What is a Water Master Plan?
A Water Master Plan is GWP’s long-term roadmap for delivering safe, reliable water to our community. It evaluates our existing system, projects future needs, and prioritizes the investments needed to keep water flowing reliably through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The Water Master Plan and companion Recycled Water Master Plan evaluate GWP’s potable and recycled water systems and identify investments needed to maintain reliable service over the next 20 years.
Where Glendale’s Water Comes From
Glendale imports much of its water. As the community grows and climate conditions change, water demand is projected to shift over the coming decades — and our reliance on imported supplies presents a long-term reliability challenge.
To improve local reliability and reduce dependence on imported water, the Water Master Plan evaluated a range of new local and regional supply options.
WATER FUTURE
PLANNING FOR GLENDALE’S
CITY OF GLENDALE WATER & POWER A UGUST 2026
Plan Goals
The Water Master Plan is built around a set of shared goals that guide every recommendation:
Build A Reliable
Water Future
Listen to
Community Needs
Upgrade Aging
Infrastructure
Adapt to A
Changing Climate
Expand Local
Water Supplies
System Overview
GWP delivers safe, reliable water to 191,000 customers through a network of reservoirs, pump stations, wells, and pipelines.
Key Findings from Glendale Water & Power’s Water Master Plan 407
Miles of Pipe
31 Pump Stations
30 Tanks and Reservoirs
2 Treatment Plants
15 Wells
New Supplies Identified
Alternatives evaluated include desalination,
stormwater capture, groundwater,
advanced/potable reuse, and expanding
recycled water (“purple pipe”).
Recycled water opportunities are being
evaluated in greater depth through GWP’s
companion Recycled Water Master Plan.
Potential Supply Projects Eliminated Projects
Groundwater Non-Potable Reuse Stormwater Capture Desalination Indirect Potable
Reuse
Decentralized TreatmentDirect Potable
Reuse
Groundwater
Recycled Water
Imported Water
EXHIBIT 2
Fire Flow & Water Quality First
Fire flow and water quality are top
communities priorities – and they are
the first projects in the CIP .
Critical Facilities Prioritized
Several critical facilities are prioritized
in the 5-year CIP to ensure
system-wide reliability.
Rates Support Your Water Infrastructure
The investments in this plan are funded through water rates. As a community- owned utility, GWP does not earn a profit — every dollar goes back into delivering safe, reliable water.
Accelerating Pipeline Replacement
GWP is aggressively expanding its pipeline replacement program - increasing the miles replaced each year to stay ahead of failures.
Approaching the end of useful life
Legacy Materials
Installed before 1960
Transition & Modern Materials
Installed after 1960
1920s 1960s Today
Aging Infrastructure
Much of GWP’s system was built generations ago. Proactively replacing aging pipes and facilities prevents costly emergency failures and protects water quality and fire protection.
From Full Needs to the Recommended 5-Year CIP
Rather than fund every need at once, GWP prioritized the most critical projects into a phased 5-Year CIP — balancing system reliability with affordability for the community.
Shaped by Our Community
The Water Master Plan effort was informed by
robust public engagement, including:
• A Stakeholder Water Advisory Group (SWAG)
that met five times to review findings and
priorities
• 10 key opinion leader interviews with
community and regional stakeholders
• A community survey — offered in three
languages — that gathered over 60 responses
• Formal opinion research to identify broader
community perspectives
• A dedicated Water Master Plan community
open house, plus outreach at local events
IDENTIFIED SYSTEM NEEDS
Technical analyses and GWP staff expertise
RECOMMENDED 20-YEAR CIP
$800m
PRIORITY PROJECTS
IDENTIFIED AND
PHASED
ADOPTED 5-YEAR CIP
$100m
Stay Connected
For more information about GWP’s Water Master Plan
and Recycled Water Master Plan, scan the QR code,
visit www.glendaleca.gov/watermasterplan,
or email [email protected]
THE JEWEL C TYI
I NCORPORA TED
1906
48%
≈195 miles
52%
≈212 miles