2025 Urban Water Management Plan & 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan Public Hearing
Prepared for:
May 5, 2026
Agenda
Purpose and Overview of the UWMP
System Description
Water Use Characterization and Projections
Water Conservation Target Compliance
Water Supply Characterization
Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment
Water Shortage Contingency Planning
Demand Management Measures
Purpose and Overview of the UWMP
2025 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) is prepared to comply with the 1983 UWMP Act and California Water Code.
This 2025 UWMP was prepared as part of a shared-services agreement with MWDOC along with 22 other partner agencies.
The 2025 UWMP is an update to the 2020 UWMP and includes the following key elements:
Water use characterization and projections through year 2050 Reporting on water conservation target compliance
Update of the City’s existing and planned water supplies A long-term water supply reliability assessment through year 2050.
The 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP); an update to the 2020 WSCP Update of water use efficiency programs from MWDOC and the City
System Description
Service Area: 22.3 square miles
Water System Components
7 Active wells
15 reservoirs with a capacity of 67.5 MG
7 imported water connections to MET
6 emergency connections with other agencies.
12 booster pump stations
424 miles of pipelines
City’s Population in 2025: 141,277
Projected Population 2050: 158,923
Population Change: +12.5%
Increase in dwelling units: 3.2%
RHNA Allocation by 2029: 3,198 units
Projected number of ADUs: 50
Water Use Characterization and Projections
The City participated in the development of the 2025 Orange County Water Demand Projection Model led by MWDOC.
City’s water use in 2025:
64% residential
23% commercial, industrial, and institutional
6% dedicated irrigation
8% other
City’s demand projection:
2025: 22,243 afy
2050: 21,384 afy
Change: -3.9%
Total demand in Orange County continues to trend down, while population has increased more than 700,000 (+30%)
Water Conservation Target Compliance
The 2009 Water Conservation Act (SB X7-7) mandated 20% reduction in urban per capita water use by 2020 (aka 20x2020).
MWDOC’s Water Use Efficiency (WUE) program helped meet the goals through the Orange County 20x2020 Regional Alliance.
Participating retailers, including the City of Fullerton, complied collectively rather than individually.
The City is in compliance with the mandated 20% water use reduction and WUE target.
Water Supply Characterization
City’s existing supply mix:
Groundwater: 62.8%
Imported Water: 37.2%
The City has 6 emergency inter-connections with adjacent agencies The City anticipates to replace existing wells soon to maintain water supply needs.
City’s Projected Water Supply Mix
The City’s water supply mix is not projected to change through 2050.
The City’s water supply mix is not projected to change through year 2050
Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment
Water Service Reliability is assessed by comparing the projected water demand with the projected available water supplies Near-Term Assessment developed for 2026-2030 based on driest 5-year sequence for supply Long-Term Assessment are developed in 5-year increments from 2030-2050 for three hydrologic conditions:
Normal Water Year
Single Dry Year
Drought lasting 5 Consecutive Dry Years
The City has long-term supply reliability under normal, single dry year, and 5 consecutive drought years.
Water Shortage Contingency Planning
The WSCP is both a required element of the UWMP as well as a stand-alone document.
No new requirements were added for the 2025 WSCP
Key WSCP elements:
Analysis of water supply reliability
Annual water supply and demand assessment
6 standard water shortage levels
Shortage response actions
Communication protocols
Stage
ShortagePercentage
Shortage Response Actions
0 0% (normal)
City proceed with planned practices
Permanent water waste prohibitions
Non-functional turf ban effective 1/1/2027
1 Up to 10%
Same as level 0
Up to 10% consumer demand reduction with mandatory level 1 conservation measures 2 11-20%
Same as level 1
Up to 20% consumer demand reduction with mandatory level 3 conservation measures 3 21-30%
Same as level 2
Up to 30% consumer demand reduction required
Declare Water Supply Shortage Emergency
4 31-40%
Same as level 3
Up to 40% consumer demand reduction required
5 41-50%
Same as level 4
Up to 50% consumer demand reduction required
6 51-60%
Same as level 5
Up to 60% consumer demand reduction required.
Demand Management Measures
City’s Water Use Efficiency Program and Rebates 2020-2025:
High Efficiency Clothes Washers
High Efficiency Toilets
Flow Monitoring Devices
Rotating Nozzles
Smart Timers
Rain Barrels
MWDOC’s Demand Management Implementation Assistance Programs:
Technical Assistance Program
Meter Area Measurements
Regional Rebate Programs
Local Program Assistance
Water Conservation Research
The City collaborates with MWDOC to implement water conservation programs to reduce water demands
Public Hearing
May 19, 2026
QUESTIONS?
Prepared for:
2025 Urban Water Management Plan & 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan