.
Lake Mead Storage Program – Executed in 2006 and subsequently integrated with Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) operations, MET may intentionally leave conserved water in Lake Mead for exclusive future use. MET has significantly expanded its use of intentionally created surplus (ICS) storage in recent years, including record storage creation (450,000 AF) in 2023 under Quagga Mussel Control Program – Developed in 2007, this program introduced surveillance activities and control measures to combat quagga mussels, an invasive species that impact the Colorado River’s water quality.
Bard Seasonal Fallowing Program – Authorized in 2019, and subsequently expanded, this program allows MET to pay participating farmers in Bard to reduce their water use between the late spring and summer months of selected year. Under expanded program authorizations through 2026 (Quechan Seasonal Fallowing Program), this program can provide up to approximately 12,000 AFY in certain years.
Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan – Signed in 2019, this agreement incentivizes storage in Lake Mead through 2026 and overall, it increases MET’s flexibility to fill the CRA as needed (MET, 2025).
Lower Basin Conservation and System Efficiency Programs – In recent years, MET has participated in new, multi-agency conservation and system efficiency programs implemented between 2023 and 2026. These programs incentivize agricultural conservation, system efficiency improvements, urban conservation, and groundwater storage in the Lower Colorado River Basin, with the goal of reducing
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system demands and increasing storage in Lake Mead during critically dry conditions. This includes programs such as the Quechan Diversion Forbearance program.
Exchange Programs – MET is involved in separate exchange programs with the USBR, which takes place at the Colorado River Intake and with San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA), which exchanges conserved Colorado River water.
The Colorado River faces long-term challenges of water demands exceeding available supply with additional uncertainties due to climate change. Climate change impacts expected in the Colorado River Basin include the following:
More frequent, more intense, and longer lasting droughts, which will result in water deficits.
Continued dryness in the Colorado River Basin, which will increase the likelihood of triggering a first-ever shortage in the Lower Basin.
Increased temperatures, which will affect the percentage of precipitation that falls as rain or snow, as well as the amount and timing of mountain snowpack (MET, 2025).
Given these uncertainties, MET plans to continue implementing and expanding Colorado River conservation, storage, exchange, and transfer programs, while also supporting increased water recycling and system efficiency improvements within the Colorado River Basin. MET continues to evaluate additional transfer and conservation opportunities to further enhance regional supply reliability through the 2025 UWMP planning horizon.
6.2.3 State Water Project
6.2.3.1 Background
The SWP consists of a series of pump stations, reservoirs, aqueducts, tunnels, and power plants operated by California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and is an integral part of the effort to ensure that business and industry, urban and suburban residents, and farmers throughout much of California have sufficient water. Water from the SWP originates at Lake Oroville, which is located on the Feather River in Northern California. Much of the SWP water supply passes through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (“Delta”). The SWP is the largest state-built, multipurpose, user-financed water project in the United States. Nearly two-thirds of residents in California receive at least part of their water from the SWP, with approximately 70 percent of SWP’s contracted water supply going to urban users and 30 percent to agricultural users. The primary purpose of the SWP is to divert and store water during wet periods in Northern and Central California and distribute it to areas of need in Northern California, the San Francisco Bay area, the San Joaquin Valley, the Central Coast, and Southern California (MET, 2025).
The Delta is key to the SWP’s ability to deliver water to its agricultural and urban contractors. All but five of the 29 SWP contractors receive water deliveries below the Delta (pumped via the Harvey O. Banks or Barker Slough pumping plants). However, the Delta faces many challenges concerning its long-term sustainability such as climate change posing a threat of increased variability in floods and droughts. Sea level rise complicates efforts in managing salinity levels and preserving water quality in the Delta to ensure a suitable water supply for urban and agricultural use. Furthermore, other challenges include continued subsidence of Delta islands, many of which are already below sea level, and the related threat of catastrophic levee failure as water pressure increases or following a major seismic event.
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In May 2019, DWR withdrew its permit for the two-tunnel WaterFix project in favor of a smaller onetunnel project alternative. In July 2022, the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the recommended Delta Conveyance Project alternative was issued, with the project potentially operational by 2045 (Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Authority, 2024), though its implementation faces strong opposition by environmental organizations and other interests in the Delta. The maximum value of the Delta Conveyance Project, when coupled with 250,000 AF of new regional storage, is estimated to be 367,000 AFY for MET, with 63,000 AFY of that amount for Orange County. The Delta Conveyance Project also reduces the probability that any shortage occurs by about 10 percent, meaning a doubling of the time between shortage conditions from once every 5 years to once every decade (MWDOC OC Water Reliability Study, 2023).
6.2.3.2 Current Conditions and Supply
Just like the Colorado River, the amount of water that can be delivered from the SWP to its 29 contractors varies annually based on hydrology and reservoir storage along the SWP. The DWR publishes the maximum entitlement of SWP water for each water contracting agency in “Table A.” DWR sets these allocations to balance the needs for human health and safety, agricultural, and municipal water, considering factors like reservoir storage, runoff forecasts, and Endangered Species Act (ESA) requirements. The primary drivers that influence allocations are hydrologic conditions (precipitation and snowmelt) along with storage levels, especially in Lake Oroville. Actual deliveries typically average less than 50 percent of Table A due to hydrologic and regulatory constraints (MET, 2025). MET’s actual annual allocations based on springtime Table A values for the past UWMP cycles are summarized in Table 6.3.
Table 6.3 MET SWP Program Capabilities
Year Average Annual Table A Spring Allocation (MAF)
2015 0.38
2020 0.38
2025 0.96
Percent Change(1) +252.6 percent
Notes:
(1) Percent change is between the years 2020 and 2025. Source: SWP Allocations 1996-2026.
SWP contractors may additionally receive Article 21 water on a short-term basis in addition to Table A water if requested. Article 21 of SWP contracts allows contractors to receive additional water deliveries only under specific conditions, generally during wet months of the year (December through March).
Because a SWP contractor must have an immediate use for Article 21 supply or a place to store it outside of the SWP, there are few contractors like MET that can access such supplies (MET, 2025).
Carryover water is SWP water allocated to an SWP contractor and approved for delivery to the contractor in a given year but not used by the end of the year. The unused water is stored in the SWP’s share of San Luis Reservoir, when space is available, for the contractor to use in the following year (MET, 2025).
Turnback pool water is Table A water that has been allocated to SWP contractors who have exceeded their demands. This water can then be purchased by another contractor depending on its availability (MET, 2025).
The following factors affect the ability to estimate existing and future water delivery reliability:
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Water availability at the source – Availability can be highly variable and depends on the amount and timing of rain and snow that fall in any given year. Generally, during a single dry year or two, surface and groundwater storage can supply most water deliveries, but multiple dry years can result in critically low water reserves. Fisheries issues can also restrict the operations of the export pumps even when water supplies are available.
Water rights with priority over the SWP – Water users with prior water rights are assigned higher priority in DWR’s modeling of the SWP’s water delivery reliability, even ahead of SWP Table A water.
Climate change – Mean temperatures are predicted to vary more significantly than previously expected. This change in climate is anticipated to bring warmer winter storms that result in less snowfall at lower elevations, reducing total snowpack. From historical data, DWR projects that by 2050, the Sierra snowpack will be reduced from its historical average by 25 to 40 percent. Increased precipitation as rain could result in a larger number of “rain-on-snow” events, causing snow to melt earlier in the year and over fewer days than historically, affecting the availability of water for pumping by the SWP during summer. Furthermore, water quality may be adversely affected due to the anticipated increase in wildfires. Rising sea levels may result in potential pumping cutbacks on the SWP and CVP. DWR’s recent planning documents and the Draft 2025 DCR describe climate-adjusted “existing conditions” baselines and future scenarios used by agencies for UWMPs.
Regulatory restrictions on SWP Delta exports – The federal Biological Opinions (BiOps) protect special-status species such as delta smelt and spring- and winter-run Chinook salmon and imposed substantial constraints on Delta water supply operations through requirements for Delta inflow and outflow and export pumping restrictions. Restrictions on SWP operations imposed by state and federal agencies contribute substantially to the challenge of accurately determining the SWP’s water delivery reliability in any given year (DWR, 2020b).
Ongoing environmental and policy planning efforts – Following the 2019 withdrawal of WaterFix, DWR certified the Delta Conveyance Project Final EIR and approved the Bethany alignment in December 2023, a key modernization initiative for the SWP. EcoRestore and related habitat efforts continue to advance.
Delta levee failure – The levees are vulnerable to failure because most original levees were simply built with soils dredged from nearby channels and were not engineered. A breach of one or more levees and island flooding could affect Delta water quality and SWP operations for several months.
When islands are flooded, DWR may need to drastically decrease or even cease SWP Delta exports to evaluate damage caused by salinity in the Delta.
It can be concluded that the federal regulatory framework affecting the Bay-Delta's ecosystem, species, and water supply are constantly evolving by adapting to new scientific information, changing climate conditions, and legal challenges. This dynamic and complex regulatory landscape, along with hydrologic and storage conditions along the SWP, continues to result in water supply uncertainties that impact all SWP contractors, including MET, MWDOC, and its member agencies (MET, 2025).
6.2.3.3 SWP Programs/Plans
In the past five years, MET has updated and implemented planning, regulatory, infrastructure, and operational programs to improve the reliability of the SWP supplies while addressing environmental,
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seismic, and climate-related risks in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta and along the California Aqueduct.
Key SWP programs and planning efforts include:
SWP BiOps and California Incidental Take Permit – Updated BiOps and a California ITP issued in 2024 provide a new operating framework intended to improve flexibility and species protection. The 2025 MET UWMP characterizes the net reliability benefit at approximately +60,000 AFY relative to prior permits, subject to hydrologic and regulatory conditions.
Healthy Rivers and Landscapes (HRL) Voluntary Agreements – MET supports the State’s proposed Healthy Rivers and Landscapes program, which establishes a voluntary framework for improving Delta ecosystem conditions through coordinated flow contributions and habitat restoration projects. The HRL approach is intended to provide regulatory stability while supporting environmental objectives consistent with SWP operations.
6.2.4 Storage, Transfers, and Conveyance Programs
Storage is a major component of MET’s dry year resource management strategy. MET’s likelihood of having adequate supply capability to meet projected demands, without implementing its Water Supply Allocation Plan (WSAP) depends on its storage resources. Following a significant drawdown during the 2020–2022 drought, MET rebuilt storage as hydrologic conditions improved. By the end of 2023, MET had approximately 3.4 MAF of regional dry-year storage. Storage increased to 3.8 MAF by the end of 2024, with levels projected to reach approximately 3.9 MAF by the end of 2025. MET also maintains approximately 750 TAF of emergency storage dedicated to catastrophic supply interruption conditions, including a major seismic failure of the Delta levees.
In its 2025 UWMP, MET evaluates storage based on median starting storage at the beginning of each five-year increment, representing a 50 percent probability that actual storage will be higher or lower. This approach differs from earlier UWMPs, which relied on average storage assumptions, and provides a more conservative and realistic representation of storage availability. All storage capability values incorporate conveyance and recovery constraints associated with SWP terminal reservoirs, the CRA, and MET’s in-region and out-of-region groundwater banking programs.
Lake Oroville continues to serve as the SWP’s largest storage facility with a capacity of approximately
3.5 MAF. Water released from Oroville moves to the Feather River and then to the Sacramento River before being pumped south at the Harvey O. Banks pumping plant into the California Aqueduct. MET’s storage portfolio includes surface reservoirs such as Diamond Valley Lake, Lake Mathews, and Lake Skinner; SWP terminal storage in San Luis Reservoir; groundwater banking programs including Semitropic, Arvin-Edison, the High Desert Water Bank, Kern Delta, and Mojave; and ICS storage in Lake Mead. These storage assets provide operational flexibility during dry years and help maintain supplies during extended droughts or emergency events.
MET endeavors to increase the reliability of water supplies through the development of flexible storage and transfer programs including groundwater storage (MET, 2025). These include:
Antelope Valley-East Kern (AVEK) Water Agency Exchange and Storage Program: Under the exchange program, for every 2 AF MET receives, MET returns 1 AF back to AVEK, and MET will also be able to store up to 30,000 AF in the AVEK’s groundwater basin, with a dry-year return capability of 10,000 AF.
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Arvin-Edison Storage Program: The storage program is estimated to deliver 75,000 AF, and the specific amount of water MET can expect to store in and subsequently receive from the program depends on hydrologic conditions and any regulatory requirements restricting MET’s ability to export water for storage. During wet years, MET has the discretion to use to program to store portions of its SWP supplies which are in excess, and during dry years, the Arvin-Edison Water Storage District returns MET’s previously stored water to MET by direct groundwater pump-in or by exchange of surface water supplies.
Diamond Valley Lake to Rialto Pipeline – Planned for completion in 2028, this project creates new conveyance that improves the ability to move non-SWP supplies (120 cubic feet per second (cfs), including CRA and banked water) into areas historically dependent on SWP deliveries, increasing drought and seismic resilience.
High Desert Water Bank Program: Developed in partnership with AVEK, this regional groundwater banking program allows MET to store up to 280,000 AF of SWP Table A or other available supplies in the Antelope Valley groundwater basin. The program provides a put-and-take capability of up to approximately 70,000 AFY, with infrastructure including monitoring and production wells, California Aqueduct turnouts, pipelines, recharge basins, and pump facilities. Phase 1 became operational in 2023, with full build-out expected by approximately 2030.
Kern-Delta Water District Storage Program: This groundwater storage program has 250,000 AF of storage capacity, and water for storage can either be directly recharged into the groundwater basin or delivered to Kern-Delta Water District farmers in lieu of pumping groundwater. During dry years, the Kern-Delta Water District returns MET’s previously stored water to MET by direct groundwater pumpin return or by exchange of surface water supplies.
Mojave Storage Program: MET entered into a groundwater banking and exchange transfer agreement with Mojave Water Agency that allows for the cumulative storage of up to 390,000 AF. The agreement allows for MET to store water in an exchange account for later return.
Richvale & Western Canal Water Transfers – These multi-year transfer options will provide supplemental dry-year supplies when available, with volumes up to approximately 54,000 AF (2025– 2027).
San Bernardino Valley MWD Surplus SWP Program – Programmatic access to surplus SWP supplies (approximately 13 TAF) will be available from SBVMWD under certain hydrologic and operational conditions.
Semitropic Storage Program: The maximum storage capacity of the program is 350,000 AF, and the minimum and maximum annual yields available to MET are 34,700 AF and 236,200 AF, respectively.
The specific amount of water MET can expect to store in and subsequently receive from the program depends on hydrologic conditions, any regulatory requirements restricting MET’s ability to export water for storage and demands placed by other program participants. During wet years, MET has the discretion to use the program to store portions of its SWP supplies which are in excess, and during dry years, the Semitropic Water Storage District returns MET’s previously stored water to MET by direct groundwater pump-in or by exchange of surface water supplies.
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Sepulveda Feeder Pump Stations (Stage 1) – This program includes pumping improvements that expand westward movement of CRA/SWP/banked supplies across service areas to address localized system constraints. Pumping capacity is expected to be 30 cfs upon completion of Stage 1 in 2027.
Yuba Accord Extension – This project is a continuation of an established dry-year transfer program from the Yuba watershed that can be accessed subject to hydrologic and regulatory conditions. As of 2025, the extension is under negotiation for approximately 250,000 AFY in supply.
6.2.5 Potential Future Water Projects
6.2.5.1 Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water
In February 2023, the MET’s Board directed its staff to integrate water resources planning, climate resilience planning, and financial planning into a Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water (CAMP4W).
Then a Joint Task Force of Board Members and Member Agency Managers was convened to facilitate the development of CAMP4W in a timely and transparent process. The main elements of CAMP4W include:
1. Identify climate and growth scenarios, building from analyses conducted for MET’s IRP.
2. Develop time-bound targets for new regional water supplies and system improvements.
3. Establish a framework for decision-making and annual reporting.
4. Form policies, initiatives, and partnerships.
5. Evaluate business models and funding strategies.
Because investments required for regional supply reliability and system resilience are significant, it is important that decisions are made through an adaptive management process to avoid the risks associated with over-investment or under-performance. Tracking signposts and progress towards time-bound targets is therefore critical for CAMP4W’s annual reporting. Currently, regional projects being explored by MET include Pure Water Southern California, new reservoir storage in Southern California of up to 155,000 AFY, regional seawater desalination, and participation in California’s Delta Conveyance Project.
These projects will be scored against the following CAMP4W criteria: (1) reliability, (2) resilience, (3) financial, (4) adaptability / flexibility, (5) equity, and (6) environmental co-benefits.
Pure Water Southern California – The potential Pure Water Southern California program, a partnership with the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, would purify wastewater treatment effluent that currently flows to the ocean to produce high quality recycled water. The purified water would be delivered to Metropolitan’s member agencies to meet their groundwater replenishment and storage requirements.
It should be noted that the 2025 MET UWMP does not include Pure Water yield in projected supplies (MET, 2025).
Sites Reservoir – This potential project includes a water storage reservoir of 1.5 MAF and would require the construction of two large dams up to 310 feet high and nine smaller saddle dams. The water stored in the reservoir, located north of Sacramento, would be diverted from the Sacramento River during high flow events and returned to the Sacramento River during dry and critical years, thereby providing additional dry-year water for environmental flows and project partners including SWP agencies south of the Delta.
The current operations model estimates the annual water yield of the Sites Reservoir Project at approximately 270,000 AFY by 2032, when the Sites Reservoir Project is scheduled to be operational (MET,
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2025). It should be noted that the 2025 MET UWMP does not include Sites Reservoir in projected supplies (MET, 2025).
Delta Conveyance Project – Following DWR’s withdrawal and subsequent termination of the California WaterFix project, the State advanced a new single-tunnel Delta Conveyance Project to address seismic risk, sea-level rise, extreme weather, and regulatory uncertainty while improving long-term SWP delivery reliability. The environmental review was completed in 2023 and DWR has approved the project. Potential yield used in planning analyses is on the order of approximately 400,000 AFY. It should be noted that the 2025 MET UWMP does not include Delta Conveyance Project yield in projected supplies pending future milestones and contracting decisions (MET, 2025).
6.2.6 Supply Reliability within MET
MET’s 2025 UWMP reports on its water reliability and identifies projected supplies to meet the long-term demand within its service area. The MET 2025 UWMP discusses the current water supply conditions and long-term plans for supply implementation and continued development of a diversified resource mix. It describes the programs being implemented, such as the CRA, SWP, Central Valley storage/transfer programs, water use efficiency programs, local resource projects, and in-region storage that will enable the region to meet its water supply needs. MET’s 2025 UWMP also presents MET’s supply capacities from 2025 through 2050 for average year, single dry year, five consecutive dry years, and more frequent and severe droughts, as specified in the UWMP Act.
Information concerning MET’s UWMP, including the background, associated challenges, and long-term development of programs for each of MET’s supply sources and capacities have been summarized and included in the following subsections. Additional information on MET can be found directly in MET’s 2025 UWMP.
6.2.6.1 MET’s Water Service Reliability Assessment Results In MET’s 2025 UWMP, MET evaluated supply reliability by projecting supply and demand under a normal year, single-dry year, and five-year consecutive dry years, based on conditions affecting the SWP (MET’s largest and most variable supply). For this supply source, the average of 100 historical years 1922-2021 most closely represents water supply conditions in a normal water year, the single driest year was 1977 and the five-year dry period was 1988-1992. The analyses also include Colorado River supplies under the same hydrological variations.
MET also incorporated the SWP and Colorado River’s reliability factors, such as water quality objectives set by the SWRCB, BiOps, and amendments to the Coordinated Operations Agreement for the SWP and Quantification Settlement Agreements for the Colorado River into their assessment.
MET has concluded that the region can provide reliable water supplies under normal, single-dry, and five-year consecutive dry conditions as presented in Table 6.4, Table 6.5, and Table 6.6, respectively.
In each of the following tables, “Current Programs” supplies include:
In-Region Supplies and Programs » Metropolitan Surface Storage (Diamond Valley Lake, Lake Mathews, Lake Skinner). » Flexible Storage in Castaic Lake and Perris Lake. » Groundwater Storage for Conjunctive Use.
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California Aqueduct (SWP), including Central Valley transfers and storage program supplies conveyed by the aqueduct.
Colorado River Aqueduct, including deliveries, programs, and exchanges with SDCWA.
These supplies are impacted - typically reduced - by the single dry year and multiple dry year scenarios.
Though demands increase in these drought conditions, MET projects reliable supply, even surplus, through 2050. MWDOC is a MET member agency, and MET’s projections take into account the imported demands from Orange County. As so, MET’s water reliability assessments are used to determine that demands within MWDOC can be met for all three hydrological conditions.
Table 6.4 MET’s Projected Supply Capability and Demands through 2050 for a Normal Year
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Table 6.5 MET’s Projected Supply Capability and Demands through 2050 for a Single Dry Year
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Table 6.6 MET’s Projected Supply Capability and Demands through 2050 for a Drought (5 Consecutive Water Years)
6.2.6.2 MET’s Drought Risk Assessment Results
For its Drought Risk Assessment (DRA), MET assessed the reliability of each individual water supply source over the five-consecutive-year drought through a modeling method using the same historical hydrologic conditions as the water service reliability assessment: 1922 to 2021. MET used the five consecutive years of 1988 to 1992 to complete its DRA, because this represents the driest five-consecutive year historical sequence for MET’s supply. The results, shown in Table 6.7, indicate that MET’s SWP and CRA supplies UWMP therefore identifies Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) actions as necessary tools to close the deficit and maintain service through the modeled drought sequence. Supply augmentation is
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anticipated to provide the additional water needed to meet projected demands without requiring demand reduction actions. Supply augmentation actions are comprised of MET's portfolio of water storage reserves and flexible supply sources that are available on an as-needed basis, such as water from its storage facilities and from transfer and exchange programs. Therefore, MET’s water supply from the SWP and CRA combined with supply augmentation strategies can reliably meet the demands of a five-year drought from FY 2025-26 through FY 2029-30 (Table 6.7).
Table 6.7 MET’s Water Use, Supply, and Drought Risk Assessment for 2026-2030
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6.3 Local Groundwater
Among all local supplies available to the City’s service area, groundwater supplies make up the majority, with the primary supply from the OC Basin. The water supply resources within the City’s service area are enhanced by the existence of groundwater basins, which provide a reliable local source and, additionally, are used as reservoirs to store water during wet years and draw from storage during dry years. Table 6.8 shows a breakdown of historical groundwater production by the City.
The City pumps groundwater through six operating wells that vary in depth from 864 feet to 1,120 feet.
The total system capacity is estimated to be approximately 34 cfs. The City pumps above the BPP and pays for the additional volume accordingly.
This section describes the groundwater basin(s) used by the City and provides a 25-year projection of the service area’s groundwater supply.
Table 6.8 Submittal Table 6-1 Retail: Groundwater Pumped in the past 5 Years within the City’s Service Area Submittal Table 6-1 Retail: Groundwater Volume Pumped
Water Code Section 10631(4) and 10631(4)(c)
Groundwater Type Location or Basin Name
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
(AF) (AF) (AF) (AF) (AF)
Alluvial Basin Orange County Groundwater Basin 9,209 8,783 7,855 8,126 8,559 Total 9,209 8,783 7,855 8,126 8,559
NOTES: Source – MWDOC, 2025
6.3.1 Orange County Groundwater Basin
This section describes the OC Basin and the management measures taken by OCWD, the basin manager and member agency of MWDOC, to optimize local supply and minimize overdraft.
The OCWD was formed in 1933 by a special legislative act of the California State Legislature to protect and manage the County's vast, natural, groundwater supply using the best available technology and defend its water rights to the OC Basin. This legislation is found in the State of California Statutes, Water – Uncodified Acts, Act 5683, as amended. The OC Basin is managed by OCWD under the Act, which functions as a statutorily-imposed physical solution. The OCWD Management Area includes approximately 89 percent of the land area of the OC Basin, and 98 percent of all groundwater production occurs within the area. Approximately 2.5 million residents live within OCWD’s boundaries and rely upon the basin for their primary water supply. OCWD manages water resource monitoring programs, land use elements related to basin management, groundwater elevation, groundwater quality, and coastal area monitoring through a number of monitoring programs. OCWD monitors the basin by collecting groundwater elevation and quality data from approximately 400 District-owned wells and manages an electronic database that stores water elevation, water quality, production, recharge, and other data on over 2,000 wells and facilities within and outside OCWD boundaries (OCWD, 2023). For detailed monitoring programs and management information, refer to the 2022 Basin 8-1 Alternative Plan (Appendix E).
Groundwater levels are managed within a safe basin operating range to protect the long-term sustainability of the OC Basin and to protect against land subsidence. OCWD, a member of agency of
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MWDOC, purchases untreated water from MET for basin recharge, as needed. In addition, OCWD regulates groundwater levels in the OC Basin by regulating the annual amount of pumping and setting the BPP for the water year. As defined in the District Act, the BPP is the ratio of water produced from groundwater supplies within the OCWD service area to all water produced within the area from both supplemental sources and groundwater within the OCWD (OCWD, 2020a). More information regarding the BPP is discussed in Section 6.3.1.3.
6.3.1.1 Basin Characteristics
The OC Basin underlies the northern half of Orange County beneath broad lowlands. The OC Basin, managed by OCWD, covers an area of approximately 350 square miles, bordered by the Coyote and Chino Hills to the north, the Santa Ana Mountains to the northeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. The OC Basin boundary extends to the Orange County-Los Angeles Line to the northwest, where groundwater flows across the county line into the Central Groundwater Basin of Los Angeles County. A map of the OC Basin is shown on Figure 6.4. The total thickness of sedimentary rocks in the OC Basin is over 20,000 feet, with only the upper 2,000 to 4,000 feet containing fresh water. The OC Basin’s estimated full storage volume is approximately 66 MAF.
There are three major aquifer systems that have been subdivided by OCWD, the Shallow Aquifer System, the Principal Aquifer System, and the Deep Aquifer System. These three aquifer systems are hydraulically connected as groundwater can flow between each other through intervening aquitards or discontinuities in the aquitards. The Shallow Aquifer system occurs from the surface to approximately 250 feet below ground surface. Most of the groundwater from this aquifer system is pumped by small water systems for industrial and agricultural use. The Principal Aquifer system occurs at depths between 200 and 1,300 feet below ground surface. Over 90 percent of groundwater production is from wells that are screened within the Principal Aquifer system. Only a minor amount of groundwater is pumped from the Deep Aquifer system, which underlies the Principal Aquifer system and is up to 2,000 feet deep in the center of the OC Basin.
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Figure 6.4 Map of the OC Basin (OCWD, 2022)
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6.3.1.2 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
In 2014, the State of California adopted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) to help manage its groundwater sustainably and limit adverse effects such as significant groundwater-level declines, land subsidence, and water quality degradation. SGMA requires all high- and medium-priority basins, as designated by DWR, to be sustainably managed. DWR designated the Coastal Plain of OC Basin as a medium-priority basin, primarily due to heavy reliance on the OC Basin’s groundwater as a source of water supply. Compliance with SGMA can be achieved in one of the following two ways (OCWD, 2023):
1. A Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) is formed and a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is adopted, or
2. Special Act Districts created by statute, such as OCWD, and other agencies may prepare and submit an Alternative to a GSP
The agencies within Basin 8-1, OCWD and La Habra, collaborated to submit the original Alternative to a GSP in 2017, titled the “Basin 8-1 Alternative” to meet SGMA compliance. Under SGMA, alternatives must undergo periodic review and updating at 5-year intervals, analogous to GSP updates. OCWD prepared its first such periodic update, the 2022 update to the Basin 8-1 Alternative, and submitted it around January 2022.
6.3.1.3 Basin Production Percentage
Background
The OC Basin is not adjudicated and as such, pumping from the OC Basin is managed through a process that uses financial incentives to encourage groundwater producers to pump a sustainable amount of water. The framework for the financial incentives is based on establishing the BPP, the percentage of each Producer’s total water supply that comes from groundwater pumped from the OC Basin. Groundwater production at or below the BPP is only assessed by the Replenishment Assessment (RA). While there is no legal limit as to how much an agency pumps from the OC Basin, there is a financial disincentive to pump above the BPP. The BPP is set uniformly for all Producers by OCWD on an annual basis. Agencies that pump above the BPP are charged the RA plus the Basin Equity Assessment (BEA). The BEA is presently calculated so that the cost of groundwater production is equivalent to the cost of importing potable water supplies. This approach serves to discourage, but not eliminate, production above the BPP, and the BEA can be increased to discourage production above the BPP if necessary.
The BPP is set based on groundwater conditions, availability of imported water supplies, and Basin management objectives. The supplies available for recharge must be estimated for a given year. The supplies of recharge water that are estimated are: 1) Santa Ana River stormflow; 2) natural incidental recharge; 3) Santa Ana River baseflow; 4) GWRS supplies; and 5) other supplies such as imported water and recycled water purchased for the Alamitos Barrier. The BPP is a major factor in determining the cost of groundwater production from the OC Basin for that year. For the 2025–26 water year, OCWD is set to maintain a BPP of 85 percent. Under normal hydrologic conditions, groundwater production could reach approximately 315,000 AFY; however, OCWD anticipates groundwater production during 2025–26 will be approximately 297,000 AFY due to PFAS related impacts that continue to limit well availability across several producers.
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BPP Adjustments for Basin Management
OCWD has established management guidelines that are used to establish future BPPs, as seen in Table 6.9. Raising or lowering the BPP allows OCWD to manage the amount of pumping from the basin.
OCWD has a policy to manage the groundwater basin within a sustainable range to avoid adverse impacts to the basin. OCWD seeks to maintain some available storage space in the basin to maximize surface water recharge when such supplies are available, especially in relatively wet years. By keeping the basin relatively full during wet years, and for as long as possible in years with near-normal recharge, the maximum amount of groundwater could be maintained in storage to support pumping in future drought conditions. During dry hydrologic years, when less water is available for recharge, the BPP could be lowered to maintain groundwater storage levels. A component of OCWD’s BPP policy is to manage the groundwater basin so that the BPP will not fluctuate more than 5 percent from year to year.
The OCWD’s GWRS came online in 2008 with a capacity of approximately 70 million gallons per day (mgd) and was expanded to 100 mgd in 2015. In 2023, it was expanded again to a final capacity of 130 mgd. The GWRS provides a resilient local water supply that recharges the Orange County groundwater basin with advanced treated wastewater. The additional yield supported OCWD’s move to raise the BPP from the long-standing ~77 percent level prior to 2023 to 85 percent beginning in February 2023. Monthly water-resources reports show agencies achieving 86 percent-88 percent pumping shares after the final expansion in late-2024 to early-2025, reflecting how GWRS production has enabled higher local reliance over the last decade, along with the relatively low water demands of approximately 400,000 AFY.
Modeling and forecasts generate estimates based on historical averages. Consequently, forecasts use average hydrologic conditions, which smooth the dynamic and unpredictable local hydrology. Variations in local hydrology are the most significant impact to supplies of water available to recharge the groundwater basin. The current BPP of 85 percent is based on modeling of average annual rainfall weather patterns and estimated groundwater recharge volumes. If OCWD were to experience a relatively dry period, the BPP could be reduced to maintain water storage levels, by as much as 5 percent.
Table 6.9 Management Actions Based on Changes in Groundwater Storage Available Storage Space(1) Basin Management Action to Consider Less than 100,000 AF Raise BPP
100,000 to 300,000 AF Maintain and / or raise BPP towards 85% goal 300,000 to 350,000 AF Seek additional supplies to refill basin and / or lower the BPP Greater than 350,000 AF Seek additional supplies to refill basin and lower the BPP Notes:
(1) Amount below full basin condition.
Basin Equity Assessment Exemptions
In some cases, OCWD encourages treating and pumping groundwater that does not meet drinking water standards to protect water quality. This is achieved by using a financial incentive called the BEA Exemption. A BEA Exemption is used to promote beneficial uses of poor-quality groundwater and reduce or prevent the spread of poor-quality groundwater into non-degraded aquifer zones. OCWD uses a partial or total exemption of the BEA to compensate a qualified participating agency or Producer for the costs of treating poor quality groundwater, which typically include capital, interest and operations and maintenance costs for treatment facilities (City of La Habra et al., 2017). Similarly, for proactive water
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quality management, OCWD exempts a portion of the BEA for their Coastal Pumping Transfer Program (CPTP). The CPTP encourages inland groundwater producers to increase pumping and coastal producers to decrease pumping to reduce the groundwater basin drawdown at the coast and protect against seawater intrusion. Inland pumpers can pump above the BPP without having to pay the full BEA for the amount pumped above the BPP (OCWD, 2015). Coastal pumpers receive BEA revenue from OCWD to assist in offsetting their additional water supply cost from taking less groundwater.
OCWD Groundwater Reliability Plan
To adapt to the substantial growth in water demands in OCWD’s management area, it is paramount to anticipate and understand future water demands and develop projects to increase future water supplies proactively to match demands. The Groundwater Reliability Plan (GRP) is a continuation of these planning efforts that estimates the OC Basin’s sustainable average annual production and extrapolates water needs of the OC Basin by combining recently completed water demand projections, and modeling of Santa Ana River flows available for recharge. This data will be used to evaluate future water supply projects and guide management of the OC Basin.
The OC Basin is unadjudicated and is therefore subject to implementation of a GSP. DWR approved an alternative to a GSP for the OC Basin. The alternative plan was submitted to DWR to meet requirements of the SGMA and demonstrate how water managers have already achieved or will achieve sustainable groundwater management. DWR received 15 alternative plans and nine were approved. The alternative report that was approved by DWR, entitled Basin 8-1 Alternative, was prepared in collaboration with the City of La Habra and Irvine Ranch Water District. OCWD has an adopted Groundwater Management Plan but elected to create a new report in a format that mirrors a GSP, which is required under SGMA.
Current water demand projections show a relatively slow increase over the 25-year planning horizon, which is generally of similar magnitude as the additional production from the GWRS since its final expansion in early 2023 to 130 mgd. This locally controlled, drought proof supply of water reduces the region’s dependance on imported water.
Historically, the Santa Ana River has served as the primary source of water to recharge the OC Basin. To determine the availability of future Santa Ana River flows, OCWD utilized surface water flow modeling of the upper watershed. Modeling was developed to predict the impacts future stormwater capture and wastewater recycling projects in the upper watershed would have on future Santa Ana River flow rates at Prado Dam. Santa Ana River base flows are expected to decrease as more water recycling projects are built in the upper watershed. OCWD continues to work closely with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to temporarily impound and slowly release up to approximately 20,000 AF of stormwater in the Prado Dam Conservation Pool. To some extent, the losses in baseflow are partially offset through the capture of additional stormwater held in the Prado Dam Conservation Pool. When available, OCWD will continue to augment groundwater recharge through the purchase of imported water through MET.
OCWD will diligently monitor and evaluate future water supply projects to sustainably manage and protect the OC Basin for future generations. Specifically, in April 2021 USACE modified the Interim Water Control Manual (IWCM) change to allow 505 feet year-round, formalizing the higher pool and associated release operations used for conservation. And in February 2025, the USACE approved a new minor deviation permitting temporary storage up to elevation 508 feet, with potential future increases evaluated to 510–512 feet, enabling capture of roughly 2 billion gallons more stormwater and corresponding managed release rates tailored to OCWD’s recharge capacity.
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OCWD Engineer’s Report
The OCWD Engineer’s Report documents groundwater conditions and evaluates water supply and Basin utilization within OCWD’s service area. The most recent report is the 2023–24 Engineer’s Report released in February 2025. As reported, the BPP for the 2023–24 water year was established at 85 percent by the the Basin increased by 56,000 AF for the 2023–24 water year, and the annual overdraft was 52,800 AF, which reflects the amount by which natural replenishment was exceeded. The increase in storage was supported by total groundwater recharge of 336,421 AF, including significant contributions from supplemental water recharged by the GWRS.
For the 2025–26 water year, OCWD is proposing to maintain a BPP of 85 percent. Under normal hydrologic conditions, groundwater production could reach approximately 315,000 AF; however, OCWD anticipates groundwater production during 2025–26 will be approximately 297,000 AF due to PFAS-related impacts that continue to limit well availability across several producers.
It is estimated that approximately 8,000 AF of additional production above the BPP will be undertaken by the City of Tustin, City of Huntington Beach, Mesa Water District, and Irvine Ranch Water District to support groundwater quality improvement projects. As in prior years, groundwater produced above the During the 2023–24 water year, MET
replenishment; however, OCWD did not purchase replenishment water due to favorable Basin storage enishment in
2025–26.
6.3.1.4 Recharge Management
Recharging water into the OC Basin through natural and artificial means is essential to support pumping from the OC Basin. Active recharge of groundwater began in 1949, in response to increasing drawdown of the OC Basin and, consequently, the threat of seawater intrusion. The OC Basin’s primary source of recharge is supplied from the Santa Ana River, which is diverted into recharge basins and its main Orange County tributary, Santiago Creek. Other sources of recharge water include natural infiltration, recycled water, and imported water. Natural recharge consists of subsurface inflow from local hills and mountains, infiltration of precipitation and irrigation water, recharge in small flood control channels, and groundwater underflow to and from Los Angeles County and the ocean.
Recycled water for OC Basin recharge is from two sources. The main source is the GWRS, which completed its final expansion in 2023 and now produces up to 130 million gallons per day (mgd) of and La Palma basins. The second source is recycled water purified at the Water Replenishment District of Southern California’s (WRD) Leo J. Vander Lans Advanced Water Treatment Facility (LVL), which provides up to 8 mgd for injection at the Alamitos Seawater Barrier (owned and operated by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works). In recent years, WRD’s upgrades and operations have increased the use of recycled water at the Alamitos Barrier and reduced reliance on imported supplies. Injection of recycled water into these barriers is an ongoing effort by OCWD (in coordination with WRD and Los
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Angeles County) to control seawater intrusion into the OC Basin; operation of the injection wells forms a hydraulic barrier to seawater intrusion.
OCWD also purchases imported water for recharge through MWDOC. Untreated imported water can be used to recharge the OC Basin through the surface recharge system at multiple locations, such as Anaheim Lake, the Santa Ana River, Irvine Lake, and San Antonio Creek, while treated imported water may be used for in lieu recharge when appropriate. For current planning context and detailed recharge management strategies, refer to OCWD’s most recent planning documents, including the 2024 OCWD Resilience Plan, in addition to prior foundational documents (Appendix D).
6.3.1.5 MET Imported Water for Groundwater Replenishment In the past, OCWD, MWDOC, and MET have coordinated water management to increase storage in the OC Basin when imported supplies are available for this purpose. MET’s groundwater replenishment program was discontinued on January 1, 2013, and currently MET via MWDOC sells replenishment water to OCWD at the full-service untreated MET rate. Figure 6.5 shows MWDOC’s imported water sales to OCWD since FY 1990-91, which averages approximately 27,888 AF per year. In three of the past five water years, OCWD did not need to purchase more imported water to replenish groundwater.
Figure 6.5 MWDOC Imported Water Sales for Groundwater Replenishment
6.3.2 Planned Future Groundwater Sources
Although not new sources, the City plans to rehabilitate three existing wells (Wells 6, 8, and 9) to ensure reliable local groundwater and continued drinking water safety. These well rehabilitation projects are further described in Section 6.9.
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On a regional scale, OCWD regularly evaluates potential projects and conducts studies to review the feasibility of new projects or sources. Groundwater basin-related projects that are planned or in progress are described below:
Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) at Prado Dam – Stormwater represents a significant source of water used by OCWD to recharge the OC Basin. Much of this recharge is made possible by the capture of Santa Ana River stormflows behind Prado Dam in the Conservation Pool. FIRO represents the next generation of operating water reservoirs using the best available technology. Advances in weather and stormwater runoff forecasting hold promise to allow USACE to safely impound more stormwater while maintaining equivalent flood risk management capability behind Prado Dam. Analyses indicate that FIRO would increase average annual recharge by approximately 4,000–6,000 AFY, and up to 23,000 AF in very wet years, consistent with earlier preliminary analyses. Federal and local partners have indicated FIRO at Prado Dam is moving from technical assessment toward implementation via Water Control Manual (WCM) updates.
6.4 Surface Water
6.4.1 Existing Surface Water Sources
There are, currently, no direct surface water uses in the City’s Service area.
6.4.2 Planned Future Surface Water Sources
As of 2025, there are no planned surface water uses in the City’s service area.
6.5 Stormwater
6.5.1 Existing Stormwater Sources
There are, currently, no direct stormwater uses in the City’s Service area.
6.5.2 Planned Future Stormwater Sources
As of 2025, there are no planned stormwater uses in the City’s service area.
6.6 Wastewater and Recycled Water
The City is directly involved in wastewater services through its ownership and operation of the wastewater collection system in its service area. However, the City does not own or operate wastewater treatment facilities. The sewer system service area encompasses about 6,144 acres and includes approximately 133 miles of sewer main. The wastewater system serves about 18,000 customers (Fountain Valley’s Sewer Master Plan, 2007).
Recycled water is wastewater that is treated through primary, secondary and tertiary processes and is acceptable for most non-potable water purposes such as irrigation, and commercial and industrial process water per Title 22 requirements. Recycled water opportunities have continued to grow in Southern California as public acceptance and the need to expand local water resources continues to be a priority.
Recycled water also provides a degree of flexibility and added reliability during drought conditions when
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imported water supplies are restricted. The City is indirectly involved in recycled water production, through its supply of wastewater for IPR. The following sections expand on the existing agency collaboration involved in these efforts as well as the City’s projected recycled water use over the next 25 years.
6.6.1 Agency Coordination
The City does not own or operate wastewater treatment facilities and sends all collected wastewater to OC San for treatment and disposal. OC San provides treated water to OCWD, the manager of the Orange County Groundwater Basin. OCWD is the manager of the Orange County Groundwater Basin and strives to maintain and increase the reliability of the Orange County Groundwater Basin through replenishment with imported water, stormwater, and advanced treated wastewater. A full description of the Orange County Groundwater Basin is available in Section 6.3.1. OCWD and OC San have jointly constructed and expanded two water recycling projects to meet this goal that include: 1) OCWD Green Acres Project (GAP); and 2) OCWD GWRS.
6.6.1.1 Orange County Sanitation District
OC San collects wastewater from residential, commercial, and industrial customers in 20 cities, four special districts, and portions of unincorporated Orange County, totaling 479 square miles that serves more than
2.6 million residents in northwest and central Orange County (OC San, 2025). These flows include dry weather urban runoff collected from 15 diversion points and discharged into the sewer system for treatment and Santa Ana River Interceptor flows from the upper Santa Ana watershed (OC San, 2017).
OC San operates and maintains two treatment plants: Reclamation Plant No. 1, located in Fountain Valley with a capacity of 320 MGD, and Reclamation Plant No. 2 located in Huntington Beach with a capacity of 312 mgd. OC San also operates 572 miles of collection system pipelines along with 15 offsite pump stations. Approximately 150 MGD of secondary effluent undergoes advanced treatment at the GWRS facility operated by the OCWD and 7 MGD undergoes tertiary treatment at OCWD's GAP facility. Treated wastewater is discharged to the Pacific Ocean via an ocean outfall in compliance with state and federal requirements as set forth in OC San's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. OC San's ocean outfall is 120-inch diameter and extends four miles off the coast of Huntington Beach. A 78-inch diameter emergency outfall also exists that extends 1.3 miles off the coast (OC San, 2017).
OC San Reclamation Plant No. 1 - Reclamation Plant No. 1 treats raw wastewater and has a maximum treatment capacity of 320 mgd. The plant provides primary and secondary treatment and supplies secondary effluent to OCWD for further tertiary treatment at their GAP facility and advanced treatment at their GWRS.
OC San Treatment Plant No. 2 - Treatment Plant No. 2 provides primary and secondary treatment to raw wastewater and has a maximum treatment capacity of 312 mgd. Following the completion of the Final Expansion of the GWRS in 2023, the secondary effluent is conveyed to OCWD for advanced treatment at their GWRS.
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6.6.1.2 Orange County Water District
OCWD is the manager of the OC Basin and provides water to 19 municipal water agencies and special districts. A full description of the OC Basin is available in Section 6.3.1. OCWD and OC San have jointly constructed and expanded two water recycling projects that include: 1) OCWD GAP; and 2) OCWD GWRS.
OCWD GAP
OCWD owns and operates the GAP, a water recycling system that treats up to 7.5 mgd and provides 8,400 AFY of recycled water for irrigation and industrial uses. GAP provides an alternate source of water that is mainly delivered to parks, golf courses, greenbelts, cemeteries, and nurseries in the cities of Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Newport Beach, and Santa Ana. Approximately 100 customer sites use GAP water, current recycled water users include Mile Square Park and Golf Courses in Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa Country Club, Chroma Systems carpet dyeing, Kaiser Permanente, and Caltrans.
OCWD GWRS
OCWD’s GWRS allows southern California to decrease its dependency on imported water and creates a local and reliable source of water. OCWD’s GWRS purifies secondary treated wastewater from OC San to levels that meet and exceed all state and federal drinking water standards. The GWRS Phase 1 plant has been operational since January 2008 and uses a three-step advanced treatment process consisting of microfiltration (MF), reverse osmosis (RO), and ultraviolet (UV) light with hydrogen peroxide. A portion of the treated water is injected into the seawater barrier to prevent seawater intrusion into the groundwater basin. The other portion of the water is pumped to ponds where the water percolates into deep aquifers and becomes part of Orange County’s water supply. The treatment process is described on OCWD’s website. (OCWD, GWRS, 2020).
The GWRS first began operating in 2008 producing 70 mgd and in 2015, it underwent a 30 mgd expansion. Approximately 39,200 AFY of the highly purified water is pumped into the injection wells and 72,900 AFY is pumped to the percolation ponds in the City of Anaheim where the water is naturally filtered through sand and gravel to deep aquifers of the groundwater basin. The OC Basin provides approximately 77 percent of the potable water supply for north and central Orange County. The design and construction of the first phase (78,500 AFY) of the GWRS project was jointly funded by OCWD and OC San; Phase 2 expansion (33,600 AFY) was funded solely by OCWD.
The Final Expansion of the GWRS is the third and final phase of the project and was completed in 2023.
The plant now produces 130 mgd and requires additional treated wastewater from OC San. This additional water comes from OC San’s Treatment Plant 2, which is in the City of Huntington Beach approximately 3.5 miles south of the GWRS. The Final Expansion project included expanding the existing GWRS treatment facilities, constructing new conveyance facilities at OC San Plant 2 and rehabilitating an existing pipeline between OC San Plant 2 and the GWRS. Following completion, the GWRS plant now recycles 100 percent of OC San’s reclaimable sources and produces enough water to meet the needs of over one million people.
6.6.2 Wastewater
The City operates and maintains the local sewer collection pipes that feed into the OC San's trunk sewer system to convey wastewater to OC San's treatment plants. The City's sewer system includes 133 miles of
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sewer lines, 2,600 manholes and one rehabilitated lift station. The wastewater collected in the City’s system is conveyed to OC San’s extensive system of gravity flow sewers, pump stations, and pressurized sewers. Ultimately, the wastewater is treated at OC San treatment plants in the City (Plant No. 1) and Huntington Beach (Plant No. 2). Plant No. 1 has a total rated primary capacity of 108 mgd and a secondary treatment capacity of 80 mgd. Plant No. 2 has a rated primary capacity of 168 mgd and secondary treatment capacity of 90 mgd. Both plants share a common ocean outfall, but Plant No. 1 currently provides all its secondary treated wastewater to OCWD’s GWRS for beneficial reuse. The 120-inch diameter ocean outfall extends 4 miles off the coast of Huntington Beach. A 78-inch diameter emergency outfall also extends 1.3 miles off the coast. Table 6.10 summarizes the wastewater collected by the City and transported to OC San's system in 2025.
Table 6.10 Submittal Table 6-2 Retail: Wastewater Collected within the City’s Service Area in 2025 Submittal Table 6-2 Retail: Wastewater Collected Within Service Area in 2025 Water Code Section 10633(a)
Wastewater Collection Recipient of Collected Wastewater Name of Wastewater
Collection Agency
Wastewater
Volume Metered
or Estimated?
Volume of Wastewater
Collected from UWMP
Service Area 2025
Name of Wastewater Treatment
Plant (WWTP) and Place ID
Number
Is WWTP
Located Within
UWMP Area?
(AF)
City of Fountain Valley Estimated 4,870 OCSD Plant 1, Place ID 758392 Yes City of Orange Estimated X OCSD Plant 2, Place ID 259158 No Total Wastewater Received from
UWMP Service Area in 2025: 4,870
NOTES: Used a return rate of 49 percent based on sewer management plan flow factor and per capita water usage.
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Table 6.11 Submittal Table 6-3 Retail: Wastewater Treatment and Outcomes within the City’s Service Area in 2025 Submittal Table 6-3 Retail: Wastewater Treatment and Outcomes Within UWMP Service Area in 2025 Water Code Section 10633(a)
Wastewater
Treatment Plant
Name and Place
ID Number
Does This
Plant Treat
Wastewater
Generated
Outside the
UWMP Service
Area?
2025 Volume
of Wastewater
Received from
UWMP Service
Area
Total 2025
Volume of
Water
Treated
2025 Outcomes of Treated Wastewater
Water Recycled Inside
of UWMP Service Area
Water Recycled Outside
of UWMP Service Area
Treatment
Level
Volume Treatment
Level
Volume
(AF) (AF) (AF) (AF)
OCSD Plant 1,
Place ID 758392 Yes 4,870 130,901 Advanced 1,376 Advanced 126,219 Reclam, OCWDGreen Acres,
Place ID 251975
Yes -- 8,400 Tertiary 330 Tertiary 6,970
Total 4,870 139,301 1,706 133,189
NOTES: Source - OC Sanitation District.
GWRS influent consists of the combined influent from OCSD Plant 1 and Plant 2. Typically, Plant 2 contributes ~23 mgd during normal operations. Ocean outfall includes effluent not used for reclamation, GWRS RO brine, and occasional effluent from IRWD during the wet season. The flow could be diverted from Plant 1 to Plant 2 on different occasions.
6.6.3 Current Recycled Water Uses
The City currently uses recycled water from OCWD’s GAP for direct non-potable reuse such as landscape irrigation. The sites served with recycled water for irrigation include San Diego Freeway (I-405) greenbelts within City limits from the Santa Ana River north to Magnolia Street, ball fields and recreation facilities, 22 acres of Green Valley park, two golf courses, landscape along the Santa Ana riverbed, Orange County Mile Square Regional Park, and the Hyundai building/landscaping. In FY 2024-25, approximately 1,376 AFY of recycled water was used in the City’s service area for landscape irrigation, about 14 percent of the City’s annual water demand. For indirect use, the City also benefits from OCWD’s GWRS system that provides IPR through replenishment of Orange County Groundwater Basin with water that meets state and federal drinking water standards.
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Table 6.12 Submittal Table 6-4 Retail: Recycled Water Direct Beneficial Uses Within Service Area Submittal Table 6-4 Retail: Recycled Water Direct Beneficial Uses Within Service Area Water Code Section 10633 (c)(e)
Use Type
Water Type
(after
treatment if
treated)
Additional
Information
2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
(AF) (AF) (AF) (AF) (AF) (AF)
Landscape
irrigation (exc
golf courses)
Non-Potable Future use - 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500
Landscape
irrigation (exc
golf courses)
Non-Potable Actual 2025
use (irrigation
+ golf course)
1,376 - - - - - Golf course
irrigation Non-Potable - - - - -
Total 1,376 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500
NOTES: Table does not include groundwater recharge (IPR) numbers as they are not separate from OCWD's supply.
6.6.4 Projected Recycled Water Uses
As of April 2019, the State of California amended its recycled water policy to expand its numeric goal of recycled water use to 2.5 million AFY by 2030 and added annual required reporting requirements for wastewater and recycled water. The City will continue to receive recycled water from GAP and supply it to the various landscape irrigation sites mentioned in Section 6.6.3. Additionally, the Euclid + Heil Development is expected to use recycled water for landscape irrigation purposes in one to two years.
The City will maintain its wastewater supply to support the region’s IPR via GWRS. Although the 2020 UWMP acknowledged IPR of wastewater, it did not quantify projections. These projections will be prepared moving forward. Current and projected recycled water use through 2050 are shown in Table
6.12. The projected 2025 recycled water use from the City's 2020 UWMP are compared to the 2025 actual use in Table 6.13.
Table 6.13 Submittal Table 6-5 Retail: 2020 UWMP Recycled Water Use Projection Compared to 2025 Actual Submittal Table 6-5 Retail: 2020 UWMP Recycled Water Use Projection Compared to 2025 Actual Water Code Section 10633 (e)
Use Type
2020 Projection for
2025 2025 Actual Use
(AF) (AF)
Landscape irrigation (exc golf courses) 900
1,376 Golf course irrigation 500
Total 1,400 1,376
NOTES: Groundwater recharge (IPR) estimated based on OCWD Groundwater Basin Production x Percent of Total Basin Production for FY 2019-20 (33.3 percent).
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6.6.5 Potential Recycled Water Uses
Potential recycled water users are locations where recycled water could replace potable water use.
Potential users include Los Amigos High School, some City-owned landscape (Edison Easement Green Belts and roadway landscape medians), Coastal Community Fellowship Church, Tiburon South HOA, and Masuda Middle School, as well as expanded usage at Mile Square Park. Additionally, the Euclid + Heil Development is expected to use recycled water for landscape irrigation purposes in one to two years.
Potential online dates for these users are unknown as end-user would be responsible for construction and connection costs associated with recycled water system. This is summarized in Table 6.14.
The supply of recycled water available from OCWD is limited to current production capacities. OCWD is focusing their efforts on GWRS and directing all available water toward GWRS. OCWD does not have any plans to expand the supply of recycled water.
New users must be evaluated and approved by the OCWD Board to be added to the system. The Board’s decision is based on recycled water supply availability and the potential demand of all new users in the service area, not just Fountain Valley. Once the demand meets the maximum capacity of the recycled water system, new users will not be approved.
Table 6.14 Submittal Table 6-6 Retail: Methods to Encourage Future Recycled Water Use within the Service Area Submittal Table 6-6 Retail: Methods to Encourage Future Recycled Water Use Water Code Section 10633 (f)
Name of Action Description Planned Implementation
Year
Expected Increase in
Recycled Water Use
(AF)
Recycled water
demand for the Euclid
+ Heil project
Recycled water will be used to irrigate
medians and right-of-ways in new
18.09-acre residential development.
2026-2027 5
Total (AF) 5
NOTES: There is limited supply as GAP water provided by OCWD will not be expanded, so it is limited to current production capacities. New customers are evaluated and must be approved by OCWD Board to be added to system if there is enough supply along with any of the other member agencies’ new potential customers until maximum capacity is reached.
6.6.6 Optimization Plan
Studies of water recycling opportunities within Southern California provide a context for promoting the development of water recycling plans. It is recognized that broad public acceptance of recycled water requires continued education and public involvement. Currently, most of the recycled water available being directed toward replenishment of the groundwater basin and improvements in groundwater quality. As a user of groundwater, the City supports the efforts of OCWD and OC San to use recycled water as a primary resource for groundwater recharge in Orange County.
6.6.6.1 Public Education
The City participates in the MWDOC public education and school education programs, which include information on water recycling. MWDOC's water use efficiency public information programs are a
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partnership with agencies throughout the county. Through a variety of public information programs, MWDOC reaches the public, including those in the City, with information regarding present and future water supplies, the demands for a suitable quantity and quality of water, including recycled water, and the importance of implementing water efficiency techniques and behaviors. Through MWDOC, water education programs have reached thousands of students in the City with grade-specific programs that include information on recycled water.
6.6.6.2 Financial Incentives
The implementation of recycled water projects involves a substantial upfront capital investment for planning studies, EIRs, engineering design and construction before recycled water is available to the market. The establishment of new supplemental funding sources through federal, state and regional programs now provides significant financial incentives for water agencies to develop and make use of recycled water locally. Potential sources of funding include federal, state and local funding opportunities.
These funding sources include the USBR, California Proposition 13 Water Bond, Proposition 84 and MET Local Resources Program (LRP). These funding opportunities may be sought by the City or possibly more appropriately by regional agencies. The City will continue to support seeking funding for regional water recycling projects and programs.
6.6.6.3 Optimization Plan
In Orange County, recycled water is used for irrigating golf courses, parks, schools, businesses, and communal landscaping, as well as for groundwater recharge. Recycled water users in the City receive their water from OCWD’s GAP.
Original GAP participants, both in the City and other areas of Orange County, were brought into the project with OCWD assuming the initial costs. No formal cost/benefit analysis was completed for these users, assuming they were part of the project’s initial investment. Since then, additional recycled water users in the City have participated with OCWD to determine the capital cost to connect to the recycled water system, but a formal cost/benefit analysis was not completed.
The City will continue to conduct feasibility studies for recycled water and seek out creative solutions such as funding, regulatory requirements, institutional arrangement, and public acceptance for recycled water use with OCWD, MET, and other cooperative agencies.
6.7 Desalination Opportunities
6.7.1 Ocean Water Desalination
There are currently no ocean desalination opportunities within the City’s service area.
6.7.2 Groundwater Desalination
There are currently no brackish groundwater opportunities within the City’s service area.
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6.8 Water Exchanges and Transfers
6.8.1 Existing Exchanges and Transfers
Interconnections with other agencies result in the ability to share water supplies during short term emergency situations or planned shutdowns of major imported water systems. Transfers of water can also be involved with longer term water exchanges to deal with droughts or long-term emergency situations.
MWDOC helps its retail agencies develop both local and regional transfer and exchange opportunities that promote reliability within their systems.
The City maintains one connection to MET's system and two emergency interconnections with surrounding agencies: the cities of Huntington Beach and Santa Ana. The MET connection is typically operating as a constant flow source. The emergency interconnection with the City of Huntington Beach is located at Bushard Street / Garfield Avenue and the City of Santa Ana emergency interconnection is located at Newhope Street / Edinger Avenue. These interconnections have the ability to transfer approximately 3,000 gallons per minute (gpm) (1,500 gpm each) into the City’s distribution system and are normally closed, but the valves can be opened in emergency situations. The Huntington Beach connection has never been operated, but the Santa Ana connection was opened to supplement the City during one period of extreme shortage.
6.8.2 Planned and Potential Exchanges and Transfers
The City is looking into a new potential emergency interconnection with the City of Newport Beach in the future.
MWDOC supports its retail agencies, such as the City, in developing both local and regional transfer and exchange opportunities that promote reliability within their systems. Examples of these future projects include:
Santa Ana River Conservation and Conjunctive Use Project – The SARCCUP is a joint project established by five regional water agencies within the Santa Ana River Watershed (Eastern Municipal Water District, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, Western Municipal Water District, Orange County Water District, and San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District). In September 2021, the participating agencies, in coordination with MET, executed a regional agreement framework establishing SARCCUP as a watershed-scale groundwater banking program to improve drought reliability across Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
In 2016, SARCCUP received $55 million in Proposition 84 funding from DWR; however, implementation has since advanced with the 2021 agreements and subsequent program updates. The overall SARCCUP program consists of three main elements: (1) Watershed-Scale Cooperative Water Banking Program; (2) Water Use Efficiency—landscape design/irrigation improvements and water budget assistance; and (3) Habitat creation and Arundo donax removal within the Santa Ana River.
The Watershed-Scale Cooperative Water Banking Program is the largest component of SARCCUP. Under MET’s arrangement with San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (Valley), when Valley declares surplus SWP water and offers it to MET, MET offers at least 50 percent of an equivalent amount to SARCCUP member agencies for storage and later use in the Santa Ana River watershed, consistent with
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MET policy. This structure formalizes the purchase and storage pathway that had been under development and aligns with MET’s extraordinary supply policy during allocations.
Program capacity planning identifies up to approximately 137,000 AF of storage across six basins, including up to 36,000 AF in the Orange County Groundwater Basin for use in dry years. Stored SARCCUP supplies may be designated “extraordinary supplies” during a MET allocation if managed consistent with MET’s Water Supply Allocation Plan, thereby enhancing participating agencies’ drought reliability.
Within Orange County, extraordinary supply assignment agreements among MET, MWDOC/OCWD, and certain retail agencies (e.g., Anaheim, Fullerton, Santa Ana) document how SARCCUP extraordinary supply is assigned and delivered locally. Program implementation and participation details continue to be refined among OCWD, retail agencies, and MWDOC.
6.9 Future Water Projects
Though not new supply, the City has identified the following future water projects:
Well Nos. 6, 8, and 9 Rehabilitation – As water wells age, the rate at which water may be pumped tends to decrease. Water wells require regular maintenance to ensure adequate water flow and continued drinking water safety.
Well No. 6: The improvements required as part of this project include replacement of the entire pump, shaft, and full casing rehabilitation. This project is estimated to be completed within FY 2025-2026. This work is an interim condition improvement, and this well requires a more comprehensive long-term list of improvements so that the City can realize longevity.
Well No. 8: This project consists of the rehabilitation of the well casing and replacement of the well pump and motor. In addition to the well pump and motor at well 8, it will include the installation of an emergency backup generator and a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) for improved energy efficiency.
This project is estimated to both start and complete within FY 2026.
Well No. 9: This project consists of the rehabilitation of the well casing, the possible re-lining of the casing, and replacement of the well pump and motor. This project started in FY 2019-20 and is estimated to be completed in FY 2026.
MET Connection Rehabilitation – The City plans to rehab one existing imported water connection. The project will be designed in the next year and in construction in the next two years.
6.10 Energy Intensity
The City owns and operates a water distribution system and a wastewater collection system. This section reports the energy intensity for each system using data from CY 2024. Water and energy resources are inextricably connected. Known as the "water-energy nexus", the California Energy Commission estimates the transport and treatment of water, treatment and disposal of wastewater, and the energy used to heat and consume water account for nearly 20 percent of the total electricity and 30 percent of non-power plant related natural gas consumed in California. In 2015, California issued new rules requiring 50 percent of its power to come from renewables, along with a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. Consistent with energy and water conservation, renewable energy production, and GHG mitigation initiatives, the City reports the energy intensity of its water and wastewater operations.
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The methodology for calculating water energy intensity outlined in Appendix O of the UWMP Guidebook was adapted from the California Institute for Energy Efficiency exploratory research study titled “Methodology for Analysis of the Energy Intensity of California’s Water Systems” (Wilkinson 2000).
The study defines water energy intensity as the total amount of energy, calculated on a whole-system basis, required for the use of a given amount of water in a specific location. UWMP reporting is limited to available energy intensity information associated with water processes occurring within an urban water supplier’s direct operational control. Operational control is defined as authority over normal business operations at the operational level. Any energy embedded in water supplies imparted by an upstream water supplier (e.g., water wholesaler) or consequently by a downstream water purveyor (e.g., retail water provider) is not included in the UWMP energy intensity tables. The City’s calculations conform to methodologies outlined in the UWMP Guidebook and Wilkinson study.
6.10.1 Water Supply Energy Intensity
In CY 2024, the City consumed 839.8 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per million gallons (MG) for water extraction and delivery (Table 6.15). The basis for calculations is provided in more detail in the following subsections.
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Table 6.15 Optional Submittal Table O-1A Recommended Energy Intensity Reporting Optional Submittal Table O-1A: Recommended Energy Reporting - SINGLE DELIVERY PRODUCT - WATER SUPPLY PROCESS APPROACH Water Delivery Product
Retail Potable
Deliveries Only for Water Delivery Products Under the Urban Water Supplier's Operational Control Start Date of Reporting
Period 1/1/2024
Water Management Process Non-Consequential
Hydropower
End Date of Reporting
Period 12/31/2024
Is upstream embedded
energy included in the
values reported?
No
Units for
Water
Volume
Extract and
Divert
Place into
Storage Conveyance Treatment Distribution Total Utility Hydropower Net Utility Volume of Water Entering Process AF 8,181 7,702 7702 7702 Energy Consumed (kWh) N/A 2,238,600 1,558,424 3,797,024 3,797,024 Energy Intensity (kWh/vol. converted to
MG) N/A 839.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 620.9 1513 0.0 1513
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:
Volume of Water Entering Process: Extraction data based on MWDOC Compiled Water Audits “Volume From Own Sources” and Distribution data based on MWDOC Compiled Water Audits “Authorized Consumption.” Non-Revenue Water is not considered in this calculation – the energy efficiency is based on water delivered to customers.
Energy Consumed: Based on metered data.
Narrative:
Fountain Valley relies on imported water, local groundwater, and recycled water to meet their customers' water needs. Operational control is limited to groundwater wells and potable water booster stations. This table does not include upstream embedded energy consumed prior to Fountain Valley taking control. Distribution is based on the authorized consumption for 2024.
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6.10.1.1 Operational Control and Reporting Period
As described throughout the report, the City is a retail agency that relies on groundwater and imported water. Water supply energy intensity was calculated for the 2024 calendar year. This is a standard for energy and GHG reporting to the Climate Registry, California Air Resources Board and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Calendar year reporting provides consistency when assessing direct and indirect energy consumption within a larger geographical context, as fiscal year starting dates can vary between utilities and organizations.
6.10.1.2 Volume of Water Entering Processes
According to the MWDOC Compiled Water Audits, the City extracted 8,181 AF of groundwater from the OC Basin and distributed 7,702 AF of both groundwater and imported water. Water volume is based on water audit data. The Extracted volume is based on the “Volume from Own Sources” data point while water deliveries are based on “Authorized Consumption.” This calculation excludes water losses so that the final energy intensity is based on the water that is actually delivered to customers.
6.10.1.3 Energy Consumption and Generation
According to Southern California Edison Electricity Bills, groundwater wells consumed 2,238,600 kWh of electricity and pump stations along the distribution system consumed 1,558,424 kWh of electricity.
Currently, the City does not generate renewable energy. Energy consumption is based on metered data.
6.10.2 Wastewater and Recycled Water Energy Intensity
In CY 2024, the City consumed 6.0 kWh per AF for wastewater services (Table 6.16). The basis for calculations is provided in more detail in the following subsections.
6.10.2.1 Operational Control and Reporting Period
The City’s existing sewer system is made up of a network of gravity sewers. As explained in Section 6.6, the City owns and operates one wastewater lift station but no treatment facilities. Similar to the water supply energy intensity, wastewater energy intensity was calculated for the 2024 calendar year. This is a standard for energy and GHG reporting.
6.10.2.2 Volume of Wastewater Entering Processes
In CY 2024, the City collected and conveyed 4,870 AF of wastewater to OC San. While the City purchased 1,184 AF of recycled water through OCWD’s GAP, recycled water is outside of the City’s operational control. The City does not treat any of the wastewater generated within the City’s boundary. Wastewater volume is based on estimated data while recycled water is based on metered data.
6.10.2.3 Energy Consumption and Generation
According to estimates referencing SCE Electricity Bills, the City’s single lift station – the Ward Lift Station - consumed 29,031 kWh of electricity in CY 2024. There are no other wastewater facilities that are owned
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and operated by the City. Currently, the City does not generate renewable energy. Energy consumption data was estimated, based on pump hours.
Table 6.16 Optional Submittal Table O-2: Recommended Energy Reporting – Wastewater and Recycled Water Optional Submittal Table O-2: Recommended Energy Reporting - WASTEWATER AND RECYCLED WATER Start Date of Reporting Period 1/1/2024 Only for Water Delivery Products Under the Urban Water End Date of Reporting Period 12/31/2024 Supplier's Operational Control Is upstream embedded energy in the
values reported? No Water Management Process
Units of Measure for Water (AF) Collection /
Conveyance Treatment Discharge / Distribution Total
Volume of Wastewater Entering Process (volume units
selected above) 4,870 4,870 9,740
Wastewater Energy Consumed (kWh) 29,031 29,031
Wastewater Energy Intensity (kWh/volume) 6.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 Volume of Recycled Water Entering Process (volume
units selected above) 1,376 1,376
Recycled Water Energy Consumed (kWh) 0
Recycled Water Energy Intensity (kWh/volume
converted to MG) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Quantity of Self-Generated Renewable Energy related to recycled water and wastewater operations 0 kWh
Data Quality
Combination of Estimates and Metered Data
Data Quality Narrative:
Volume of Water Entering Process: Estimated based on potable water consumption in the service area.
Wastewater Energy Consumed: Based on metered data.
Narrative:
Fountain Valley operates the local wastewater collection system but does not operate treatment facilities. Operational control is limited to a wastewater lift station in the local collection system. This table does not include downstream energy consumed to treat the wastewater, after Fountain Valley's control.
6.10.3 Key Findings and Next Steps
Calculating and disclosing direct operationally controlled energy intensities is another step towards understanding the water-energy nexus. However, much work is still needed to better understand upstream and downstream (indirect) water-energy impacts. When assessing water supply energy intensities or comparing intensities between providers, it is important to consider reporting boundaries as they do not convey the upstream embedded energy or impacts energy intensity has on downstream users. Engaging one’s upstream and downstream supply chain can guide more informed decisions that holistically benefit the environment and are mutually beneficial to engaged parties. Suggestions for further study include:
Supply-chain engagement – The City relies on a variety of water sources for their customers. While some studies have used life cycle assessment tools to estimate energy intensities, there is a need to
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confirm this data. The 2025 UWMP requirement for all agencies to calculate energy intensity will help the City and neighboring agencies make more informed decisions that would benefit the region as a whole regarding the energy and water nexus. A similar analysis could be performed with upstream supply chain energy, for example, with State Water Project.
Internal benchmarking and goal setting – With a focus on energy conservation and a projected increase in water demand despite energy conservation efforts, the City’s energy intensities will likely decrease with time. Conceivably, in a case where water demand decreases, energy intensities may rise as the energy required to pump or treat is not always proportional to water delivered. In the course of exploring the water-energy nexus and pursuing renewable energy goals, there is a need to assess whether energy intensity is a meaningful indicator or if it makes sense to use a different indicator to reflect the City’s commitment to energy and water conservation. Current efforts could be expanded with the addition of a wastewater energy intensity evaluation.
Regional sustainability – Water and energy efficiency are two components of a sustainable future.
Efforts to conserve water and energy, however, may impact the social, environmental, and economic livelihood of the region. In addition to the relationship between water and energy, over time, it may also be important to consider and assess the connection these resources have on other aspects of a sustainable future.
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CHAPTER 7 WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY AND DROUGHT
RISK ASSESSMENT
This chapter of the Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) describes the City of Fountain Valley’s (City’s) water service reliability assessment for three long-term hydrological conditions: a normal year, a single dry year, and a drought period lasting five consecutive years. The Drought Risk Assessment (DRA) assesses water supply reliability during a severe drought lasting the next five consecutive years, from 2026 to 2030.
Factors affecting reliability, such as water quality, regulations and climate change, are also summarized in this assessment of reliability.
7.1 Water Service Reliability Overview
As part of the UWMP, every urban water supplier is required to assess the reliability of their water service to its customers under a normal year, a single dry year, and multiple dry years. The City’s water sources are from local groundwater, recycled water, and imported water purchased from the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC). MWDOC is one of 26 member agencies of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET), which imports water from the Colorado River through its own Colorado River Aqueduct (CRA) and from Northern California through the California Aqueduct managed by the State Water Project (SWP).
MET has also invested in numerous programs and projects to augment its direct deliveries of imported water such as water transfers, groundwater banking, and use of its reservoir storage as summarized in Chapter 6.
Local groundwater in the Orange County Basin is managed by the Orange County Water District (OCWD).
As summarized in Chapter 6, OCWD has developed programs and projects to improve groundwater recharge and augment groundwater through recycled water, conjunctive use and water transfers. OCWD assesses groundwater conditions and sets its Basin Production Percentage (BPP), which determines how much water will be pumped from the basin year, and the Basin Equity Assessment (BEA), which is a surcharge for exceeding the BPP. Currently, the BPP is set at 85 percent. Likewise MET has also invested in numerous programs and projects to augment its direct deliveries of imported water such as water transfers, groundwater banking, and use of its reservoir storage as summarized in Chapter 6. MET’s draft 2025 UWMP demonstrates that MET will be able to meet its projected water demands for the next 25 years under normal, dry and multiple dry year conditions (MET, 2025).
In 2025, all water agencies in Orange County, in collaboration with their wholesalers, MWDOC and OCWD, developed a water demand forecast model for their service areas that estimated water demand at the individual retail water agency level. The demand model statistically correlates municipal and industrial (M&I) water use with demographic, socioeconomic, conservation, and weather variables as reported in the 2025 Orange County Water Demand Projection Model TM (MWDOC, 2025). Because the model isolates weather, future water demand can be estimated under single and multiple-year droughts and under future climate change scenarios. The model used a 33-year dataset (1991-2024) to estimate demand under average (normal), single-dry year, and five consecutive dry years hydrologic conditions. Correlation coefficients between demand, temperature, and precipitation were applied to the hottest and driest
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historical sequences to calculate high-demand scenarios, which were expressed as scaling factors relative to the 33-year average demand.
Table 7.1 Optional Submittal Table 7-1 Retail: Basis of Water Year Data (Reliability Assessment) OPTIONAL Submittal Table 7-1 Retail: Basis of Water Year Data (Reliability Assessment) Year Type
Base Year If not using
a calendar year, type
in the last year of the
fiscal, water year, or
range of years, for
example, water year
2024--2025, use 2025
Available Supplies if
Year Type Repeats
Check the box if quantification of available supplies is not compatible with this table and is provided
elsewhere in the UWMP.
Location: [insert location from UWMP]
Quantification of available supplies is provided in this table as either volume only, percent only, or both.
Volume Available
% of Average Supply
Average Year 1991-2024 100%
Single-Dry Year 2014 104%
Consecutive Dry Years 1st Year 1991-2024 104%
Consecutive Dry Years 2nd Year 1991-2024 112%
Consecutive Dry Years 3rd Year 1991-2024 113%
Consecutive Dry Years 4th Year 1991-2024 115%
Consecutive Dry Years 5th Year 1991-2024 117%
7.2 Factors Affecting Water Supply Reliability
To prepare realistic water supply reliability assessments, various factors affecting reliability were considered. These include climate change and environmental requirements, regulatory changes, water quality impacts, and locally applicable criteria. In May 2025, DWR published a technical addendum to the 2023 State Water Project Delivery Capability Report (DCR) describing the impact of subsidence to future SWP deliveries. The study showed that SWP deliveries could be reduced by future subsidence. DWR recommends using the 2025 DCR to support long-term planning efforts because DWR has planned near-term fixes and is committed to restore the conveyance capacity of the California Aqueduct. MET will continue to stay informed and incorporate any suitable subsidence modeling in the future.
7.2.1 Climate Change and the Environment
Changing climate patterns are expected to shift precipitation patterns and affect water supply availability.
Unpredictable weather patterns will make water supply planning more challenging. Although climate change impacts are associated with exact timing, magnitude, and regional impacts of these temperature and precipitation changes, researchers have identified several areas of concern for Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water (CAMP4W, 2025). These areas include:
A reduction in Sierra Nevada Mountain snowpack.
Extreme heat threatens both infrastructure and the health and safety of human lives.
Prolonged drought periods.
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Water quality issues associated with increase in wildfires.
Rising sea levels resulting in: » Impacts to coastal groundwater basins due to seawater intrusion. » Increased risk of damage from storms, high-tide events, and the erosion of levees. » Potential pumping cutbacks to the SWP and Central Valley Project (CVP).
Other important issues of concern due to global climate change include:
Effects on local supplies such as groundwater.
Changes in urban and agricultural demand levels and patterns.
Alterations to power generation and pumping regime.
Increases in ocean algal blooms affected seawater desalination supplies.
Without additional surface storage, earlier and heavier runoff will flow to the ocean instead of being held as mountain snowpack, causing California to lose more water. California therefore needs to place a strong emphasis on expanding storage.
As described in Chapter 6, the Colorado River Basin supplies have been inconsistent since about the year 2000, with precipitation near normal while runoff has been less than average in two out of every three years. Climate models are predicting a continuation of this pattern whereby hotter and drier weather conditions will result in continuing lower runoff, pushing the system toward a drying trend that is often characterized as long-term drought.
Dramatic swings in annual hydrologic conditions have affected water supplies available from the SWP over the last decade. The declining ecosystem in the Delta has also led to a reduction in water supply deliveries, and operational constraints will likely continue until a long-term solution to these problems is identified and implemented (MET, 2025).
Climate change is also projected to impact future water demands. The 2025 Orange County Water Demand Model TM developed a sensitivity for the water demand forecast based on using future climate variables from a subset of 15 downscaled global climate models (GCMs) from the World Climate Research Program (WCRP) Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). Future weather variables under two climate scenarios were substituted for baseline historical average weather, with the results indicating that projected water demands under one to five consecutive dry years could be 5 percent to 17 percent greater than baseline demands (MWDOC, 2025).
7.2.2 Regulatory and Legal
Ongoing regulatory restrictions, such as those imposed by the Biological Opinions (BiOps) on the effects of SWP and the federal CVP operations on certain marine life, also contribute to the challenge of determining water delivery reliability. Endangered species protection and conveyance needs in the Delta have resulted in operational constraints that are particularly important because pumping restrictions impact many water resources programs – SWP supplies and additional voluntary transfers, Central Valley storage and transfers, and in-region groundwater and surface water storage. BiOps protect special-status species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and imposed substantial constraints on Delta water supply operations through requirements for Delta inflow and outflow and export pumping restrictions.
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In addition, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has set water quality objectives that must be met by the SWP including minimum Delta outflows, limits on SWP and CVP Delta exports, and maximum allowable salinity level. SWRCB has implemented the new Lower San Joaquin River flow objectives from the Phase 1 Delta Plan amendments through adjudicatory (water rights) and regulatory (water quality) processes. The Lower San Joaquin River flow objectives are estimated to reduce water available for municipal water use.. New litigation, listings of additional species under the ESA, or regulatory requirements imposed by the SWRCB could further adversely affect SWP operations in the future by requiring additional export reductions, releases of additional water from storage, or other operational changes impacting water supply operations.
The Colorado River 2007 Interim Guidelines governing the Lower Basin water supply shortages and the operations of Lakes Mead and Powell are set to expire in 2026, and new operating guidelines will need to be developed for 2027 and beyond. At the time of this 2025 UWMP, negotiations over the successor post-2026 guidelines are ongoing and the outcome is highly uncertain. It is anticipated that California will likely be required to reduce its supplies from the Colorado River, on average, under the new guidelines, and that as the junior priority, MET is at risk. A final EIS with a Selected Alternative is expected in the summer of 2026 with a record of decision to follow.
The difficulty and implications of environmental review, documentation, and permitting pose challenges for multi-year transfer agreements, recycled water projects, and seawater desalination plants. The timeline and roadmap for getting a permit for recycled water projects are challenging and inconsistently implemented in different regions of the state. Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) projects face regulatory restraints such as treatment, blend water, retention time, and Basin Plan Objectives, which may limit how much recycled water can feasibly be recharged into the groundwater basins. New regulations and permitting uncertainty are also barriers to seawater desalination supplies, including updated Ocean Plan Regulations, Marine Life Protected Areas, and Once-Through Cooling Regulations (MET, 2025).
7.2.3 Water Quality
The following sub-section describes the water quality of the region’s water supplies and the measures being taken to continue to deliver high-quality drinking water that meets federal and state regulations.
7.2.3.1 Imported Water
MET is responsible for providing high quality potable water throughout its service area. Over 250,000 water quality tests are performed per year on MET’s water to test for regulated contaminants and additional contaminants of concern to monitor the safety of its waters (MET, 2025). MET’s supplies originate primarily from the CRA and from the SWP. A blend of these two sources, proportional to each year’s availability of the source, is then delivered throughout MET’s service area.
Although the CRA and SWP have different water quality characteristics, MET has implemented effective treatment and management strategies to maintain high-quality water. The CRA water source contains higher total dissolved solids (TDS) and the SWP contains higher levels of naturally-occurring organic matter, leading to the formation of disinfection byproducts. To remediate the CRA’s high level of salinity and the SWP’s high level of organic matter, MET blends CRA and SWP supplies and has upgraded all its treatment facilities to include ozone treatment processes. In addition, MET has been engaged in efforts to protect its Colorado River supplies from threats of uranium, perchlorate, and chromium VI while also
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investigating the potential water quality impact of the following emerging contaminants:
N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCP), microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and 1,4-dioxane (MET, 2025).
PFAS is a group of widely used man-made “forever chemicals” that include both PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid) and PFOS (Perfluorooctane Sulfonate). MET has voluntarily monitored PFAS in its source and treated waters since 2017. Most samples have shown non-detect (ND) for all tested PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS. A limited number of other Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)—such as PFHxA, PFBA, PFPeA, PFDoA, PFTA, and PFBS, have been detected only at trace levels below their method detection limits.
PFOA and PFOS have not been detected in Metropolitan’s imported or treated water supplies. Some member agencies, however, have detected these compounds in local groundwater wells, which may require treatment or source management to comply with emerging Division of Drinking Water (DDW) regulations. As DDW and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establish enforceable maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS, some agencies may supplement their local supplies with increased purchases of Metropolitan water (MET, 2025).
The EPA finalized the first national drinking water standards for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These standards include enforceable MCLs for PFOA and PFOS set at 4 parts per trillion (ppt). In May 2025 the EPA announced that it would extend the compliance deadline for PFOA and PFOS from 2029 to 2031 to provide additional time for testing, planning, and installation of treatment technologies. While MET and its member agencies continue to monitor and test PFAS in imported and local sources, the delay in the federal compliance date allows additional time to evaluate treatment options, coordinate funding, and plan system upgrades necessary to meet forthcoming federal PFAS standards.
The presence of quagga mussels in water sources is a water quality concern. Quagga mussels are an invasive species that was first discovered in 2007 at Lake Mead, on the Colorado River. This species of mussels forms massive colonies in short periods of time, disrupting ecosystems and blocking water intakes. They can cause significant disruption and damage to water distribution systems. MET has had success in controlling the spread and impacts of the quagga mussels within the CRA; however, the future could require more extensive maintenance and reduced operational flexibility than current operations allow. It also resulted in MET eliminating deliveries of CRA water into Diamond Valley Lake (DVL) to keep the reservoir free from quagga mussels (MET, 2025).
In addition, Golden Mussels, another invasive species capable of disrupting pipelines and altering ecosystems, were detected in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta in October 2024 and are now spreading through the SWP. These mussels pose similar concerns due to their ability to obstruct raw water conveyance facilities and negatively affect aquatic environments. Although their presence does not typically result in violations of drinking water standards, unmanaged infestations can degrade habitats, clog infrastructure, and reduce the aesthetic and recreational value of lakes and reservoirs. State and regional agencies continue to monitor golden mussel movement and evaluate appropriate response strategies to limit their spread (MET, 2025).
7.2.3.2 Groundwater
Groundwater is a reliable component of the water supply for Orange County, and the OCWD manages the basin to provide long-term quality and sustainability. The basin supports a significant portion of the region’s water demands and is monitored through an extensive network of
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production, monitoring, and recharge wells that provide data on water levels and water quality conditions across the aquifer system.
Orange County Groundwater Basin
OCWD is responsible for managing the OC Groundwater Basin. To maintain groundwater quality, OCWD conducts an extensive monitoring program that serves to manage the OC Basin’s groundwater production, control groundwater contamination, and comply with all required laws and regulations. A network of nearly 700 groundwater wells provides OCWD a source for samples, which are tested for a variety of purposes. OCWD collects samples each month to monitor Basin water quality. The total number of water samples analyzed varies year-to-year due to regulatory requirements, conditions in the basin, and applied research and/or special study demands. These samples are collected and tested according to approved federal and state procedures as well as industry-recognized quality assurance and control protocols (City of La Habra et al., 2017). OCWD routinely tests for hundreds of regulated constituents, but the parameters discussed, PFAS, TDS, and nitrate, are of focus because they represent the most relevant regional and regulatory considerations that influence groundwater management and long-term supply planning. These issues do not indicate that the groundwater basin is unsafe; rather, they are discussed because they are key focus areas for state agencies and water suppliers throughout Southern California.
PFAS are of particular concern for groundwater quality, and since the summer of 2019, the DDW requires testing for PFAS compounds in some groundwater production wells in the OCWD area. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the established federal Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for certain PFAS compounds in drinking water, including 4 nanograms per liter (ng/L), or parts per trillion (ppt), for PFOA and PFOS. In addition, the California State Water Resources Control Board has established health-based Notification Levels (NLs) and Response Levels (RLs) for several PFAS compounds. The current NLs are 4 ng/L for PFOA and 4 ng/L for PFOS, while the RLs are 10 ng/L for PFOA and 40 ng/L for PFOS. If PFAS concentrations exceed the NL, water systems must notify their governing body; if concentrations exceed the RL, water systems are expected to take corrective actions such as removing the source from service or implementing treatment.
PFAS have been detected in the OC Basin in very tiny amounts (parts per trillion), entering primarily via the Santa Ana River whose flows infiltrate into the basin. Despite playing no role in releasing PFAS into the environment, OCWD is working with its cities and retail water districts to remove it from local water supplies in order to comply with new state and federal regulations. More than 100 wells have been impacted due to various state and federal regulations. Fifteen impacted agencies will have to temporarily purchase more costly imported water to replace PFAS contaminated supplies. As of 2025, 53 impacted wells are back online due to close to a billion dollars being spent on state-of-the-art testing, research and piloting of different treatment systems, and design and construction of treatment plants that are now operational.
By 2025, OCWD had restored 49 wells to service with operational treatment systems, with an additional 57 wells in planning, design, or construction stages (ACWA, 2025). These systems continue to rely –lag
standards (Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board & Orange County Water District, 2023.) Groundwater production in FY 2023–24 totaled 280,420 acre-feet (AF), with slight increases projected over the next two years as additional treatment systems come online, showing continued reductions associated
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Salinity is a significant water quality
problem in many parts of Southern California, including Orange County.
Salinity is a measure of the dissolved minerals in water including both TDS and nitrates. OCWD continuously monitors the levels of TDS in wells throughout the Orange County Groundwater Basin (OC Basin). TDS currently has a California Secondary MCL of 500 milligrams per liter (mg/L). The portions of the OC Basin with the highest levels are generally located in the cities of Irvine, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Anaheim, and Fullerton. There is also a broad area in the central portion of the OC Basin where TDS ranges from 500 to 700 mg/L. Sources of TDS include the water supplies used to recharge the OC Basin and from onsite wastewater treatment systems, also known as septic systems. The TDS concentration in the OC Basin increased on average from 415 mg/L in 2022-23 to 432 mg/L in 2023-24 (OCWD, 2025).
Nitrates are one of the most common and widespread contaminants in groundwater supplies, originating from fertilizer use, animal feedlots, wastewater disposal systems, and other sources. The MCL for nitrate in drinking water is set at 10 mg/L. OCWD regularly monitors nitrate levels in groundwater and works with producers to treat wells that have exceeded safe levels of nitrate concentrations. OCWD manages the nitrate concentration of water recharged by its facilities to reduce nitrate concentrations in groundwater.
This includes the operation of the Prado Wetlands, which was designed to remove nitrogen and other pollutants from the Santa Ana River before the water is diverted to be percolated into OCWD’s surface water recharge system.
Although water from the deep aquifer system is of very high quality, it is amber-colored and contains a sulfuric odor due to buried natural organic material, requiring treatment before use as drinking water. The principal aquifer, which supplies most basin pumping, occurs at depths of roughly 300–1,200 feet below ground surface (OCWD, 2025). The total volume of amber-colored groundwater in the deep system is estimated at approximately 1 million acre-feet (MAF).
7.2.4 Locally Applicable Criteria
Within Orange County, there are no significant local applicable criteria that directly affect reliability. Over the years, the water agencies in Orange County have made tremendous efforts to integrate their systems to provide flexibility for interchanging with different sources of supply. There are emergency agreements in place to provide adequate supply of water in all parts of the County. In the northern part of the County, agencies can meet most of their demands from groundwater with very little limitation, except for the OCWD BPP. For the agencies in south Orange County, most of their demands are met with imported water, and their limitations are based on the capacity of their systems, which are very robust. However, if a major earthquake on the San Andreas Fault occurs, it can potentially be damaging to key water aqueducts and disrupt imported supplies to the entire Southern California region for up to six months. The MET region would likely require a water-use reduction of 10-25% until the system is repaired. However, MET has taken proactive steps to handle such disruption, such as constructing DVL, which mitigates potential impacts. DVL, along with other local reservoirs, can store a six to twelve-month supply of emergency water (MET, 2025).
7.3 Water Service Reliability Assessment
This section assesses the reliability of Fountain Valley’s water service to its customers. This is completed by comparing the projected long-term water demand (Chapter 4), to the projected water supply sources
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available to Fountain Valley (Chapter 6), in five-year increments, for a normal water year, a single dry water year, and a drought lasting five consecutive water years.
7.3.1 Normal Year Reliability
In 2025, MWDOC and OCWD in collaboration with Orange County retail agencies, developed water demand forecast models for individual retail water agencies in Orange County, as described in detail in Chapter 4. This 25 year demand forecast uses statistical models to account for demographic, socioeconomic, conservation, and weather variables (MWDOC, 2025). For normal year reliability, the demand forecast represents average weather conditions.
Fountain Valley is 100 percent reliable for normal year demands from 2025 through 2050. Fountain Valley receives imported water from MWDOC via connection to MET's regional distribution system. Although pipeline and connection capacity rights do not guarantee the availability of water, they do guarantee the ability to convey water into the local system when it is available to the MET distribution system A comparison between the supply and demand for projected years between 2025 and 2050 is shown in Table 7.2, while a breakdown of potable supplies is presented in Tables 7.3 and 7.4, respectively. The table demonstrates that projected supplies and demands are equal in every planning year, with no anticipated surpluses or shortfalls. As stated above, the available supply will meet projected demands due to a diversified supply and conservation measures limiting and reducing imported demands in the later years. Fountain Valley’s supplies are provided by MWDOC and Orange County Groundwater Basin. In MWDOC’s 2025 Urban Water Management Plan, they identify their wholesale supplies as 100 percent reliable under normal-year conditions WDOC, 2025).
Table 7.2 Submittal Table 7-2 Retail: Normal Year Supply and Use Comparison Submittal Table 7-2 Retail: Normal Year Supply and Use Comparison Water Code Section 10635 (a)
2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 (Opt)
(AF) (AF) (AF) (AF) (AF)
Supply totals
(autofill from Submittal Table 6-9 R) 9,808 9,922 9,969 9,938 9,913 Use totals
(autofill from Submittal Table 4-2 R) 9,808 9,922 9,969 9,938 9,913 Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
NOTES: This table compares the projected demand and supply volumes determined in Sections 4.3.2 and 6.1, respectively.
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Table 7.3 Optional Submittal Table 7-2 Retail: Normal Year Supply and Use Comparison-Potable OPTIONAL Submittal Table 7-2 Retail: Normal Year Supply and Use Comparison - POTABLE 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 (Opt)
(AF) (AF) (AF) (AF) (AF)
Supply totals
(autofill from Submittal Table 6-9 R) 8,434 8,548 8,593 8,564 8,539 Use totals
(autofill from Submittal Table 4-2 R) 8,434 8,548 8,593 8,564 8,539 Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
NOTES: This table compares the projected demand and supply volumes determined in Sections 4.3.2 and 6.1, respectively.
Table 7.4 Optional Submittal Table 7-2 Retail: Normal Year Supply and Use Comparison-Non-Potable OPTIONAL Submittal Table 7-2 Retail: Normal Year Supply and Use Comparison -
NON-POTABLE
2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 (Opt)
(AF) (AF) (AF) (AF) (AF)
Supply totals
(autofill from Submittal Table 6-9 R) 1,374 1,374 1,376 1,374 1,374 Use totals
(autofill from Submittal Table 4-2 R) 1,374 1,374 1,376 1,374 1,374 Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
NOTES: This table compares the projected demand and supply volumes determined in Sections 4.3.2 and 6.1, respectively.
7.3.2 Single Dry Year Reliability
A single dry year is defined as a single year of minimal to no rainfall within a period where average precipitation is expected to occur. Orange County’s water demand projection model (described in Section 4.3.1), isolated the impacts that weather and future climate can have on water demand through the use of a statistical model. The impacts of hot/dry weather conditions are reflected as a percentage increase in water demands from the normal year condition. For a single dry year condition (FY 2013-14), the model projects a four percent increase in demand for Fountain Valley’s service area (MWDOC, 2025).
Detailed information of the model is included in Appendix H.
Fountain Valley has documented that it is 100 percent reliable for single dry year demands from 2025 through 2050. As shown in Table 7.5, projected single dry year supplies and demands are equal from 2030 to 2050, resulting in no anticipated shortages. This assessment incorporates a four percent increase in demand above normal-year levels and shows the significant reserves and conservation measures available within MET.