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1 RiversideCA.gov
1 RiversideCA.gov
RIVERSIDE’S WATER STORY
City Council
May 23, 2023
Public Utilities Department
RiversideCA.gov
2 HISTORY-RIVERSIDE'S DOMESTIC WATER SYSTEM
1. In 1887, Riverside Water Company
(RWC) began development of the
domestic water system
2. In 1913, Riverside issued a bond to
establish the water department
3. In 1959, Riverside acquires the
Riverside Water Company
4. In 1964, State of California Board of
Public Health issues Riverside
ap o t a b l e d r i n k i n g w a t e r
system operation permit
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3 HISTORY-EARLY RPU
1. In 1965, the City acquires the
Gage Canal Company
2. In 1969, after 7 years of litigation,
Court Judgments and settlements for
water rights between San
Bernardino, Riverside, Orange
Counties and over 4,000 individual
parties adjudicates water rights for all
parties throughout the watershed
3. Riverside still operates under these
court judgments today to supply
water to its domestic and agricultural
customers
RiversideCA.gov
4 RPU WATER SYSTEM
100%
of the City’s
potable (drinking)
water has been
supplied from local
groundwater
sources since 2009
66K
Service
Connections
Established
1913
Highest State
operational
classification
rating due to
size and
complexity
Riverside
Public Utilities
Western
Municipal
Water District
Eastern
Municipal
Water District
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5 ELECTRIC UNDESIGNATED CASH RESERVESRPU WATER SYSTEM
RiversideCA.gov
6 RPU WATER SYSTEM FACILITIES
Pressure
Stations
60 Water Treatment
Facilities
6 Reservoirs
1650
Domestic
Wells
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7 • San Bernardino
(Bunker Hill)
• Rialto-Colton
• Riverside North
• Riverside South
Basins
SOURCE-GROUNDWATER BASINS
RiversideCA.gov
8 SOURCE- WATER SOURCES
Riverside's Total Water Rights by Groundwater Basin
85,773
55,263
10,902
16,880
2,728
0 10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
Total Bunker Hill Riverside
North
Riverside
South
Rialto Colton
Riverside’s Total Water Rights (Acre-ft)
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9 SOURCE-GROUNDWATER PRODUCTION
55,263
10,902
16,880
2,728
52,181
7,666
20,791
75 0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
Bunker Hill Riverside North Riverside South Rialto Colton Extraction Rights VS 2021 Production
Total Extraction Right (AFY) 85,773
Total pumped 2021 (AFY) 80,712
RiversideCA.gov
10 SOURCE-GROUNDWATER FACILITIES
SOURCE-GROUNDWATER PRODUCTION
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11 SOURCE-RECYCLED WATER SYSTEM
• Drought-proof water
supply for non-potable
uses
• City required Santa Ana
River discharge = 25,000
acre-feet (AF) of water
per year
• Estimated annual
available recycled
water supply = 3,000 AF
RiversideCA.gov
12 TREATMENT
• Shell Oil and Dow Chemical built treatment for DBCP
• US Air Force built treatment for TCE
• Lockheed Martin maintains treatment for Perchlorate
and TCE
• EPA operates treatment at the Muscoy-Newmark
TCE/PCE Superfund site
• J.W. North Treatment Plant constructed eliminating
need for imported water.
All drinking water is stored
and supplied to
community
Water not needing additional
physical treatment
Over 29,000
water test are
conducted
annually
Treatment Technologies
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7 RiversideCA.gov
13 TRANSMISSION
28 Miles
of Supply
Pipeline
System “Arteries”
(16-72 inches)
97 Miles
of Transmission
Pipeline
820 Miles
of Distribution
Pipeline
RiversideCA.gov
14 CHALLENGES
Sustainability Challenges to Riverside Requiring Vital Solutions City of
Riverside
Growth
Water Rights
& Supply
Climate
Change
Aging
Infrastructure
2040 Potable &
Recycled Water
Demand
Water Quality
Compliance
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15 CHALLENGES-WATER RIGHTS & SUPPLY/GROWTH
Note: Peak Purchased MWD Imported
Water occurred in 2005 (3,166 AF)
2024 costs = $4M
RiversideCA.gov
16 CHALLENGES
Sustainability Challenges to Riverside Requiring Vital Solutions Water Rights
& Supply
• Prepare annual water demand vs supply assessments
• Advocate for development of regional plan for basin water production • Oppose all proposals to consider a recalculation of groundwater basin Safe Yields
• Set targets for Per Capita Per Day water use
• Questions/Feedback/Additional Options?
City of Riverside
Growth
2040 Potable &
Recycled Water
Demand
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17 CHALLENGES-CLIMATE CHANGE
WATER LEVELS
Rate of Groundwater
Level Decline from 1999
to 2021
BUNKER HILL
Decline of about 5.6 ft/yr
RIALTO-COLTON
Decline of about 2.2 ft/yr
RIVERSIDE NORTH
Decline of about 4.6 ft/yr
RIVERSIDE SOUTH
Decline of about 0.7 ft/yr
RiversideCA.gov
18 CHALLENGES-CLIMATE CHANGE
WATER LEVELS
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19 CHALLENGES-CLIMATE CHANGE
PRECIPITATION CONDITIONS
RiversideCA.gov
20 CHALLENGES
Sustainability Challenges to Riverside Requiring Vital Solutions • Protect facilities in high fire risk and flood areas
• Develop new landscape strategies for more purposeful use of water to enhance shade, local food production, soil health and natural habitats • Develop a transition plan to decarbonize the water production operations of the utility
• Consider sustainability in all procurement decisions
• Questions/Feedback/Additional Options?
Climate
Change
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21 CHALLENGES-WATER QUALITY COMPLIANCE
Perchlorate-Source
Solid rocket propellant,
aerospace operations,
fireworks, explosives, and
matches.
• 50 wells sampled
• 46 potable water
• 4 non-potable water
Well Contaminant Level
RiversideCA.gov
22 CHALLENGES-WATER QUALITY COMPLIANCE
Well Contaminant Level
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23 CHALLENGES-WATER QUALITY COMPLIANCE
PERFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS)
Place holder for PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS)
RiversideCA.gov
24 CHALLENGES
Sustainability Challenges to Riverside Requiring Vital Solutions • Follow the City Council's adopted Water Quality Principles • Develop treatment strategies for contaminants of concern • Identify and pursue responsible parties for treatment and cleanup • Seek funding for new water treatment works
• Questions/Feedback/Additional Options?
Water Quality
Compliance
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25 CHALLENGES-AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
RiversideCA.gov
26 CHALLENGES-AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
Maintain & Replace
Reservoirs (16): 12-87 years
Boosters (38): 2-89 years
Wells (50): 2-95 years
Pipeline (945 miles): 1-130 years
Average replacement rate= 2.8 miles per year
(300 year life cycle)
Main Line Leaks
2018-2023
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27 CHALLENGES
Sustainability Challenges to Riverside Requiring Vital Solutions • Conduct continuous condition assessments of facilities • Complete infrastructure Master Plan for facilities replacement • Maintain facilities through preventative maintenance programs • Construct facilities with high quality and long lasting materials • Questions/Feedback/Additional Options?
Aging
Infrastructure
RiversideCA.gov
28 STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
This items contributes to all 2025 Envision Strategic Plan Priorities and Cross-Cutting Threads. 27 28
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15 RiversideCA.gov
29 That the City Council receive and file an update on the status of the City’s water systems.
RECOMMENDATION
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