planning tool to support informed decision-making related to water supply, demand management, and long-term resource sustainability.
The 2025 UWMP was developed through a shared-services agreement with the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), in coordination with 22 other retail water agencies. This collaborative regional approach allows participating agencies to utilize consistent data, assumptions, and analytical methodologies, while also improving efficiency and ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory requirements. The City’s water supply portfolio continues to consist of a combination of imported potable water and local groundwater resources. Imported supplies are obtained through MWDOC, a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan), while local groundwater is extracted from the Orange County Groundwater Basin, which is managed and replenished by the Orange County Water District (OCWD). This diversified supply portfolio enhances the City’s ability to maintain reliable service under varying hydrologic, environmental, and regulatory conditions.
The 2025 UWMP includes an updated characterization of water use within the City’s service area and provides revised water demand projections through Year 2050. These projections account for anticipated population growth, land use patterns, and implementation of state-mandated water use efficiency standards.
The UWMP also documents the City’s compliance with applicable water conservation requirements and highlights ongoing and planned water use efficiency programs administered both locally and in coordination with MWDOC.
In addition, the UWMP provides an updated assessment of the City’s existing and planned water supply sources, including considerations for supply reliability, infrastructure, and long-term resource planning.
A key component of the UWMP is the evaluation of water supply reliability under varying conditions. The UWMP analyzes the City’s ability to meet projected water demands during normal hydrologic conditions, as well as during single dry-year and multiple dry-year scenarios, which are intended to simulate extended drought conditions. These analyses support the identification of potential supply shortfalls and inform the development of response strategies to maintain reliable water service.
In accordance with California Water Code Section 10632, the 2025 UWMP incorporates the 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP), which updates and replaces the City’s 2020 WSCP. The WSCP is a required strategic and operational planning document that establishes a structured framework for responding to water supply shortages. The WSCP defines water shortage levels based on the severity of supply conditions and identifies corresponding response actions to reduce water demand, maintain essential public health and safety services, and ensure regulatory compliance.
The WSCP is intended to serve as the City’s operational guide for managing water shortages in a proactive and consistent manner. Water supply shortages may result from a variety of factors, including prolonged drought, climate variability,
regulatory restrictions, infrastructure failure, or other emergency events. The WSCP includes predefined response measures, communication protocols, and implementation procedures that enable the City Council, staff, and the public to respond efficiently and effectively to changing water supply conditions.
Copies of the 2025 UWMP and 2025 WSCP have been made available for public review at the Office of the City Clerk, the Public Works Department counter at City Hall, and on the City’s website, in accordance with statutory public notification and review requirements.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Preparation and adoption of the UWMP are statutorily exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15282 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, which specifically exempts the adoption and implementation of urban water management plans prepared in accordance with the Urban Water Management Planning Act.
Pursuant to California Water Code Section 10652, the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code) does not apply to the preparation and adoption of a WSCP prepared in accordance with California Water Code Section 10632.
LEGAL ANALYSIS:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolutions as to form.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the UWMP and WSCP.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
1. Open and conduct a public hearing to receive input regarding the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan; and,
2. Adopt Resolution 7772 approving the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan; and,
3. Adopt Resolution 7773 approving the 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
SUBMITTED BY: NOTED AND APPROVED:
Iris Lee Patrick Gallegos
Iris Lee, Director of Public Works Patrick Gallegos, City Manager ATTACHMENTS:
A. Resolution 7772
B. Resolution 7773
C. 2025 Urban Water Management Plan
D. 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
RESOLUTION 7772
A RESOLUTION OF THE SEAL BEACH CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING
THE 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
WHEREAS, the California Urban Water Management Planning Act, (Wat. Code §10610, et seq. (the Act), mandates that every urban supplier of water providing water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 customers or supplying more than 3,000 acrefeet of water annually, prepare an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP); 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 UWMP must be adopted by the supplier’s governing body and submitted to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR); and, WHEREAS, the City of Seal Beach (City) is an urban water supplier subject to this requirement; and,
WHEREAS, on June 14, 2021, the City Council adopted the City’s 2020 UWMP and Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) by Resolution 7164 and 7165, and subsequently amended the WSCP by Resolution 7290 on May 23, 2022; 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 Act as amended since 2020; and,
WHEREAS, in accordance with applicable law, including Water Code section 10642, and Government Code section 6066, a Notice of a Public Hearing regarding adoption of the City’s 2025 UWMP was published within the jurisdiction of the City of Seal Beach on April 23, 2026 and April 30, 2026; and,
WHEREAS, in accordance with applicable law, including but not limited to Water Code section 10642, a public hearing was held on May 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM, or soon thereafter, in the Council Chambers of the City located at 211 Eighth Street, Seal Beach, in order to provide members of the public and other interested entities with the opportunity to be heard in connection with proposed adoption of the 2025 UWMP and issues related thereto; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, the Seal Beach City Council does resolve, declare, determine and order as follows:
Section 1. The 2025 UWMP is hereby adopted as amended by changes incorporated by the Seal Beach City Council as a result of input received (if any) at the public hearing and ordered filed with the City Clerk of the Seal Beach City Council.
Section 2. The City Manager, or designee, is authorized and directed to file a copy of the City’s 2025 UWMP with the DWR, 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 UWMP 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 Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED by the Seal Beach City Council at a regular meeting held on the 11th day of May 2026 by the following vote:
AYES: Council Members
NOES: Council Members
ABSENT: Council Members
ABSTAIN: Council Members
Lisa Landau, Mayor
ATTEST:
Gloria D. Harper, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA }
COUNTY OF ORANGE } SS
CITY OF SEAL BEACH }
I, Gloria D. Harper, City Clerk of the City of Seal Beach, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is the original copy of Resolution 7772 on file in the office of the City Clerk, passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting held on the 11th day of May 2026.
Gloria D. Harper, City Clerk
RESOLUTION 7773
A RESOLUTION OF THE SEAL BEACH CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING
THE 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
WHEREAS, the California Urban Water Management Planning Act, (Wat. Code §10610, et seq. (the Act), mandates that every urban supplier of water providing water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 customers or supplying more than 3,000 acrefeet of water annually, prepare and adopt, in accordance with prescribed requirements, a Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) as part of its Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP); and,
WHEREAS, the City of Seal Beach (City) meets the definition of an urban water supplier for purposes of the Act and is required to prepare and adopt and WSCP as part of its 2025 UWMP; and,
WHEREAS, the Act specifies the requirements and procedures for adopting such WSCPs; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to recent amendments to the Act, urban water suppliers are required to adopt and electronically submit their WSCPs to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) by July 1, 2026; and,
WHEREAS, the City has prepared a WSCP in accordance with the Act, and in accordance with applicable legal requirements, has undertaken certain coordination, notice, public involvement, public comment, and other procedures in relation to its WSCP; and,
WHEREAS, in accordance with the Act, the City has prepared its WSCP with its own staff, with the assistance of consulting professionals, and in cooperation with other governmental agencies, and has utilized and relied upon industry standards and the expertise of industry professionals in preparing its WSCP, and has also utilized DWR’s Urban Water Management Plan Guidebook 2025, including its related appendices, in preparing its WSCP; and,
WHEREAS, on June 14, 2021, the City adopted Resolution 7165 adopting the 2020 WSCP and subsequently amended the WSCP by Resolution 7290 on May 23, 2022; and,
WHEREAS, in accordance with applicable law, including Water Code section 10642, and Government Code section 6066, a Notice of a Public Hearing regarding adoption of the WSCP was published within the jurisdiction of the City on April 23, 2026, and April 30, 2026; and,
WHEREAS, in accordance with applicable law, including but not limited to Water Code sections 10642 and 375, a public hearing was held on May 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM, or soon thereafter, in the Council Chambers of the City located at 211 Eighth Street, Seal Beach, in order to provide members of the public and other interested entities with the opportunity to be heard in connection with proposed adoption of the 2025 WSCP and issues related thereto; and,
WHEREAS, the Seal Beach City Council has reviewed and considered the purposes and requirements of the Act, the contents of the WSCP, and the documentation contained in the administrative record in support of the WSCP, and has determined that the factual analyses and conclusions set forth in the WSCP are legally sufficient; and, WHEREAS, the Seal Beach City Council desires to adopt the WSCP and to incorporate it as part of its 2025 UWMP prior to July 1, 2026 in order to comply with the Act.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Seal Beach City Council does resolve, declare, determine and order as follows:
Section 1. The 2025 WSCP is hereby adopted as amended by changes incorporated by the Seal Beach City Council as a result of input received (if any) at the public hearing and ordered filed with the City Clerk of the Seal Beach City Council and shall be incorporated into the City of Seal Beach’s 2025 UWMP.
Section 2. The City Manager, or designee, is hereby authorized and directed to include a copy of this Resolution in the City of Seal Beach’s WSCP and/or in the City of Seal Beach’s 2025 UWMP.
Section 3. The City Manager, or designee, is authorized and directed to file a copy of the City’s 2025 WSCP, as part of its 2025 UWMP, with the DWR, 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 4. The 2025 WSCP 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 5. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED by the Seal Beach City Council at a regular meeting held on the 11th day of May 2026 by the following vote:
AYES: Council Members
NOES: Council Members
ABSENT: Council Members
ABSTAIN: Council Members
Lisa Landau, Mayor
ATTEST:
Gloria D. Harper, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA }
COUNTY OF ORANGE } SS
CITY OF SEAL BEACH }
I, Gloria D. Harper, City Clerk of the City of Seal Beach, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is the original copy of Resolution 7773 on file in the office of the City Clerk, passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting held on the 11th day of May 2026.
Gloria D. Harper, City Clerk
2025 Urban Water
Management Plan
FINAL DRAFT / April 2026
in collaboration with and
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
April 2026 / FINAL DRAFT
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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pw://Carollo/CA/MWDOC/204447-000000/03 Reports and Studies/02 Deliverables/Grp2_SB UWMP/_Cover_TOC_Abbrevs_AppxCovers.docx Contents
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND UWMP OVERVIEW
1.1 Overview of Urban Water Management Plan Requirements 1-1
1.2 UWMP Organization 1-2
CHAPTER 2 UWMP PREPARATION
2.1 Individual Planning and Compliance 2-1
2.2 Coordination and Outreach 2-2
2.2.1 Integration with Other Planning Efforts 2-2
2.2.2 Wholesale and Retail Coordination 2-4
2.2.3 Public Participation 2-4
CHAPTER 3 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
3.1 Agency Overview 3-1
3.1.1 Formation and Purpose 3-1
3.1.2 City Council 3-2
3.1.3 Relationship to MWDOC 3-2
3.2 Water Service Area and Facilities 3-4
3.2.1 Water Service Area 3-4
3.2.2 Water Facilities 3-7
3.3 Climate 3-9
3.4 Population, Demographics, and Socioeconomics 3-9
3.4.1 Service Area Population 3-9
3.4.2 Demographics and Socioeconomics 3-10
3.4.3 Demographic Projection Methodology 3-10
3.5 Land Uses 3-11
3.5.1 Current Land Uses 3-11
3.5.2 Projected Land Uses 3-11
CHAPTER 4 WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION
4.1 Water Use in the Last Five Years 4-4
4.1.1 Direct Municipal and Industrial Use 4-5
4.2 Projected Water Use 4-6
4.2.1 Water Use Projections for 2026-2030 4-6
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 4-9
4.3.2 Forecasted Demands 4-11
4.4 Water Loss 4-12
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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 6-4
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 6-30
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 6-33
6.6.3 Current Recycled Water Uses 6-33
6.6.4 Projected Recycled Water Uses 6-33
6.6.5 Potential Recycled Water Uses 6-34
6.6.6 Optimization Plan 6-34
6.7 Desalination Opportunities 6-35
6.7.1 Ocean Water Desalination 6-35
6.7.2 Groundwater Desalination 6-35
6.8 Water Exchanges and Transfers 6-35
6.8.1 Existing Exchanges and Transfers 6-35
6.8.2 Planned and Potential Exchanges and Transfers 6-36
6.9 Future Water Projects 6-36
6.10 Energy Intensity 6-38
6.10.1 Water Supply Energy Intensity 6-38
6.10.2 Wastewater and Recycled Water Energy Intensity 6-40
6.10.3 Key Findings and Next Steps 6-42
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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 7-8
7.3.1 Normal Year Reliability 7-8
7.3.2 Single Dry Year Reliability 7-8
7.3.3 Multiple Dry Years Reliability 7-9
7.4 Management Tools and Options 7-10
7.5 Drought Risk Assessment 7-11
7.5.1 Methodology 7-12
7.5.2 Total Water Supply and Use Comparison 7-13
7.5.3 Water Source Reliability 7-14
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 Seal Beach 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 9-9
9.1.4 CII Programs 9-9
9.1.5 Landscape Programs 9-10
9.2 City of Seal Beach Demand Management Measures Implementation (2020-2025) 9-11
9.3 MWDOC Demand Management Implementation Assistance Programs 9-12
9.3.1 State Water Conservation Compliance Assistance 9-12
9.3.2 Regional Rebate Programs and Local Program Assistance 9-13
9.3.3 Research and Evaluation 9-13
9.4 Urban Water Use Objective and CII Performance Measure Compliance 9-14
9.4.1 Urban Water Use Objectives Components 9-14
9.4.2 CII Performance Measures 9-16
CHAPTER 10 PLAN ADOPTION, SUBMITTAL, AND IMPLEMENTATION
10.1 Overview 10-1
10.2 Agency Coordination 10-2
10.3 Public Participation 10-2
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10.4 UWMP Submittal 10-3
10.5 Amending the Adopted UWMP or WSCP 10-3
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 2-1 Table 2.2 Submittal Table 2-2: Plan Identification 2-1
Table 2.3 Submittal Table 2-3: Supplier Identification 2-2 Table 2.4 Submittal Table 2-4 Retail: Water Supplier Information Exchange 2-4 Table 3.1 Submittal Table 3-1 Retail: Population - Current and Projected 3-9 Table 3.2 City of Seal Beach Service Area Dwelling Units by Type 3-10 Table 4.1 Submittal Table 4-1 Retail: Total Uses for Potable and Non-Potable Water – Actual 4-5
Table 4.2 City of Seal Beach’s Service Area Total Potable Demand for 2026-2030 4-6 Table 4.3 Submittal Table 4-2 Retail: Total Uses of Potable, and Non-Potable Water – Projected 4-7
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 4-8 Table 4.6 Summary of Demand Sectors 4-9
Table 4.7 Summary of Historical Data Collected for Model Development 4-10 Table 4.8 Future Model Parameters 4-12
Table 4.9 Submittal Table 4-5 Retail: Water Loss Audit Reporting 4-13 Table 4.10 Submittal Table 4-6 Retail: Progress Towards 2028 Water Loss Standard 4-14 Table 5.1 Submittal Table 5-1 Retail: SB X7-7 2020 Target Progress 5-2 Table 6.1 Water Supplies – 2025 Actual 6-2
Table 6.2 Water Supplies – Projected 6-3
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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 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 Wastewater Collected within the City’s Service Area in 2025 6-33 Table 6.11 Optional Submittal Table 0-1A: Recommended Energy Reporting 6-39 Table 6.12 Optional Submittal Table 0-2: Energy Intensity of Wastewater and Recycled Water 6-41
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 Submittal Table 7-3 Retail: Single Dry Year Supply and Demand Comparison 7-9 Table 7.4 Submittal Table 7-4 Retail: Multiple Dry Years Supply and Demand Comparison 7-10
Table 7.5 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 8-4
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 Seal Beach Water Rates 9-3
Table 9.3 City of Seal Beach Water Use Efficiency Program Participation 9-11 Table 9.4 MWDOC Programs to Help OC Retail Agencies Meet their Urban Water Use Objectives 9-15
Table 9.5 City of Seal Beach CII BMP and Water Efficiency Programs and Incentives 9-16 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 the City of Seal Beach and Other MWDOC Member Agencies 3-3
Figure 3.2 City of Seal Beach Water Service Area 3-6
Figure 3.3 City of Seal Beach Distribution System 3-8
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 4-11 Figure 6.1 City’s Projected Water Supply 6-4
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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 8-2
Figure 9.1 City of Seal Beach Pop-Up Tent 9-6
Figure 9.2 Girl Scout Tour 9-8
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Abbreviations
AB Assembly Bill
ACS American Community Survey
ADU accessory dwelling units
AF acre-feet
AFY acre-feet per year
AMI Advanced Metering Infrastructure
AVEK Antelope Valley-East Kern
AWWA American Water Works Association
BEA Basin Equity Assessment
BiOps Biological Opinions
BMP best management practices
BPP Basin Production Percentage
BSA Boy Scouts of America
C Celsius
CAMP4W Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water
Carollo Carollo Engineers
CDR Center for Demographic Research at California State University, Fullerton CEE Consortium for Energy Efficiency
cfs cubic feet per second
CII Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional
CIP Capital Improvement Plan
City City of Seal Beach
Conservation Framework “Making California a Conservation Way of Life” Framework CPTP Coastal Pumping Transfer Program
CRA Colorado River Aqueduct
CRSS Colorado River Simulation System
CUP conjunctive use program
CUWCC California Urban Water Conservation Council
CWC California Water Code
CVP Central Valley Project
CY Calendar Year
DCP Drought Contingency Plan / Delta Conveyance Project DDW Division of Drinking Water
DIM dedicated irrigation meters
DOF State Department of Finance
DRA Drought Risk Assessment
DMM Demand Management Measures
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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DVL Diamond Valley Lake
DWR California Department of Water Resources
EIR Environmental Impact Report
EO Executive Order
EPA US Environmental Protection Agency
ESA Endangered Species Act
FIRO Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations
FY Fiscal Year
FMD flow monitoring device
GAC granular activated carbon
GIS geographic information system
gpcd gallons per capita per day
gpf gallons per flush
gpm gallons per minute
GAP Green Acres Project
GDP gross domestic product
GHG greenhouse gas
GIS Geographic Information System
GRP Groundwater Resilience Plan / Groundwater Reliability Plan GSA Groundwater Sustainability Agency
GSP Groundwater Sustainability Plan
GSWC Golden State Water Company
GWRS Groundwater Replenishment System
H2S hydrogen sulfide
HCF hundred cubic feet
HDI hot-dry index
HECW high efficiency clothes washer
HET high efficiency toilet
HRL Healthy Rivers and Landscapes
ICS Intentionally Created Surplus
IRP Integrated Water Resources Plan
IRWD Irvine Ranch Water District
ITP Incidental Take Permit
IWCM Interim Water Control Manual
kWh kilowatt hour
LAM landscape area measurements
LDAP Landscape Design Rebate Program
LODES Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics
LRP Local Resources Program
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LVL Leo J. Vander Lans Advanced Water Treatment Facility M&I municipal and industrial
MAF million acre-feet
MCL maximum contaminant level
MET Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
MF microfiltration
MG million gallons
mgd million gallons per day
mg/L milligrams per liter
MUM mixed-use CII meters
MWDOC Municipal Water District of Orange County
MWDOC, 2025 2025 Orange County Water Demand Projection Model TM ND non-detect
NDMA N-nitrosodimethylamine
ng/L nanograms per liter
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
OC Basin Orange County Groundwater Basin
OCSD Orange County Sanitation District
OCWD Orange County Water District
PCH Pacific Coast Highway
PFAS per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
PPCP pharmaceuticals and personal care products
ppt parts per trillion
PRISM Parameter Elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model PRS pressure regulating stations
QSA Quantification Settlement Agreement
QWEL Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper
R&I retail and municipal
RA Replenishment Assessment
RHNA Regional Housing Needs Assessment
RO reverse osmosis
SARCCUP Santa Ana River Conservation and Conjunctive Use Program SB Senate Bill
SCAB South Coast Air Basin
SCADA supervisory control and data acquisition
SCAG Southern California Association of Governments
SDCWA San Diego County Water Authority
SFD Single-Family Dwelling
SGMA Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
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SNWA Sierra Nevada Water Authority
sq mi square mile
SR 57 Orange County Freeway
State State of California
STEM science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
Supplier urban water supplier
SWP State Water Project
SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board
TAZ traffic analysis zones
TAP Conservation Framework Technical Assistance Program TDS total dissolved solids
TM 2025 Orange County Water Demand Projection Model Technical Memorandum USACE US Army Corps of Engineers
USBR United States Bureau of Reclamation
USGS United States Geological Survey
UV ultraviolet
UWMP Urban Water Management Plan
UWMP Act or Act UWMP Act of 1983
UWUO Urban Water Use Objective
Valley San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District
Water Code California Water Code
WCM Water Control Manual
WEEA Water Energy Education Alliance
WOCWB West Orange County Water Board
WRD Water Replenishment District
WR P1 Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Plan Policy WR P1 WSAP Water Supply Allocation Plan / Water Savings Action Plan WSIP Water Savings Incentive Program
WSCP Water Shortage Contingency Plan
WUE Water Use Efficiency
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction and UWMP Overview
The City of Seal Beach (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.
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).
System Description
The City of Seal Beach (City) was incorporated in 1915 and later became a charter city in 1964. The City is located along the California coastline in Orange County and is bordered to the north by the City of Los Alamitos, and the unincorporated Rossmoor community; to the east by the Cities of Garden Grove, Westminster, and Huntington Beach; to the south by the Pacific Ocean and City of Huntington Beach; and to the west by the City of Long Beach. The City’s Water Division operates 4 production wells, an active service connection with MET managed by MWDOC, emergency interconnections with other utilities, 2 reservoirs with a total storage capacity of 7 million gallons (MG), 2 booster stations, 4 disinfection sites, approximately 680 hydrants and manages an approximately 75-mile water mains system with about 5,423 service connections.
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Water Use Characterization
Water Use in the Last Five Years
Total water use within the City’s service area has fluctuated over the past 5 years (fiscal year [FY] 2021-25), with an annual average of approximately 3,287 acre-feet (AF). FY 2020-21 through FY 2021-22 saw the highest water uses over the last 5 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. Excluding this most recent FY 2024-25 due to the suspected meter inaccuracy, the City saw a decrease in demand of
13.7 percent over the 4-year period from FY 2020-21 to FY 2023-24.
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 decrease by about 14.6 percent from 3,932 AF in 2025 to approximately 3,358 AF by 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).
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 SB X7-7 (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 SB X7-7 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 95 gpcd (compared to its 142 gpcd target) and continues to implement water use efficiency measures.
Water Supply Characterization
The City’s main source of water supply is groundwater from the OC Basin. Imported water makes up the rest of the City’s water supply portfolio. In FY 2024-25, the City relied on approximately 90 percent groundwater and 10 percent imported water. This supply portfolio is projected to remain stable for the next 25 years with the BPP of 85 percent forecasted through 2050. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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/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.
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.
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). 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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 Seal Beach (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, the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) and local groundwater from the Orange County Groundwater Basin (OC Basin), which is managed by the Orange County Water District (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, MWDOC has been assisting its member agencies and surrounding communities to manage both their water supplies 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 maintaining and improving their water system through the rehabilitation of existing wells, and targeted infrastructure upgrades to safeguard water quality, among other projects.
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 Urban Water Management Plan 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 5 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 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 5-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 Seal Beach’s (City) 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 AF of water annually must prepare, adopt, and file an UWMP with the California DWR every 5 years to meet the compliance requirements of the UWMP Act. As shown in Table 2.1. The City meets this requirement as it has 5,423 municipal connections and supplied 3,932 AF in fiscal year (FY) 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)
Add additional rows as needed
CA3010041 City of Seal Beach 5,423 3,932
Total 5,423 3,932
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: Reported 2025 water supply values may be higher than actual. Based on available information, this discrepancy is likely related to meter inaccuracy, though it has not yet been confirmed. Verification will occur following meter replacement and monitoring of subsequent water use data.
The City opted to prepare its own UWMP (Table 2.2) and comply with the Water Code individually, while closely coordinating with the 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) 7/1
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 its water supplier wholesaler MWDOC, the OCWD as the manager of the Orange County Groundwater Basin, and its regional wastewater management agency, Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD). 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 listed below:
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s (MET) 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.
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. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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 Groundwater Resilience Plan (GRP – February 2025) is an adaptive strategies management plan outlining strategic projects to secure reliable future water supplies in the Orange County Basin.
OCWD’s 2023-24 Engineer’s Report provides information on the groundwater conditions, water supply and basin utilization of the Orange County Basin. 2022 Basin 8-1 Alternative is an alternative to the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the Orange County Basin, 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. Local Hazard Mitigation Plan City of Seal Beach (2025) provides the basis for the seismic and other natural and natural disaster risk analysis of the water system facilities. Water and Wastewater Financial Plan and Rate Study for the City’s service area provides information on water infrastructure planning projects and plans to address any required water system improvements.
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 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 and is measured through Supplier reporting in each Urban Water Management Planning cycle. WR P1 (WR P1) is relevant to water suppliers that plan to participate in multi-year 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 reevaluation of Delta flow requirements and conservation objectives, which ultimately may impact available supply to the State Water Project (SWP). 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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 initial water use projections data to MWDOC (Table 2.4).
MWDOC in turn provided the refined projections of the City’s water demand and the imported supply from MWDOC over the next 25 years.
The City also has 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 SB X7-7 compliance, regional water loss program or SB555 compliance, and regional water use efficiency programs. Chapter 5 and Chapter 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.
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 11, 2026 and notified key entities and the public per the Water Code requirements. Chapters 10.2 and 10.3 describe these efforts in detail. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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CHAPTER 3 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
The City of Seal Beach (City) was incorporated in 1915 and later became a charter city in 1964. The City is located along the California coastline in Orange County and is bordered to the north by the City of Los Alamitos, and the unincorporated Rossmoor community; to the east by the Cities of Garden Grove, Westminster, and Huntington Beach; to the south by the Pacific Ocean and City of Huntington Beach; and to the west by the City of Long Beach. The City’s Water Division operates four production wells, an active service connection with MET managed by MWDOC, emergency interconnections with other utilities, 2 reservoirs with a total storage capacity of 7 million gallons (MG), 2 booster stations, 4 disinfection sites, approximately 680 hydrants and manages an approximately 75-mile water mains system with about 5,423 service connections.
Lying in the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB), its 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 mostly developed with a mix of residential, commercial, industrial, and public land. There is a large United States Naval Weapons Station within the City along with light industrial and institutional land uses.
Recent development has primarily consisted of 30 residential units and the establishment of a new park.
Moving forward, the City will continue planning for its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation. The current population (2025) of 24,399 is projected to decrease by 3 percent over the next 25 years to 23,666. This equates to an annual decline rate of 0.12 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 MWDOC.
3.1.1 Formation and Purpose
The City is a predominantly residential community located along the California coastline in Orange County. As mentioned above, the City was incorporated in 1915 and became a charter city in 1964.
Originally called Bay City, Seal Beach was developed in the early 1900s as a resort destination for residents of the Los Angeles area. Its early growth was accelerated by the construction of the Pacific Electric Railway Trolley, which reached the City in 1906. The railway allowed visitors to reach the City more easily and in greater numbers to enjoy the many hotels, bathhouses and dance halls which were constructed for recreation. In 1926, oil was discovered in the City, and the oil boom that followed resulted in the development of Seal Beach into the residential community it is today. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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3.1.2 City Council
The City is administered under a council-manager form of government and is governed by a five-member City council elected by district serving 4-year alternating terms. Current City Council members are:
Lisa Landau – Council Member, 2025 & 2026 Mayor (District Three – Hill, Coves, Bridgeport & Heron Pointe)
Ben Wong – Council Member, 2026 Mayor Pro Tem (District Two – Leisure World, College Park West & Rossmoor Center)
Nathan Steele – Council Member, 2025 Mayor Pro Tem (District Five – Leisure World) Joe Kalmick – Council Member, 2022 Mayor (District One – Old Town & Surfside Colony) Patty Senecal – Council Member (District Four - College Park East & Town Center)
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 MET. The City’s location within MWDOC’s service area is shown in Figure 3.1.
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Figure 3.1 Regional Location of the City of Seal Beach and Other MWDOC Member Agencies 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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3.2 Water Service Area and Facilities
3.2.1 Water Service Area
Rossmoor Center, located in the City, is served by an investor-owned water utility, the Golden State Water Company (GSWC). Therefore, this UWMP is limited to those communities receiving water service from the City and covers an aerial extent of approximately 7,135 acres within the City’s boundaries. The Leisure World Retirement Community, with 6,808 dwelling units, is served by the City through 3 master meters.
The City maintains the water distribution facilities and the fire hydrants within Leisure World.
The service area is divided into several distinct communities as shown in Figure 3.2 and described below:
Old Town, which is the area south of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Marina Drive, between First Street and Seal Beach Boulevard, was developed in the 1920s. It is the oldest area of the City. High density residential and commercial land uses are prevalent. Large single-family residential lots are found in the Gold Coast District. The City’s mile long beach in Old Town is used for surfing and swimming. The Seal Beach Pier, located at the end of Main Street, provides fishing facilities. Bridgeport is the area west of PCH north of Marina Drive and southeast of the San Gabriel River. It was primarily developed in the 1960s and consists of medium and high-density residential land uses.
It includes the Seal Beach Trailer Park, and Oakwood Apartments. Old Town and Bridgeport cover 276 acres.
Marina Hill was developed in the 1950s and consists mostly of single-family homes. This area covers 201 acres north of Pacific Coast Highway and west of Seal Beach Boulevard, adjacent to the south edge of the Hellman Ranch property. It is further divided into Marina Hill-North and Marina Hill South, with Bolsa Avenue forming the boundary.
Hellman Ranch Covers 199 acres and is located west of Seal Beach Boulevard and north of Marina Hill. The development includes 100 acres of open space, freshwater wetlands and 70 single-family residential units.
The Boeing Facility, Police Facility and City Yard are located on 107 acres between Hellman Ranch and Westminster Avenue, west of Seal Beach Boulevard. This area is zoned for light industry. The Boeing Facility supports Boeing’s commercial aviation program. Engineering and design operations are also conducted from this facility. Development plans for the area include 31 acres of industrial, 19 acres of commercial, and a 120-room hotel on 2 acres. Surfside, a colony that was incorporated in the 1930s, became a part of Seal Beach in 1969. The area consists of single-family dwelling units located on 10 acres of the south spit of Anaheim Bay.
Although a gated community, pedestrian and bicycle access to the beach is available. Leisure World, completed in 1962, covers the portion of the City between Westminster Avenue and the San Diego Freeway westerly of Seal Beach Boulevard. It is a gated community of 533 acres with 6,608 dwelling units, 4 club houses, and a 9-hole golf course. Leisure World is a retirement community for seniors 55 years and older. Medical, religious, commercial, and recreational facilities are all provided within the compound limits. The existing population is 8,400. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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College Park East is a single-family residential area developed in the late 1960s. It is located on 292 acres between the San Diego Freeway and Lampson Avenue, west of Bolsa Chica Channel in the northeast section of the City.
Bixby Old Ranch and Old Ranch Golf Course are located north of Lampson Avenue and east of Seal Beach Boulevard. Most of Bixby Old Ranch has recently been developed. This area covers 230 acres.
The golf course is served through 2 meters. Irrigation water to the golf course is provided by a private on-site well.
College Park West is a 62-acre small residential community located along San Gabriel River northeast of Leisure World. Water service to College Park West is provided through a metered supply connection from Leisure World.
The Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1972 and preserves 911 acres of salt marsh and upland area in Anaheim Bay. The refuge is located within the boundaries of the United States Naval Weapons Station and there is no public access. Sunset Aquatic Park was acquired by the County in 1962 from the United States Navy. It encompasses 67 acres of Anaheim Bay and is the site of a public marina and park. The Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach was established in 1944. It covers approximately 5,000 acres of land located between Seal Beach Boulevard and Bolsa Chica Road from the San Diego Freeway to PCH.
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Figure 3.2 City of Seal Beach Water Service Area
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3.2.2 Water Facilities
The City’s Water Division of the Department of Public Works maintains approximately 75 miles of mains, 4 production wells, 2 reservoirs with a total storage capacity of 7 MG, 2 booster stations that constantly maintain water at approximately 60 pounds per square inch (psi), 4 disinfection sites, approximately 680 hydrants, approximately 5,423 service connections, an active service connection with MET and emergency interconnections with the City of Long Beach, the City of Huntington Beach, the City of Westminster, and GSWC. Figure 3.3 illustrates the City’s water supply and distribution system. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Figure 3.3 City of Seal Beach Distribution System
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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 still 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. 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 5 years, from Water Year 2016-17 to 2020-21.
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 affects SWP supply allocations. Similarly, the Colorado River Basin also experienced year-to-year swings in hydrology ,and due to the prolonged drought conditions since 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 24,399 according to the Center for Demographic Research at California State University, Fullerton (CDR). Overall, the population is projected to decrease 3 percent by 2050. Table 3.1 shows the population projections in 5-year increments out to the year 2050 within the City’s service area.
Table 3.1 Submittal Table 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)
24,399 24,525 24,369 24,289 24,036 23,666
Notes:
Source - Center for Demographic Research at California State University, Fullerton, 2025. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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3.4.2 Demographics and Socioeconomics
As shown below in Table 3.2, the total number of dwelling units in the City’s service area is expected to increase by 3.9 percent in the next 25 years from 14,676 in 2025 to 15,242 in 2050.
Table 3.2 City of Seal Beach Service Area Dwelling Units by Type Dwelling Units 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Single Family 4,663 4,665 4,669 4,672 4,682 4,691
All Other(1) 10,013 10,357 10,417 10,461 10,502 10,551
Total 14,676 15,022 15,086 15,133 15,184 15,242
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 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 United States Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey, the City has about 44 percent of population of 65 years and over, 43 percent between the ages of 18 and 64 years, and 13 percent under the age of 18 years. Of the City’s population over 25 years of age,
95.4 percent is at minimum a high school graduate, with 51.1 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 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 United States 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 5-year increments was allocated using 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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 is mostly developed with a mix of residential, commercial, industrial, and public land. There is a large United States Naval Weapons Station within the City along with light industrial and institutional land uses. uses. Based on the zoning designation collected and aggregated by Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) in 2018, the current land use within the City’s service area can be categorized as follows:
Single family residential – 7.4 percent.
Multi-family residential – 7.4 percent.
Agriculture – 0.5 percent.
Commercial – 2.4 percent.
Industrial – 1.7 percent.
Institutional/Governmental – 47.8 percent.
Open space and parks – 3.8 percent.
Other – 26.5 percent (e.g., Undevelopable or Protected Land, Water, and Vacant). No land use designations – 2.4 percent.
3.5.2 Projected Land Uses
The City has identified the redevelopment sites listed below that are in addition to projected Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and in process development projects, to meet the jurisdiction's fair share of regional housing needs across all income levels. It is possible that not every proposed project will get built in the next decade.
1780 Pacific Coast Highway – The site can reasonably accommodate ground floor commercial use and parking with four second-story housing units.
Leisure World – An additional 125 moderate-income units can be accommodated on approximately
5.55 acres presently devoted to recreational vehicle storage at an assumed density of 22.7 units to an acre (this site has a maximum density of 32.2 units to an acre). New three-story buildings can accommodate parking on the ground level with units above. Accurate Storage – This site is proposed for rezoning to a maximum density of 46 units per acre that will enhance the financial viability of adding residences to the site. At an assumed capacity of 37 dwelling units per acre.
The Shops at Rossmoor – This site is 27 acres, and surface parking occupies approximately 19 acres.
It is assumed that approximately 12 acres of surface parking could be developed with housing, calculated at 37 units per acre, this would result in 441 units, exclusive of a density bonus. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Old Ranch Town Center – It is assumed approximately 8.3 acres of the surface parking lot of the center could be developed or redeveloped with housing uses, creating a mixed-use environment at 37 units per acre, for a total of 306 units.
Seal Beach Plaza – This site, located northwest of Seal Beach Boulevard and Westminster Boulevard, can be redeveloped entirely or partially as a mixed-use project. Assuming that residential uses are developed on 1.5 acres of surface parking at the site at a calculated density of 37 du/acre, 55 moderate-income units could be accommodated following adoption of a new mixed-use zoning district.
Seal Beach Center – This site, located on Pacific Coast Highway between Balboa Drive and Bolsa Avenue, has a mixed-use zoning allowing up to 46 units per acre, 2.7 acres of surface parking and a calculated capacity of 37 dwelling units per acre, the capacity would be 99 above-moderate units without using a density bonus.
99 Marina – A density of 33 units per acre is proposed at this site to meet the 30-dwelling-unit per-acre default density thresholds established under Government Code Section 65583.2(c)(3)(B)).
However, this location may have additional development standards imposed by the Coastal Commission, similar to the adjacent development, where a portion of the site was left as open space.
Thus, the total housing production expected at the site is 66 units, all of which are assumed to be above moderate, to be extremely conservative.
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 would likely increase the City’s water demand beyond what is presented in this UWMP.
The City will continue planning for the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation imposed by the State. Additionally, new developments may potentially include ADUs, while it is also 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 Assessment (RHNA) – 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 allocation. The City’s RHNA allocation for 2021-2029 is 1,243 dwelling units. This includes 258 units for very low-income households, 201 units for low-income households, 239 units for moderate-income households, and 545 units for above moderate-income households.
The City’s 2022 Housing Element Update provides an 8-year strategy to ensure the availability of adequate residential sites to accommodate these units.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) – 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 rise in interest 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.
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» 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.
» 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.
In 2024, a total of 6,162 new residential units were permitted in Orange County, including those for ADUs (CDR, 2025). CDR projects that by 2050, approximately 13,000 more ADUs will be built in Orange County, with 2 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 a UWMP is to provide an insight into the projected future water demands and supplies. This chapter describes the City of Seal Beach’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 the 2025 UWMPs, 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 MET with the ambitious dream to bring Colorado River water across the Mojave Desert. The 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, and 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 COVID19 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 past several years throughout California and Orange County.
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Figure 4.1 Historical Water Use and Population in 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 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.
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. The Orange County Water Demand Projection Model (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. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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.
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 similarly include a number of redevelopment projects, potential Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and additional residential units to meet the City’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation, which will all shape the City’s future water use.
Figure 4.2 Projected Water Use Across All Orange County Water Agencies Water use within the City’s service area has fluctuated in the past 5 years, with an annual average total water use of approximately 3,287 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 FY 2021-22 to FY 2022-23 in the City’s entire service area.
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Water use in FY 2024-25 included 3,932 AF potable water. The City’s water use is primarily residential and institutional/governmental. The projected water use in 2050 is 3,358 for potable water. It should be noted that reported FY 2024-25 water demands throughout this Chapter may be higher than actual. Based on available information, this discrepancy is likely related to meter inaccuracy, though it has not yet been confirmed. Verification will occur following meter replacement and monitoring of subsequent water use data.
4.1 Water Use in the Last Five Years
The 5-year average water use within the City’s service area is approximately 3,287 AF provided by 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 mostly developed with projected populations expected to slightly decrease. Total demands have remained relatively stable due to ongoing water conservation programs and improved water use efficiency efforts.
FY 2020-21 through FY 2021-22 saw the highest water uses over the last 5 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. Excluding this most recent FY 2024-25 due to the suspected meter inaccuracy, the City saw a decrease in demands of 13.7 percent over the 4-year period from FY 2020-21 to FY 2023-24.
Table 4.1 presents the City’s service area existing water use by source for direct uses. There are no indirect uses within the City’s service area. The City’s service area total water usage in FY 2024-25 was 3,932 AF (Table 4.1). The total usage was met through a combination of potable sources, including groundwater and imported water. In FY 2024-25, about 90.4 percent of the total demand was met through Orange County Basin groundwater.
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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 or
Non-Potable
(OPTIONAL)
Drop down list
Volume (AF)
Single Family Potable 957
Multi-Family Potable 303
Commercial Potable 457
Institutional/Governmental Potable 917
Landscape Potable 242
Other (optional) Sunset Aquatic Park Potable 8
Distribution System Water Loss Apparent Water Loss Potable 54* Distribution System Water Loss Real Water Loss Potable 993* Subtotal Potable 3,932
Subtotal Non-Potable 0
Total 3,932
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:
Institutional usage includes Leisure World (899.14 AF) and City (18.15 AF). Additional usage includes Sunset Aquatic Park, which accounted for 8.32 AF.
Distribution System Water Loss (in total 1,047 AF) is calculated as the difference between total potable production and use for FY 2025. *Reported 2025 water usage values may be higher than actual. Based on available information, this discrepancy is likely related to meter inaccuracy, though it has not yet been confirmed. Verification will occur following meter replacement and monitoring of subsequent water use data.
4.1.1 Direct Municipal and Industrial Use
As of FY 2024-25, there are 5,423 water service connections in the City’s water system. Table 4.1 summarizes the City’s potable water demand for FY 2024-25; a total of 3,932 AF of potable water was used. The City has a mix of single and multi-family residential water use which account for 32.1 percent of their total potable water demand. Commercial use accounts for 11.6 percent of total potable water demand while institutional/governmental use accounts for 23.3 percent. Landscape irrigation accounts for
6.1 percent of total potable demand while other uses (i.e. Sunset Aquatic Park) account for almost
0.2 percent of total potable demand. Distribution system water loss (apparent and real) accounted for
25.3 percent in FY 2024-25. While the majority of this discrepancy is expected to be due to meter inaccuracy and therefore represent apparent water loss, it is currently reported as real water loss because the cause has not yet been verified. Verification will occur following meter replacement and review of post-replacement consumption data. Section 4.4 identifies typical sources of apparent and real water loss.
Since the City is essentially built out with only a number of planned redevelopment projects, demands are not expected to increase significantly. Rather, the City’s continual water conservation is expected to slightly decrease demands in the long term.
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4.2 Projected Water Use
The water use projection for this UWMP is separated into a near-term period covering the next 5 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) and groundwater. 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 5 years is shown in Table 4.2. As shown below, the City’s total service area water demands are expected to gradually decrease over the next 5 years (2026 to 2030), due to a projected decline in the service area’s M&I demands in the short term. The City does not project any non-potable demands for its service area in the next 5 years.
Table 4.2 City of Seal Beach’s Service Area Total Potable Demand for 2026-2030 Total Water Demand
Fiscal Year Ending 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Total Water Demand (AF) 3,449 3,429 3,418 3,390 3,377
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 direct water demand is projected to reach 3,358 AF by the year 2050, a 14.6 percent decrease from the 2025 demand of 3,932 AF. Table 4.4 indicates additional information for both future conservation efforts and low-income water demands included in the projections. Table 4.5 presents the passive water savings included in Table 4.3 projections for 2030-2050. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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-PotableWater - 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
WUEdata online submittal tool
Potable or
NonPotable
(OPTIONAL)
Drop down
list
2030
(AF)
2035
(AF)
2040
(AF)
2045
(AF)
2050
opt
(AF)
Single Family Potable 1,989 1,982 1,982 1,969 1,956
Multi-Family Potable 292 292 293 291 289
Commercial Includes
Institutional
and
Industrial
uses
Potable 526 529 533 538 542
Landscape Includes
Agriculture
use
Potable 441 441 442 441 441
Distribution System Water Loss Includes
Other uses
Potable 130 130 130 130 129
Subtotal Potable 3,377 3,373 3,380 3,368 3,358
Subtotal Non-Potable 0 0 0 0 0
Total 3,377 3,373 3,380 3,368 3,358
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 Seal Beach 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). 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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 2035 2040 2045 2050 (opt)
(AF) (AF) (AF) (AF) (AF)
Add additional rows as needed
44 43 43 43 43
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 and Industrial Use
Potable Municipal and Industrial Use
Total potable water demands are projected to decrease to 3,358 AF by the year 2050, a decrease of about
0.6 percent between 2030 and 2050 (Table 4.3). It is projected that combined single- and multi-family residential water use will account for 66.9 percent of total potable water demand. Commercial water use (including institutional and industrial uses) is expected to account for 16.1 percent, and landscape irrigation water use will account for 13.1 percent of total potable water use in the City by 2050.
Distribution system water loss and other uses will account for 3.8 percent of total potable water demands.
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.
Multi-Family Residential.
Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII).
Dedicated Irrigation (potable, recycled, and 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.
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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 and 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:
𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊 𝑈𝑈𝑈𝑈 = 𝐷𝐷 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 × 𝑅𝑅 𝑜𝑜 𝑈𝑈𝑈𝑈 𝑝𝑝 𝐷𝐷 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 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
Multifamily Residential gallons/account/day
Commercial, Institutional, Industrial (CII) 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.
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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 conservation is based on the best available data from 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. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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 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.
1 For the 2022 Orange County Projections, CDR collected initial draft input from local jurisdictions in September 2021 on their anticipated jurisdiction-level housing growth for each projection year. In December 2021-February 2022, CDR reviewed and extracted data from jurisdictions’ draft housing elements to create a parcel-level inventory of additional housing capacity from sites that were to be rezoned to accommodate the 6th RHNA cycle. These were reviewed by jurisdictions in spring 2022. Jurisdictions completed the rezoning of the final sites after their housing elements were certified by the State Housing and Community Development Department starting in 2022. The final adopted rezone sites will feed into CDR’s 2026 Orange County Projections. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Table 4.8 Future Model Parameters
Data Category Variable Source Assumptions
Driver Units Single-family and
multifamily 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 Year (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 unbilled water (e.g. hydrant flushing, firefighting, and blow-off water from well start-ups). Table 4.9 summarizes the status of the last 5 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.
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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
CA3010041
2020 Yes
2021 Yes
2022 Yes
2023 Yes
2024 Yes
DWR NOTES: Suppliers will provide a link to the WUEdata 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 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. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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)
CA301004
1 Yes 24.2
Gallons per
Service
Connection
per Day
(GPSCD)
5,423 595.21 98.0 5.0
Gallons per
Service
Connection per
Day (GPSCD)
5,423 32.77 5.4
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, also known as 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 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
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 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 Seal Beach 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 Chapter 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 95 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 OCWD. To enhance the reliability of groundwater, OCWD has implemented projects and programs over the years that include: 1) the Orange County Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), which is the world’s largest water purification system for IPR; 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 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 meets all of its demands with a combination of imported water and local groundwater to meet its water needs. The City works together with two primary agencies, MWDOC and OCWD, to deliver a safe and reliable water supply that will continue to serve the community in periods of drought and shortage.
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 California SWP and MET’s CRA to Southern California. The City purchases imported water through MWDOC to supplement their local supplies.
In FY 2025, local sources accounted for 90 percent of the City’s water supplies, which may fluctuate based on the Basin Production Percentage (BPP) and the City’s pumping capabilities.. The primary source of local supply, groundwater, originates from the Orange County Basin (OC Basin), which is located in the middle portion of MWDOC’s service area and is managed by the OCWD. The GWRS is a joint project between 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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OCWD and the OCSD. Using advanced treatment purification, 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. Imported water makes up the rest of the City’s water supply portfolio. In FY 2024-25, the City relied on approximately 90 percent groundwater and 10 percent imported water (Table 6.1).
Table 6.1 Water Supplies – 2025 Actual
Submittal Table 6-8 Retail: Water Supplies - 2025 Actual Water Code Section 10631(b)
Water Supply Additional Description
2025
Actual Volume
(AF)
Groundwater (not
desalinated)
Orange County Groundwater
Basin 3,555
Purchased or Imported
Water MWDOC 377
Total 3,932
NOTES: Source - MWDOC, 2025; Reported 2025 water supply values may be higher than actual. Based on available information, this discrepancy is likely related to meter inaccuracy, though it has not yet been confirmed. Verification will occur following meter replacement and monitoring of subsequent water use data.
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 85 percent groundwater and 15 percent imported 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 the 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.
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Table 6.2 Water Supplies – Projected
Submittal Table 6-9 Retail: Water Supplies — Projected
Water Code Section 10631 (b)
Water Supply
Additional Detail on
Water Supply
Projected Water Supply
2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 (opt)
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 507 506 507 505 504
Groundwater (not desalinated) OC Basin 2,871 2,867 2,873 2,863 2,854 Total 3,377 3,373 3,380 3,368 3,358
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. Refer 2025 Orange County Water Demand Projection Model TM (MWDOC, 2025) for supply projection methodology. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Figure 6.1 City’s Projected Water Supply
6.2 Imported Water
The City supplements its water supply with imported water purchased from MET through MWDOC. In FY 2024-25, the City relied on approximately 377 acre-feet per year (AFY) – approximately 10 percent of the City’s water supply portfolio for FY 2024-25 – of imported water from MET / MWDOC to meet its demands.
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.
Imported water is supplied to the City by MWDOC via West Orange County Water Board (WOCWB), which is a joint powers agency formed in 1955 with the purpose of providing a reliable imported water supply to its member agencies. MWDOC supplies WOCWB member agencies imported water through two turnouts, OC-9 and OC-35. WOCWB Feeder No. 2 originates at OC-35 and conveys water to the City as well as to the Cities of Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, and Westminster. The maximum flow capacity at the City’s turnout is 10 cubic feet per second (cfs).
Imported water is conveyed to the City via the OC-35 Connection to the MET system. The connection is located at Springdale Street and Westminster Avenue and is shared with the City of Huntington Beach who are responsible for operating the facility and communicating flow data to MWDOC and MET. The maximum capacity of the connection for the City is 9.9 cfs (Seal Beach, 2012). 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
2,871 2,867 2,873 2,863 2,854
507 506 507 505 504
Groundwater Imported Water
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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 6 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 1 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 1 vote for each 10 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 5 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) 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Figure 6.3 MET Feeders and Transmission Mains that Serve Orange County 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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 AF entitlement. Colorado River transactions are potentially available to supply additional water up to the CRA capacity of 1.25 million AF 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 million AF 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 United States 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 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).
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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 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 United States 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°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).
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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 project contractors along the River – nearly 10,000 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 DCP-related conservation programs.
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.
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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 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). 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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The Delta is key to the SWP’s ability to deliver water to its agricultural and urban contractors. All but 5 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.
In May 2019, DWR withdrew its permit for the two-tunnel WaterFix project in favor of a smaller one-tunnel project alternative. In July 2022, the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the recommended Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) 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 DCP, 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 DCP 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, 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 (million AF) 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). 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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:
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 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 DCP 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). 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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6.2.3.3 SWP Programs/Plans
In the past 5 years, MET has updated and implemented planning, regulatory, infrastructure, and operational programs to improve the reliability of the SWP supplies while addressing environmental, seismic, and climate-related risks in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta and along the California Aqueduct.
Key SWP programs and planning efforts include:
SWP Biological Opinions and California Incidental Take Permit – Updated federal Biological Opinions 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 million AF of regional dry-year storage. Storage increased to 3.8 million AF by the end of 2024, with levels projected to reach approximately 3.9 million AF 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 million AF. 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.
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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.
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 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 pump-in 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 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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. 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 Integrated Resources Plan (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; and
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 CAMP4’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 DCP. 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 million AF and would require the construction of two large dams up to 310 feet high and 9 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 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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, 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 5-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 5-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 5-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). 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Flexible Storage in Castaic Lake and Perris Lake.
Groundwater Storage for Conjunctive Use.
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 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Table 6.5 MET’s Projected Supply Capability and Demands through 2050 for a Single Dry Year 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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. As shown in Table 6.7, MET’s total supplies are insufficient to fully meet projected demands under these drought conditions, resulting in annual shortfalls in four of the 5 years and a cumulative deficit of approximately 1.1 million AF by FY 2029-30. These results indicate that MET’s SWP and CRA supplies alone cannot meet demands during this 5-year drought period without additional actions. MET’s 2025 UWMP therefore identifies Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) actions, as necessary tools to close the deficit and maintain service through the modeled drought sequence (Table 6.7).
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Table 6.7 MET’s Water Use, Supply, and Drought Risk Assessment for 2026-2030 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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 Orange County Groundwater Basin (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.
Although the City has four groundwater wells, one of the City’s wells (Leisure World Well) is inactive. The remaining three active wells are sufficient for the City’s water supply. Pumping limitations set by the BPP and the pumping capacity of the wells are constraints affecting the groundwater supply to the City. The groundwater volume pumped by the City has remained stable over the last 5 years (Table 6.8).
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 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 2,341 2,736 2,156 2,341 3,555
Total 2,341 2,736 2,156 2,341 3,555
NOTES: Source - MWDOC, 2025; Reported 2025 water supply values may be higher than actual. Based on available information, this discrepancy is likely related to meter inaccuracy, though it has not yet been confirmed. Verification will occur following meter replacement and monitoring of subsequent water use data.
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 2017 Basin 8-1 Alternative (Appendix D). 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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 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 Hills 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 estimate full storage volume is approximately 66 million AF.
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, 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):
A Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) is formed and a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is adopted.
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 assessed 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 approximately 77 percent level prior to 2023 to 85 percent beginning in February 2023.
Monthly water-resources reports show agencies achieving 86 percent to 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 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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. These 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 Groundwater Sustainability Plan (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 9 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 United States 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 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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increases evaluated to 510 to 512 feet, enabling capture of roughly 2 billion gallons more stormwater and corresponding managed release rates tailored to OCWD’s recharge capacity.
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 OCWD Board of Directors. The overall BPP achieved within OCWD for non-irrigation use was 83.8 percent, with the reduced achievement attributed primarily to PFAS-related well shutdowns. Groundwater stored in 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 BPP for these water-quality projects will be partially or fully exempt from the Basin Equity Assessment (BEA) due to the Basin-wide benefit of pumping and treating poor-quality groundwater.
During the 2023-24 water year, MET untreated full-service water supplies were available for groundwater replenishment; however, OCWD did not purchase replenishment water due to favorable Basin storage conditions. OCWD likewise does not plan to purchase untreated full-service water for replenishment 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 mgd of advanced-purified water for recharge at the Talbert Seawater Barrier and in the Kraemer, Miller, Miraloma, 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 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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 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 AFY. 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 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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6.3.2 Planned Future Groundwater Sources
The City has included improvement projects for all of their wells, to continue the reliability of their local groundwater sources. These projects are further described in Section 6.9.
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 to 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 1,705 acres and includes approximately 34 miles of sewer main. The wastewater system serves about 5,000 customers (Seal Beach’s Sewer Master Plan, 2007). For additional details on the City’s wastewater services, refer to the 2018 The City of Seal Beach Sewer Master Plan.
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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 imported water supplies are restricted. The City is indirectly involved in recycled water production, through its supply of wastewater for Integrated Water Resources Plan (IRP). 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 OCSD for treatment and disposal. OCSD 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 OCSD 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
OCSD collects wastewater from residential, commercial, and industrial customers in 20 cities, 4 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).
OCSD 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. OCSD 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 OCSD's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
OCSD's ocean outfall is 120-inch diameter and extends 4 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).
OCSD 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. Reclamation Plant No. 1 is the only plant that provides water to OCWD for additional treatment and recycling. An interplant pipeline allows flows to be conveyed to Treatment Plant No. 2. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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OCSD 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. All secondary effluent from their plant is discharged to the ocean through the ocean outfall.
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 OCSD 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 OCSD 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 MF, RO (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 million gallons of water per day (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 OCSD; 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 OCSD. This additional water comes from OCSD’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 OCSD Plant 2 and rehabilitating an existing pipeline between OCSD Plant 2 and the GWRS. Following completion, the GWRS plant now recycles 100 percent of OCSD’s reclaimable sources and produces enough water to meet the needs of over 1 million people.
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6.6.2 Wastewater
The City operates and maintains the local sewer collection pipes that feed into the OCSD's trunk sewer system to convey wastewater to OCSD's treatment plants. The City's sewer system includes 34 miles of sewer lines, 780 manholes and 7 lift stations. The wastewater collected in the City’s system is conveyed to OCSD’s extensive system of gravity flow sewers, pump stations, and pressurized sewers. Ultimately, the wastewater is treated at OCSD treatment plants in Fountain Valley (Plant No. 1) and Huntington Beach (Plant No. 2). Table 6.10 summarizes the wastewater collected by the City and transported to OCSD's system in 2025.
Table 6.10 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 Seal Beach Estimated 3,028
OCSD Plant 1,
Place ID 758392
No
OCSD Plant 2,
Place ID 259158
No
Total Wastewater Received from
UWMP Service Area in 2025: 3,028
NOTES: This assumes a return rate of 77 percent based on the 2018 Sewer Master Plan.
6.6.3 Current Recycled Water Uses
There are currently no direct recycled water uses within the City’s service area. For indirect use, the City also benefits from OCWD’s GWRS system that provides IRP through replenishment of Orange County Groundwater Basin with water that meets state and federal drinking water standards.
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 has plans for potential tie-ins to the Long Beach Recycled Water Pipeline Project via a 4-inch diameter line. No volumes or allocations have been defined. The City has applied for a Water Recycling Funding Program grant from DWR to conduct a Long Beach-sourced recycled water feasibility study.
The City will additionally continue to supply wastewater to support the region’s IRP via GWRS. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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6.6.5 Potential Recycled Water Uses
While the City recognizes the potential for beneficial reuse in their service area, there is no source of recycled water supply in proximity to the City. The City's wastewater is conveyed to OCSD's regional treatment facilities where the wastewater is treated, recycled, or discharged to the ocean. Recycled water analyses performed over the years have shown that local treatment and reuse facilities are not feasible.
The City supports the continued development of recycled water and potential uses throughout the region with OCWD’s GWRS.
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 OCSD 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 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, Environmental Impact Reports (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 United States Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation (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.
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6.6.6.3 Optimization Plan
The City does not use recycled water, therefore, there is no need for a recycled water optimization plan. In other areas of Orange County, recycled water is used for irrigating golf courses, parks, schools, businesses, and communal landscaping, as well as for groundwater recharge. Analyses have indicated that present worth costs to incorporate recycled water within the City are not cost effective as compared to purchasing imported water from MWDOC or using groundwater. 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 MWDOC, OCWD, MET, and other cooperative agencies.
6.7 Desalination Opportunities
6.7.1 Ocean Water Desalination
The City currently does not have plans for ocean desalination.
6.7.2 Groundwater Desalination
The City currently does not have plans for brackish groundwater desalination.
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. However, beyond short-term outages, transfers can also be involved with longer term water exchanges to deal with droughts or water allocation situations. The following subsections describe the City’s existing and planned exchanges and transfers.
The City maintains five emergency interconnections as follows:
Golden State Water Company: in Rossmoor at Saint Cloud Dr. City of Westminster: Westminster Ave. east of Milan St. City of Long Beach: Marina Dr. and 1st St.
City of Huntington Beach: Pacific Coast Highway and Philips Rd. City of Huntington Beach: Pacific Coast Highway and Anderson St. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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6.8.2 Planned and Potential Exchanges and Transfers
The City is currently negotiating an emergency interconnection at Lampson and Tulip Streets with Golden State Water Company.
In addition, 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 (SARCCUP) – The Santa Ana River Conservation and Conjunctive Use Project (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 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 6 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
The City continually reviews practices that will provide its customers with adequate and reliable supplies, including preparing a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) every year with a 5-year projection. Trained staff continue to ensure the water quality is safe and the water supply will meet present and future needs in an environmentally and economically responsible manner. Although the City has various projects planned to maintain or improve the water system, there are currently no City-specific planned projects that have both a concrete timeline and a quantifiable increase in supply. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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The City anticipates water demand in the City to remain relatively constant over the next 25 years. The projects that have been identified by the City in the 5-year Capital Improvement Program to improve the City’s water supply reliability include complete renovations of three of the City’s four water supply well facilities, construction of a wellhead treatment plant at the Lampson Well facility, and various routine system infrastructure rehabilitation/replacement efforts. A few of the proposed water capital projects are highlighted below. To review the complete 5-year water CIP please refer to the City’s Adopted Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget (City of Seal Beach, 2025).
Lampson Wellhead Treatment Plant – The Lampson Avenue Well is one of the City’s primary groundwater pumping facilities used to supply potable water to the City’s residents and water customers.
Shortly after it was placed in service in 2008, odor issues developed when pumping at higher flow rates caused by naturally occurring hydrogen sulfide (H2S) dissolved within the groundwater. This high concentration of H2S within groundwater has required the City to operate this well at only 40 percent of its intended flow rate/output. This well deficiency has in turn required the City to become more dependent on expensive and less reliable imported water. This project constructs a treatment plant to enable this critical water supply facility to operate at its full flow rate/output and thus maximizing the City’s ability to use local groundwater supplies to meet annual City water demand.
Bolsa Chica Water Wellhead Rehabilitation Project – Bolsa Chica Well facility is one of the City’s primary groundwater pumping facilities that enables the City to maximize local groundwater supplies to meet annual water demand and thus minimize dependence on imported water. This facility was constructed in 1984 and is fast approaching its useful service life. This project reconstructs the wellhead and thus extends the well facility’s service life for an additional 40 years.
Beverly Manor Booster Pump Station and Wellhead Rehabilitation – The Beverly Manor facility not only serves as a groundwater well but also as a booster pump station that draws water from one of the two City storage reservoirs. This facility also enables the City to maximize local groundwater supplies to meet annual water demand and thus minimize dependence on imported water. In addition, it ensures system reliability through its booster pumping capabilities. This facility was constructed in 1978 and is fast approaching its useful service life. This project reconstructs the wellhead and booster pumping station extending its service life for an additional 40 years.
Leisure World Wellhead Reestablishment – The Leisure World well, which has been inactive, is detailed in the City’s CIP to be funded starting FY 2026. This will increase the City’s groundwater production in the OC Basin.
Smart Water Meter Replacement – The City’s water meters average to 25 years in age, thus reaching their useful life. In 2019 the City commissioned a feasibility study to replace the City’s aging water meters with Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI), simply known as Smart Meters. This Study will provide a “blueprint” on how to proceed with the deployment of new Smart Meters citywide. Once installed these meters will allow for wireless real time data collection, leak detection, and it will minimize future O&M involved with manual meter readings. The Bureau of Reclamation grant has been submitted, and the next phase of technology deployment is planned and pending funding.
SCADA Improvements – The City’s water system is managed and monitored through the SCADA base station at the City’s maintenance yard located off Adolfo Lopez Drive. The City’s current SCADA system is outdated and is missing key infrastructure necessary for complete functionality. Upgrades to SCADA will supply operators the ability to further optimize operations of the water distribution system. This project 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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will be completed in three phases. Phase 1, the selection of a new software program which has been completed. Phase 2 consists of analyzing the current infrastructure and identifying needed improvements at all facilities, and Phase 3, the full installation and integration of the equipment.
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.
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 1,375 kWh per million gallons (MG), or 448.1 kWh per AF, for water extraction and delivery (Table 6.11). The basis for calculations is provided in more detail in the following subsections.
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Table 6.11 Optional Submittal Table 0-1A: Recommended Energy 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 2,420 0 0 0 2,786 2,786 0 2,786 Energy Consumed (kWh) N/A 1,084,402 0 0 0 259,388 1,343,790 0 1,343,790 Energy Intensity (kWh/vol. converted to MG) N/A 1,375 0.0 0.0 0.0 286 1,480 0.0 1,480 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:
The City of Seal Beach relies on imported water and local groundwater to meet its customers' water needs. Operational control is limited to groundwater wells and potable water booster stations.
NOTES: Energy consumption is estimated based on FY 2025 meter data. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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 (CY). 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 2,420 AF of groundwater from the OC Basin and distributed 2,786 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 1,084,402 kWh of electricity and pump stations along the distribution system consumed 259,388 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 50.3 kWh per AF for wastewater services (Table 6.12). 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 and lift stations. As explained in Section 6.5, the City owns and operates six wastewater lift stations but no treatment facilities. Similar to the water supply energy intensity, wastewater energy intensity was calculated for the 2024 CY.
6.10.2.2 Volume of Wastewater Entering Processes
In CY 2024, the City collected and conveyed approximately 3,028 AF of wastewater to OCSD. The City does not treat any of the wastewater generated within the City’s boundary. Wastewater volume is based on estimated data.
6.10.2.3 Energy Consumption and Generation
According to estimates referencing Southern California Edison Electricity Bills, the City’s 6 lift stations consumed 152,412 kWh of electricity in 2024. There are no other wastewater facilities that are owned and operated by the City. Currently, the City does not generate renewable energy. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Table 6.12 Optional Submittal Table 0-2: Energy Intensity of 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 End Date of Reporting Period 12/31/2024 Water 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) 3,028 0 0 3,028 Wastewater Energy Consumed (kWh) 152,412 0 0 152,412
Wastewater Energy Intensity (kWh/volume) 50.3 0.0 0.0 50.3 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 at 77% potable water consumption in the service area in FY 2025.
Energy Consumed: Based on metered data for CY 2024.
Narrative:
Seal Beach 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. The table does not include downstream energy consumed to treat the wastewater, which is out of Seal Beach's control.
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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 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 Project Water.
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. Use of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems for pumping optimization, groundwater well rehabilitation, and variable frequency drives are steps that will continue to improve energy efficiency in the water-energy nexus. In addition to the relationship between water and energy, overtime, 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 UWMP describes the City of Seal Beach’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 assesses water supply reliability during a severe drought lasting the next five consecutive years, from 2026 to 2030. Factors affecting reliability, such 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 of Seal Beach’s water sources are from local groundwater and imported water purchased from the MWDOC. MWDOC is one of 26 member agencies of the MET, which imports water from the Colorado River through its own CRA and from Northern California through the California Aqueduct managed by the 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 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 BPP, which determines how much water will be pumped from the basin year, and the 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 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 historical sequences to calculate high-demand scenarios, which were expressed as scaling factors relative to the 33-year average demand.
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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 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 2022 106%
Consecutive Dry
Years 1st Year 1991-2024 106%
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 California water planners (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. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Prolonged drought periods.
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 2 out of every 3 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 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 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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constraints on Delta water supply operations through requirements for Delta inflow and outflow and export pumping restrictions.
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. 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 delivering 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, lending 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 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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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 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 manmade “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 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 DDW regulations. As DDW and 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).
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).
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7.2.3.1 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 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 Division of Drinking Water (DDW) requires testing for PFAS compounds in some groundwater production wells in the OCWD area. According to the EPA, the established federal MCLs for certain PFAS compounds in drinking water, including 4 nanograms per liter (ng/L), or 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 (ppt), 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 primarily on granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion exchange (IX) media operated in lead–lag configuration to achieve non detect PFAS levels consistent with evolving state and federal regulatory standards (Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board & Orange County Water District, 2023.) 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Groundwater production in FY 2023-24 totaled 280,420 AF, with slight increases projected over the next 2 years as additional treatment systems come online, showing continued reductions associated with PFAS-impacted wells that remain offline across several agencies. 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 OC Basin. TDS currently has a California Secondary MCL of 500 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 milligrams per liter (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 to 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 AF.
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 for up to 6 months. The MET region would likely require a water-use reduction of 10 to 25 percent 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 6- to 12-month supply of emergency water (MET, 2025).
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7.3 Water Service Reliability Assessment
This section assesses the reliability of Seal Beach’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 available to Seal Beach (Chapter 6), in 5-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.
Seal Beach is 100 percent reliable for normal year demands from 2025 through 2050. Seal Beach 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. 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. Seal Beach’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 (Submittal Table 7-2; MWDOC, 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) 3,377 3,373 3,380 3,368 3,358 Use totals
(autofill from Submittal Table 4-2 R) 3,377 3,373 3,380 3,368 3,358 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 Chapter 4), 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), 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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the model projects a 6 percent increase in demand for Seal Beach’s service area (MWDOC, 2025). Detailed information of the model is included in Appendix E.
Seal Beach’s has documented that it is 100 percent reliable for single dry year demands from 2025 through 2050. As shown in Table 7.3, projected single dry year supplies and demands are equal from 2030 to 2050, resulting in no anticipated shortages. This assessment incorporates a 6 percent increase in demand above normal-year levels and shows the significant reserves and conservation measures available within MET.
Table 7.3 Submittal Table 7-3 Retail: Single Dry Year Supply and Demand Comparison Submittal Table 7-3 Retail: Single Dry Year Supply and Use Comparison Water Code Section 10635(a)
2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 (Opt)
(AF) (AF) (AF) (AF) (AF)
Supply totals 3,573 3,569 3,576 3,563 3,552
Use totals 3,573 3,569 3,576 3,563 3,552
Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
NOTES: The single dry year projections estimate a 6% increase on imported M&I demand.
7.3.3 Multiple Dry Years Reliability
Multiple dry years are defined as five or more consecutive dry years with minimal rainfall within a period of average precipitation. Orange County’s water demand projection model (described in Chapter 4) 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. During multiple dry years, the UWMP applies dry-year adjustment factors to reflect future climate conditions and retail level water demand. These increase 6 percent in single-dry and first multiple-dry year, going up to 12, 13, 15, and 17 percent in subsequent drought years, relative to average-year demand (see Table 7.1) (MWDOC, 2025). Rather than repeating the single-dry-year factor for all 5 years, the 5-year multi-dry-year scenario applies the year-specific dry-year adjustment factors for each consecutive year, reflecting the increasing impacts of extended drought. Seal Beach has demonstrated that its water supplies remain fully reliable throughout a five‑consecutive‑year dry period from 2025 through 2050. Even assuming a conservative demand increase of 6 to 17 percent each year for five consecutive years, Seal Beach is capable of meeting all customers’ demands from 2025 through 2050 (Table 7.4), with significant reserves held by MET and conservation.
The table includes treated and untreated water from MET for M&I and non-M&I demands. The multiple dry-year projections estimate a 6 percent increase on imported M&I demand. The 2030 column assesses supply and demand for FY 2025-26 through FY 2029-30; the 2035 column assesses FY 2030-31 through FY 2034-35 and so forth, to end the water service reliability assessment in FY 2045-50. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Table 7.4 Submittal Table 7-4 Retail: Multiple Dry Years Supply and Demand Comparison Submittal Table 7-4 Retail: Multiple Dry Years Supply and Use Comparison Water Code Section 10635(a)
2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 (Opt)
(AF) (AF) (AF) (AF) (AF)
First year
Supply totals 3,573 3,569 3,576 3,563 3,552
Use totals 3,573 3,569 3,576 3,563 3,552
Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
Second
year
Supply totals 3,781 3,777 3,783 3,770 3,759
Use totals 3,781 3,777 3,783 3,770 3,759
Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
Third year
Supply totals 3,804 3,800 3,807 3,794 3,782
Use totals 3,804 3,800 3,807 3,794 3,782
Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
Fourth
year
Supply totals 3,876 3,872 3,879 3,865 3,854
Use totals 3,876 3,872 3,879 3,865 3,854
Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
Fifth year
Supply totals 3,942 3,938 3,945 3,931 3,919
Use totals 3,942 3,938 3,945 3,931 3,919
Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
NOTES: The 2030 column assesses supply and demand for FY 2025-26 through FY 2029-30; the 2035 column assesses FY 2030-31 through FY 2034-35 and so forth, in order to end the water service reliability assessment in FY 2049-50.
7.4 Management Tools and Options
Existing and planned water management tools and options that seek to maximize local resources and results in minimizing the need to import water are described below. Reduced Delta Reliance: Both MWDOC and MET have demonstrated consistency with Reduced Reliance on the Delta Through Improved Regional Water Self-Reliance (Delta Plan policy WR P1) by reporting the expected outcomes for measurable reductions in supplies from the Delta. MET has improved its self-reliance through methods including water use efficiency, water recycling, stormwater capture and reuse, advanced water technologies, conjunctive use projects, local and regional water supply and storage programs, and other programs and projects. Similarly, Orange County water agencies have further invested in water use efficiency, local water supply projects, and advanced water technologies to increase regional self-reliance. In the near term (2030), regional self-reliance during a normal water year for the entire MET service area is projected to increase by approximately 601 TAF compared to the 2010 baseline, an improvement equal to nearly 20 percent of projected 2030 retail demands. Looking ahead to 2050, normal year regional self-reliance is expected to grow by more than 1.0 million AF above the 2010 baseline, representing an increase of roughly 20 percent of projected 2050 retail demands (MET, 2025).
The continued and planned use of groundwater: The water supply resources within Seal Beach’s service area are enhanced by the existence of groundwater basins that account for the majority of local supplies available. As described in Chapter 4, the OC Basin is also used as reservoirs to store water during wet years and draw from storage during dry years, subsequently minimizing MWDOC service area’s reliance on imported water. Groundwater basins are managed within a safe basin operating range so that groundwater wells are only pumped as needed to meet water use. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Although Buena Park does not manage any of the service area’s groundwater basins, as a groundwater producer, Buena Park supports the efforts to maintain the health of the local basins through local groundwater recharge efforts such as OCWD’s GWRS program. Groundwater storage and transfer programs: OCWD’s involvement in SARCCUP includes participation in a conjunctive use program that improves water supply resiliency and increases available dry-year yield from local groundwater basins. The groundwater bank has 137,000 AF of storage (Inland Empire Utilities Agency, 2021). MET has numerous groundwater storage and transfer programs in which MET endeavors to increase the reliability of water supplies, including the Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency (AVEK) Waster Agency Exchange and Storage Program and the High Desert Water Bank Program. In addition, MET has encouraged storage through its cyclic and conjunctive use programs that allow MET to deliver water into a groundwater basin in advance of agency demands, such as the Cyclic Storage Agreements under the Main San Gabriel Basin Judgement.
MWDOC Water Loss Program: The water loss audit program reduces Seal Beach’s dependency on imported water from the Delta by implementing water loss control technologies after assessing audit data and leak detection.
Increased use of recycled water: OCWD’s GWRS and GAP help Southern California reduce its reliance on imported water by providing a local, reliable water supply that meets or exceeds all federal and state drinking water standards. OCWD completed the final expansion of the GWRS in 2023 to increase production to 130 mgd, further strengthening regional water self-sufficiency. The City also has plans for potential tie-ins to the Long Beach Recycled Water Pipeline Project via a 4-inch diameter line. No volumes or allocations have been defined. The City has applied for a Water Recycling Funding Program grant from DWR to conduct a Long Beach-sourced recycled water feasibility study. Implementation of demand management measures during dry periods: During dry periods, water reduction methods to be applied to the public through the retail agencies, will in turn reduce Seal Beach’s overall demands on MET and reliance on imported water. Seal Beach met its conservation target of 20 percent by 2020 as part of the Orange County Regional Alliance as well as individually.
7.5 Drought Risk Assessment
California Water Code (CWC) Section 10635(b) requires every urban water supplier to include, as part of its UWMP, a DRA for its water service as part of information considered in developing its demand management measures and water supply projects and programs. The DRA is a specific planning action that assumes Seal Beach is experiencing a drought over the next 5 years and addresses water supply reliability in the context of presumed drought conditions. Together, the water service reliability assessment, DRA, and WSCP allow Seal Beach to have a comprehensive picture of its short-term and long-term water service reliability and to identify the tools to address any perceived or actual shortage conditions.
CWC Section 10612 requires the DRA to be based on the driest 5-year historical sequence for Seal Beach’s water supply. However, CWC Section 10635 also requires that the analysis consider plausible changes on projected supplies and demands due to climate change, anticipated regulatory changes, and other locally applicable criteria.
The following sections describe the methodology and results from Seal Beach’s DRA. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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7.5.1 Methodology
As described in more detail in Chapter 4, the water demand forecasting model prepared for Seal Beach isolated the impacts that weather and future climate can have on water demand through the use of an econometric model. In addition to weather related factors, the model incorporates explanatory variables that influence both historical and projected water use, including water price, gross domestic product (GDP), median household income, housing density, persons per household, households per account, sectoral employment mix (for CII demand), seasonal patterns, historical conservation trends, drought restrictions, and COVID19 behavioral effects. These variables allow the model to separately quantify how economic conditions, demographic shifts, land use characteristics, and institutional constraints affect demand across residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and irrigation sectors (MWDOC, 2025).
The impacts of hot/dry weather condition are reflected as a percentage increase in water demands from the average condition. For a single dry year condition (FY 2013-14), the model projects a 6 percent increase in demand for Seal Beach’s service area (MWDOC, 2025). 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 historical sequences to calculate high-demand scenarios, which were expressed as scaling factors relative to the 33-year average demand.
For Seal Beach, the five consecutive dry year demand scenario is based on the demand model’s multiple dry year methodology. In accordance with the econometric demand model approach used to develop UWMP demand projections, a single hot/dry year was first identified based on weather conditions that produced the greatest demand response. Consecutive dry years were then represented by applying incremental scaling factors to this single hot/dry year demand to account for the compounding effects of persistent warm and dry conditions over time. These scaling factors show long-term relationships between regional water use and multi-year temperature and precipitation deficits and are applied sequentially to simulate second through fifth consecutive dry years. This approach is consistent with the demand modeling framework summarized in Table 7.1 and Table 7.5.
7.5.1.1 Water Demand Characterization
Seal Beach’s water supplies consist of groundwater from the Orange County Groundwater Basin and purchased water from MWDOC, regardless of hydrologic conditions. As described in Chapter 6, MET’s supplies are from the Colorado River, SWP, and in-region storage. In MET’s 2025 UWMP, the DRA concluded that even without activating WSCP actions. Beyond this, MET’s DRA indicated a surplus of supplies that would be available to all of its member agencies, including MWDOC, should the need arise.
Therefore, any increase in demand that is experienced in MWDOC's service area is assumed to be met by MET's water supplies.
Based on the water demand projection model discussed in more detail in Chapter 4, in a single dry year, demand is expected to increase by 6 percent above a normal year (see Table 7.1). Seal Beach’s DRA conservatively assumes that a drought from FY 2025-26 through FY 2029-30 is based on the FY 2025 normal year supply with the 5-year consecutive dry year hydrology (from Table 7.1) (MWDOC, 2025). 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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7.5.1.2 Water Supply Characterization
Seal Beach’s assumptions for its supply capabilities are discussed and presented in 5-year increments under its water reliability assessment in Section 7.3. For Seal Beach’s DRA, these supply capabilities are further refined and presented annually for the years 2026 to 2030, which the Orange County Demand Model (2025) applied a historical dry-year sequence from within 1991-2024 dataset as an analog for five consecutive dry years. Groundwater is sustainably managed through the BPP and robust management measures (Section 6.3.4 and Appendix G), direct and indirect recycled water uses provide additional local supply (Section 6.6), and based on MET’s and MWDOC's UWMP, imported water is available to close any local water supply gap (Section 7.5.1). For its DRA, the model assessed the reliability of supplies available to Orange County through MET using historical supply availability under dry-year conditions. MET’s supply sources under the CR, SWP, and in-region supply categories are individually listed and discussed in detail in MET’s UWMP. Future supply capabilities for each of these supply sources are also individually tabulated in Appendix 3 of MET’s UWMP, with consideration for plausible changes on projected supplies under climate change conditions, anticipated regulatory changes, and other factors. In addition, Seal Beach may benefit from MET-implemented supply augmentation actions during regional shortages. These actions are planned and exercised by MET based on regional conditions and in accordance with the WSCP and are not assumed as baseline or guaranteed supplies for Seal Beach. Such actions may include the use of supplies and storage programs within the Colorado River, SWP, and in-region storage portfolios.
7.5.2 Total Water Supply and Use Comparison
Seal Beach’s anticipated total water use and supply under a 5-year drought from FY 2025-26 through FY 2029-30, are compared in Table 7.5. Seal Beach’s assessment reveals that its supply capabilities are expected to balance with its projected water use for the next 5 years, from 2026 to 2030. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Table 7.5 Submittal Table 7-5 Retail: Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment Submittal Table 7-5 Retail: Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment Water Code Section 10635(b)(3)
2026 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 4,160
Total Supplies (AF) 4,160
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0
2027 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 4,402
Total Supplies (AF) 4,402
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0
2028 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 4,429
Total Supplies (AF) 4,429
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0
2029 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 4,513
Total Supplies (AF) 4,513
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0
2030 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 4,590
Total Supplies (AF) 4,590
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0
7.5.3 Water Source Reliability
Seal Beach’s water supply portfolio is predominantly supported by the Orange County Groundwater Basin, which provides roughly 85 percent of the City’s water under the FY 2025-26 BPP and is expected to remain a reliable source through FY 2029-30. OCWD’s active basin management, such as adjusting the BPP and securing supplemental recharge supplies, helps maintain long-term groundwater reliability.
Local supply is further strengthened by Seal Beach’s use of indirect potable reuse water from OCWD’s Groundwater Replenishment System, which enhances drought resilience. While emergency interconnections with neighboring agencies are not part of the normal supply mix, they offer additional backup capacity if ever needed. Seal Beach’s DRA concludes that available supplies meet projected demands during a modeled 5-year drought, with the ability to increase MET purchases if necessary.
As detailed in Chapter 8, Seal Beach has in place a robust WSCP and comprehensive shortage response planning efforts that include demand reduction measures and supply augmentation actions. However, since Seal Beach’s DRA shows a balance, no water service reliability concern is anticipated, and no shortfall mitigation measures are expected to be exercised over the next 5 years. Seal Beach and its wholesale, MWDOC, will periodically revisit its representation of the supply sources and of the gross water use estimated for each year, and will revise the DRA if needed. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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CHAPTER 8 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY
PLANNING
8.1 Background
Water shortage contingency planning is a strategic planning process that the City of Seal Beach engages to prepare for and respond to water shortages. A water shortage is defined when water supply available is insufficient to meet the customer demand at a given point in time. This may occur due to water supply availability changes, water quality changes, and/or catastrophic events (e.g., earthquake). The WSCP, included in Appendix F and summarized in this chapter, provides a water supply availability assessment and structured steps designed to respond to actual conditions. This level of detailed planning and preparation is intended to help maintain reliable supplies and reduce the impacts of supply interruptions.
The Water Code Section 10632 requires that every urban water supplier that serves more than 3,000 AFY or has more than 3,000 connections prepared adopt a standalone WSCP as part of its UWMP. The WSCP is required to plan for a greater than 50 percent supply shortage. The WSCP may require updating based on new DWR requirements every 5 years and will be adopted as a current update for submission to DWR by July 1, 2026.
8.2 Overview of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan
The WSCP serves as the operating manual that the City will use to prevent catastrophic service disruptions through proactive, rather than reactive, mitigation of water shortages. The WSCP defines the processes and procedures that would be deployed when shortage conditions arise so that the City governing body, its staff, and the public can easily identify and efficiently implement pre-determined steps to mitigate a water shortage to the level appropriate for the degree of water shortfall anticipated. The relationship between the three procedural documents related to planning for and responding to water shortages is graphically depicted in Figure 8.1.
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Figure 8.1 Purpose and Relationships of the UWMP, WSCP, and Water Shortage Response Ordinance A complete version of the City’s WSCP is provided in Appendix F and includes the steps to assess if a water shortage is occurring, and what level of demand reduction actions to trigger the most appropriate response to the water shortage conditions. The WSCP has prescriptive elements, including an analysis of water supply reliability; the drought shortage actions that align with water shortage levels that correspond to water shortage percentages ranging from 10 percent to greater than 50 percent; 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 water supply and demand assessment; monitoring and reporting requirements to determine customer compliance; and reevaluation and improvement procedures for evaluating the WSCP.
8.3 Summary of Water Shortage Response Strategy and Required DWR Tables
The WSCP is organized into the following three main sections with Section 3 aligned with the California Water Code Section 16032 requirements:
Section 1 Introduction and WSCP Overview gives an overview of the WSCP fundamentals. Section 2 Background Information provides a background on the City’s water service area. Section 3 Water Shortage Contingency Preparedness and Response Planning. Section 3.1 Water Supply Reliability Analysis provides a summary of the water supply analysis and water reliability findings from the 2025 UWMP.
Section 3.2 Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment Procedures provides a description of procedures to conduct and approve the AWSDA.
Section 3.3 Six Standard Water Shortage Stages explains the WSCP’s six standard water shortage levels corresponding to progressive ranges of up to 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and more than 50 percent shortages.
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CITY OF SEAL BEACH 8-3
Section 3.4 Shortage Response Actions describes the WSCP’s shortage response actions that align with the defined shortage levels.
Section 3.5 Communication Protocols addresses communication protocols and procedures to inform customers, the public, interested parties, and local, regional, and state governments, regarding any current or predicted shortages and any resulting shortage response actions. Section 3.6 Compliance and Enforcement describes customer compliance, enforcement, appeal, and exemption procedures for triggered shortage response actions. Section 3.7 Legal Authorities describes the legal authorities that enable the City to implement and enforce its shortage response actions.
Section 3.8 Financial Consequences of the WSCP provides a description of the financial consequences of and responses for drought conditions.
Section 3.9 Monitoring and Reporting describes monitoring and reporting requirements and procedures that ensure appropriate data is collected, tracked, and analyzed for purposes of monitoring customer compliance and to meet state reporting requirements. Section 3.10 WSCP Refinement Procedures addresses reevaluation and improvement procedures for monitoring and evaluating the functionality of the WSCP. Section 3.11 Special Water Feature Distinction is a required definition for inclusion in a WSCP per the Water Code.
Section 3.12 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Availability describes the process the City followed to adopt its WSCP.
The WSCP is based on adequate details of demand reduction and supply augmentation measures that are structured to match varying degrees of shortage will aim to make the relevant stakeholders understand what to expect during a water shortage situation. City of Seal Beach adopted water shortage levels consistent with the requirements identified in Water Code Section 10632 (a)(3)(A) (Table 8.1).
The six shortage levels the City of Seal Beach uses in their water shortage planning and documented in their WSCP are the same as DWR’s six standard shortage levels, as indicated in Table 8.1. The water supply augmentation measures that align with each agency shortage level are described in Table 8.2. This table also estimates the extent to which that action will augment supplies to reduce the gap between supplies and demands. The demand reduction action measures that align with each shortage level and how each measure will reduce the shortage gap between expected supplies and the shortage level is summarized in Table 8.3. The purpose of Table 8.2 and Table 8.3 are to demonstrate the results the City can expect once shortage level actions are implemented to deliver the expected outcomes necessary to meet the requirements of a given shortage level.
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CITY OF SEAL BEACH 8-4
Table 8.1 Submittal Table 8-1: Cross-Reference for Standard vs Supplier Shortage Levels Submittal Table 8-1: Cross-reference for Standard vs Supplier Shortage Levels Water Code Section 10632(a)(3)(B)
Check the box if the Supplier uses the Standard six levels of water shortage.
Proceed to the next table.
Standard Shortage
Levels Percent Shortage Range Suppliers Shortage Levels Percent Shortage Range 1 Up to 10% 1 Up to 10%
2 Up to 20% 2 Up to 20%
3 Up to 30% 3 Up to 30%
4 Up to 40% 4 Up to 40%
5 Up to 50% 5 Up to 50%
6 >50% 6 >50%
NOTES:
Table 8.2 Submittal Table 8-2 Retail: Supply Augmentation and Other Actions Submittal Table 8-2 Retail: Supply Augmentation and Other Actions Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(A),(C) and (E)
Yes Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) Shortage
Level
Supply Augmentation
Methods and Other Actions
by Water Supplier
Drop down list
These are the only
categories that will be
accepted by the WUEdata
online submittal tool
How much is this going to reduce
the shortage gap?
Additional
Explanation or
Reference
(OPTIONAL)
Volume or
Percentage
Drop down
Shortage Gap
Reduction Value
(May be a range)
(AF)
Add additional rows as needed
1 through 3 Other Purchases Percentage 0 - 100 percent
Additional
imported water
purchase through
MWDOC
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES: Additional Imported Water Purchases to meet the supply gap may have financial ramifications per the MWDOC Water Supply Allocation Plan.
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CITY OF SEAL BEACH 8-5
Table 8.3 Submittal Table 8-3 Retail: Demand Reduction Actions Submittal Table 8-3 Retail: Demand Reduction Actions
Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(B) and (E)
Yes Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) Shortage Level
Demand Reduction Actions
Drop down list
These are the only categories that will be
accepted by the WUEdata online submittal
tool. Select those that apply.
How much is this going to reduce the shortage gap?
Additional Explanation or Reference
(OPTIONAL)
Penalty, Charge, or Other
Enforcement?
For Retail Suppliers Only
Drop Down List
Volume or
Percentage
Drop down
Shortage Gap Reduction Value
(May be a range)
(AF)
Add additional rows as needed
0 Landscape - Prohibit certain types of
landscape irrigation
On-going Long TermConservation Savings Measure.
Not applicable to Water Shortage
Contingency Plan quantifiable
savings.
Watering or irrigation of nonfunctional turf (NFT) on State and local government properties, commercial, industrial and institutional owned landscapes, homeowners' associations common area landscapes, and local government facilities in disadvantaged communities (DAC) is prohibited. See Note 1 below.
No
0 Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to
specific times
On-going Long TermConservation Savings Measure.
Not applicable to Water Shortage
Contingency Plan quantifiable
savings.
Watering or irrigating of lawns, landscaping, and other vegetated areas with potable water between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on any day, except by use of a hand-water shut-off nozzle or device, or for a very short period of time for the limited purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.
0 Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to
specific times
On-going Long TermConservation Savings Measure.
Not applicable to Water Shortage
Contingency Plan quantifiable
savings.
No water user shall cause or allow watering or irrigation of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water using a landscape irrigation system or a watering device that is not continuously attended for longer than 15 minutes watering per day per station. This section does not apply to landscape irrigation systems that exclusively use very low-flow drip type irrigation systems where no emitter produces more than 2 gallons of water per hour and weather based controllers or stream rotor sprinklers that meet a 70% efficiency standard. 0 Other - Require automatic shut of hoses
On-going Long TermConservation Savings Measure.
Not applicable to Water Shortage
Contingency Plan quantifiable
savings.
No person shall wash a motor vehicle, trailer, boat or other type of mobile equipment other than by a hand-held bucket or by a hose equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle. This prohibition shall not apply to washing performed at a commercial car wash. 0 Water Features - Restrict water use for
decorative water features, such as fountains
On-going Long TermConservation Savings Measure.
Not applicable to Water Shortage
Contingency Plan quantifiable
savings.
No person shall operate a water fountain or other decorative water feature that does not use re-circulated water.
0 Landscape - Restrict or prohibit runoff from
landscape irrigation
On-going Long TermConservation Savings Measure.
Not applicable to Water Shortage
Contingency Plan quantifiable
savings.
No water user shall cause or allow water to run off landscape areas into adjoining streets, sidewalks, driveways, alleys, gutters, ditches or any paved surfaces due to incorrectly maintained sprinklers, excessive watering or use.
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Submittal Table 8-3 Retail: Demand Reduction Actions
Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(B) and (E)
Yes Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) Shortage Level
Demand Reduction Actions
Drop down list
These are the only categories that will be
accepted by the WUEdata online submittal
tool. Select those that apply.
How much is this going to reduce the shortage gap?
Additional Explanation or Reference
(OPTIONAL)
Penalty, Charge, or Other
Enforcement?
For Retail Suppliers Only
Drop Down List
Volume or
Percentage
Drop down
Shortage Gap Reduction Value
(May be a range)
(AF)
0 Other - Customers must repair leaks, breaks,
and malfunctions in a timely manner
On-going Long TermConservation Savings Measure.
Not applicable to Water Shortage
Contingency Plan quantifiable
savings.
Each water user shall repair all leaks from indoor and outdoor plumbing fixture at the user’s premises. Such water user shall eliminate any loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system promptly after discovering the leak and in no event in less than 7 days. 0 CII - Restaurants may only serve water upon
request
On-going Long TermConservation Savings Measure.
Not applicable to Water Shortage
Contingency Plan quantifiable
savings.
Restaurants shall not offer water service and shall serve water only to a customer that specifically requests water.
0 Other - Prohibit vehicle washing except at
facilities using recycled or recirculating water
On-going Long TermConservation Savings Measure.
Not applicable to Water Shortage
Contingency Plan quantifiable
savings.
No person shall install non-recirculating water systems in connection with commercial conveyor car wash and commercial laundry systems. Effective on January 1, 2010, the owner or operator of any commercial conveyor car wash system shall install operational re-circulating water systems, or secure a waiver of this requirement from the director. 0 CII - Other CII restriction or prohibition
On-going Long TermConservation Savings Measure.
Not applicable to Water Shortage
Contingency Plan quantifiable
savings.
No person shall install single pass cooling systems in connection with new water service. 0 Other - Prohibit use of potable water for
washing hard surfaces
On-going Long TermConservation Savings Measure.
Not applicable to Water Shortage
Contingency Plan quantifiable
savings.
Water shall not be used to wash down sidewalks, hard or paved surfaces, including but not limited to sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios or alleys.
Notwithstanding this prohibition, a water user may wash down such surfaces when necessary to alleviate safety or sanitary hazards, and then only by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off device, a lowvolume, high-pressure cleaning machine equipped to recycle any water used, or a low-volume high-pressure water broom.
Yes
0 Landscape - Other landscape restriction or
prohibition
On-going Long TermConservation Savings Measure.
Not applicable to Water Shortage
Contingency Plan quantifiable
savings.
No landscape watering shall occur within 48 hours after measurable precipitation. 0 Landscape - Other landscape restriction or
prohibition
On-going Long TermConservation Savings Measure.
Not applicable to Water Shortage
Contingency Plan quantifiable
savings.
Irrigating ornamental turf on public street medians is prohibited. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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CITY OF SEAL BEACH 8-7
Submittal Table 8-3 Retail: Demand Reduction Actions
Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(B) and (E)
Yes Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) Shortage Level
Demand Reduction Actions
Drop down list
These are the only categories that will be
accepted by the WUEdata online submittal
tool. Select those that apply.
How much is this going to reduce the shortage gap?
Additional Explanation or Reference
(OPTIONAL)
Penalty, Charge, or Other
Enforcement?
For Retail Suppliers Only
Drop Down List
Volume or
Percentage
Drop down
Shortage Gap Reduction Value
(May be a range)
(AF)
1 Expand Public Information Campaign Percentage 5% Community Outreach and Messaging (Expand Public Information Campaign to reflect Level 1 Shortage Response Actions) No
1 Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to
specific times Percentage 2%
Irrigation shall not be performed except on designated irrigation days and between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Irrigation may be performed at any time if done by means of a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle, a hand-held faucet filled bucket of 5 gallons or less, or a drip irrigation system.
Yes
1 Other Percentage 2%
Agricultural users and commercial nurseries shall curtail all non-essential water use, but are otherwise exempt from Level 1 measures. Watering of livestock and irrigation of propagation beds are permitted at any time.
Yes
1 Other Percentage 1%
Washing of motor vehicles, boats, airplanes and other mobile equipment shall be performed only on designated irrigation days and between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This prohibition shall not apply to the washing of garbage trucks, vehicles used to transport food and perishables and other mobile equipment for which frequent cleaning is essential for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare.
Yes
1 Other water feature or swimming pool
restriction Percentage 1% Filling or refilling of swimming pools, spas, ponds and artificial lakes shall be performed only on designated irrigation days and between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Yes 1 Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to
specific times Percentage 1%
Watering golf courses, parks, school grounds and recreational fields shall be performed only between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This prohibition does not apply to golf course greens.
Yes
1 Other - Customers must repair leaks, breaks,
and malfunctions in a timely manner Percentage 2%
Each water user shall repair all leaks from indoor and outdoor plumbing fixture at the user’s premises. Such water user shall eliminate any loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system promptly after discovering the leak and in no event in less than five (5) days. 1 Other water feature or swimming pool
restriction Percentage 3% Ornamental fountains and similar structures shall not be operated. Yes 2 Expand Public Information Campaign Percentage 5% Community Outreach and Messaging (Expand Public Information Campaign to reflect Level 2 Shortage Response Actions) No
2 Other Percentage 2%
Agricultural users and commercial nurseries shall curtail all non-essential water use, but are otherwise exempt from Level 2 measures. Watering of livestock and irrigation of propagation beds are permitted at any time.
Yes
2 Other - Customers must repair leaks, breaks,
and malfunctions in a timely manner Percentage 2%
Each water user shall repair all leaks from indoor and outdoor plumbing fixture at the user’s premises. Such water user shall eliminate any loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system promptly after discovering the leak and in no event in less than 4 days. 2 Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to
specific days Percentage 15% Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to three (3) days per week. Yes
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CITY OF SEAL BEACH 8-8
Submittal Table 8-3 Retail: Demand Reduction Actions
Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(B) and (E)
Yes Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) Shortage Level
Demand Reduction Actions
Drop down list
These are the only categories that will be
accepted by the WUEdata online submittal
tool. Select those that apply.
How much is this going to reduce the shortage gap?
Additional Explanation or Reference
(OPTIONAL)
Penalty, Charge, or Other
Enforcement?
For Retail Suppliers Only
Drop Down List
Volume or
Percentage
Drop down
Shortage Gap Reduction Value
(May be a range)
(AF)
3 Expand Public Information Campaign Percentage 5% Community Outreach and Messaging (Expand Public Information Campaign to reflect Level 3 Shortage Response Actions) No
3 Other - Customers must repair leaks, breaks,
and malfunctions in a timely manner Percentage 2%
Each water user shall repair all leaks from indoor and outdoor plumbing fixture at the user’s premises. Such water user shall eliminate any loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system promptly after discovering the leak and in no event in less than three (3) days. 3 Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to
specific days Percentage 15% Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to two (2) days per week. Yes 3 Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to
specific times Percentage 1% Irrigation shall not be performed except on designated irrigation days and between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Yes 3 Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to
specific times Percentage 1%
Agricultural users and commercial nurseries shall use water only between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Watering of livestock and irrigation of propagation beds are permitted at any time.
Yes
3 Other - Prohibit vehicle washing except at
facilities using recycled or recirculating water Percentage 2% Washing of motor vehicles, boats, airplanes and other mobile equipment is prohibited except when performed at a commercial car wash. This prohibition shall not apply to the washing of garbage trucks, vehicles used to transport food and perishables and other mobile equipment for which frequent cleaning is essential for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare.
Yes
3 Other water feature or swimming pool
restriction Percentage 1% Filling or refilling of swimming pools, spas, ponds and artificial lakes shall be performed only on designated irrigation days and between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Yes 3 Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to
specific times Percentage 2%
Watering golf courses, parks, school grounds and recreational fields shall be performed only between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This prohibition does not apply to golf course greens.
Yes
3 Moratorium or Net Zero Demand Increase on
New Connections Percentage 3% New construction meters and permits for unmetered service shall not be issued. Construction water shall not be used for earth work or road construction purposes. Yes 3 Other Percentage 1% The use of non-reclaimed and non-recycled water by commercial car washes shall be reduced in volume by 20%. Yes
4 Expand Public Information Campaign Percentage 5% Community Outreach and Messaging (Expand Public Information Campaign to reflect Level 4 Shortage Response Actions) No
4 Other - Customers must repair leaks, breaks,
and malfunctions in a timely manner Percentage 2%
Each water user shall repair all leaks from indoor and outdoor plumbing fixture at the user’s premises. Such water user shall eliminate any loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system promptly after discovering the leak and in no event in less than two (2) days. 4 Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to
specific days Percentage 15% Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to one (1) days per week. Yes 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
APRIL 2026 / FINAL DRAFT / CAROLLO
CITY OF SEAL BEACH 8-9
Submittal Table 8-3 Retail: Demand Reduction Actions
Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(B) and (E)
Yes Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) Shortage Level
Demand Reduction Actions
Drop down list
These are the only categories that will be
accepted by the WUEdata online submittal
tool. Select those that apply.
How much is this going to reduce the shortage gap?
Additional Explanation or Reference
(OPTIONAL)
Penalty, Charge, or Other
Enforcement?
For Retail Suppliers Only
Drop Down List
Volume or
Percentage
Drop down
Shortage Gap Reduction Value
(May be a range)
(AF)
4 Other Percentage 1% The use of non-reclaimed and non-recycled water by commercial car washes shall be reduced in volume by 30%. Yes
5 Expand Public Information Campaign Percentage 5% Community Outreach and Messaging (Expand Public Information Campaign to reflect Level 5 Shortage Response Actions) No
5 Other - Customers must repair leaks, breaks,
and malfunctions in a timely manner Percentage 2%
Each water user shall repair all leaks from indoor and outdoor plumbing fixture at the user’s premises. Such water user shall eliminate any loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system promptly after discovering the leak and in no event in less than one (1) day.
Yes
5 Landscape - Prohibit all landscape irrigation Percentage 15% Outdoor irrigation is prohibited. Yes 5 CII - Other CII restriction or prohibition Percentage 2% Use of water for agricultural or commercial nursery purposes is prohibited. This prohibition shall not apply to watering of livestock. Yes
5 Other water feature or swimming pool
restriction Percentage 2% Filling or refilling of swimming pools, spas, ponds and artificial lakes is prohibited. Yes 5 Landscape - Other landscape restriction or
prohibition Percentage 5%
Watering golf course areas, other than greens, is prohibited. Watering of parks, school grounds and recreational fields is prohibited except for plant materials classified as rare, exceptionally valuable or essential to the well being of rare animals.
Yes
5 Other Percentage 2% The use of non-reclaimed and non-recycled water by commercial car washes shall be reduced in volume by 40%. Yes
5 CII - Other CII restriction or prohibition Percentage 2% The use of water for commercial manufacturing or processing purposes shall be reduced in volume by 40%. Yes
5 Other Percentage 2% Water shall not be used for air conditioning purposes. Yes 6 Expand Public Information Campaign Percentage 5% Community Outreach and Messaging (Expand Public Information Campaign to reflect Level 6 Shortage Response Actions) No
6 Other Percentage 2% The use of non-reclaimed and non-recycled water by commercial car washes shall be reduced in volume by 50%. Yes
6 CII - Other CII restriction or prohibition Percentage 2% The use of water for commercial manufacturing or processing purposes shall be reduced in volume by 50%. Yes
6 Other Percentage 50% Water use for public health and safety purposes only. Yes DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES: Note 1: NFT irrigation requirements begin January 1, 2027 for State and local government properties, January 1, 2028 for commercial, industrial and institutional owned landscapes, January 1, 2029 for homeowners' associations common area landscapes, and January 1, 2031 for local government properties in disadvantaged communities (DAC).
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CITY OF SEAL BEACH 9-1
CHAPTER 9 DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES
Over the past several decades, water use efficiency and conservation have evolved from voluntary best practices into core regulatory requirements shaping urban water management throughout California and Orange County. In response to recurring droughts, growing urban demand, and increasing competition for limited water supplies, the California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC) was formed in 1991 to promote statewide cooperation on urban water conservation. Through the development and implementation of the CUWCC Best Management Practices, water agencies established a consistent, voluntary framework for improving efficiency through locally tailored programs. This early foundation was later strengthened by legislative actions, most notably SB X7-7, the Water Conservation Act of 2009, which set enforceable urban water use reduction targets to cut per capita use by 20 percent by 2020 and required retail water suppliers to actively manage demand as part of long-term water planning. All Orange County water agencies came together to create the Orange County 20x2020 Regional Alliance and met compliance as a region. The City of Seal Beach (City) also met compliance individually. These efforts reflected a growing recognition that efficient water use is essential to ensuring reliability amid population growth, limited supplies, and increasing climate variability.
Recurring drought conditions have further accelerated the pace and scale of conservation efforts in the last decade. The 2013-2014 drought prompted a statewide emergency response, culminating in an executive order mandating a 25 percent reduction in urban water use across California. All Orange County Water Agencies, including the City, met this reduction target as reported in Chapter 5 of this 2025 Urban Water Management Plan. More recently, the 2021-2022 drought reinforced the need for sustained efficiency gains and durable demand management strategies beyond temporary emergency actions.
These regulatory and hydrologic drivers ultimately led to the passing and adoption of SB 606 and Assembly Bill (AB) 1668, the “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” legislation (passed in 2018 and adopted in 2024). The legislation establishes long-term water use objectives for individual water suppliers and reinforces conservation as a permanent element of water management. Together, these milestones underscore the necessity for the MWDOC and the City to implement comprehensive demand management measures and meet established urban water use reduction targets to ensure regional water supply resilience.
The goal of the Demand Management Measures (DMM) chapter is to provide a comprehensive description of the water use efficiency programs that the City has implemented in the most recent 5 years, is currently implementing, and plans to implement to meet its urban water use reduction targets. Per the “Making California a Conservation Way of Life” Framework (Conservation Framework), each Urban Water Supplier is required to calculate and report their Urban Water Use Objective (UWUO) and to stay within their calculated annual water budget. The UWUO is an aggregate efficient water use of:
Indoor Residential Use (population x gallons per capita per day (gpcd) standard). Outdoor Residential Use (measurements of irrigated/irrigable area, local weather data, and a landscape efficiency factor).
Outdoor Use with Dedicated Irrigation Meters (measurements of irrigated area, local weather data, and a landscape efficiency factor).
Distribution System Water Losses.
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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CITY OF SEAL BEACH 9-2
Approved Variances.
Potable Reuse Bonus.
Additionally, the Conservation Framework includes commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) non-volumetric Performance Measures, including CII customer account classifications, thresholds for converting mixed-use CII meters (MUMs) irrigating over half an acre of landscape to dedicated irrigation meters (DIMs) or in lieu technologies, CII best management practices (BMPs), and identification of and information sharing with disclosable buildings.
One of the City’s top priorities since the adoption of the “Making California a Conservation Way of Life” Framework has been to make progress toward compliance with the Conservation Framework. This chapter will describe the City’s DMM activities, including those administered by its wholesaler and supplemental programs administered locally at the retail-level.
9.1 City of Seal Beach Demand Management Measures
This section describes the specific DMMs performed by the City, including DMMs offered in partnership with MWDOC, its wholesale supplier, to encourage water conservation within their service area. Table 9.1 summarizes DMM implementation by the City as well as responsibilities of MWDOC.
Table 9.1 DMM Implementation Responsibility and Regional Programs in Orange County Efficiency Measure
Responsibility of: MWDOC Regional
Program and
Activities Retailer MWDOC as a
Wholesaler
Operations Practices
Wholesale Agency Assistance Programs -
Conservation Pricing
Conservation Coordinator
Water Waste Prevention -
Water Loss Control
(System Water Audits, Leak Detection and Repair)
(1)
Metering with Commodity Rates (1) (1)
Education and Outreach
Public Outreach Programs
K-20 Water Education Initiatives and K-12 School Programs OC Scouts Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and OC Girl Scouts Programs Water Awareness Poster Contest
Water Energy Education Alliance
Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) Training Program Residential Indoor Implementation
Residential Indoor Rebates -
Flow Monitor Device Rebates -
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CITY OF SEAL BEACH 9-3
Efficiency Measure
Responsibility of: MWDOC Regional
Program and
Activities Retailer MWDOC as a
Wholesaler
Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Implementation Water Savings Incentive Program -
CII Indoor Rebates
(High Efficiency Toilets and Urinals, Plumbing Flow Control Valves, Connectionless Food Steamers, Air-cooled Ice Machines, Food Defrosters, Cooling Tower Conductivity Controllers and pH Controllers, Dry Vacuum Pumps, Laminar Flow Restrictors)
-
Landscape Programs
Turf Replacement Program (including Tree Rebate) -
Spray-to-Drip Irrigation Rebate Program -
Landscape Rebates
(Smart Timers, High Efficiency Sprinkler Nozzles, Large Rotary Nozzles, In-stem Flow Regulators)
-
Residential Landscape Design Assistance Program -
Notes:
(1) MWDOC does not own or operate a distribution system; water wholesaled by MWDOC is delivered through the MET distribution system and meters.
9.1.1 Operations Practices
9.1.1.1 Wholesale Agency Assistance Programs
MWDOC’s Assistance Programs are described in Section 9.3.
9.1.1.2 Conservation Pricing
The City has a two-tier inclining block rate structure for residential customer sectors and a one-tier inclining block rate structure for its commercial customer sectors. The water rate also includes a minimum fixed charge based on meter size. The City’s conservation pricing structure is always in place and is not dependent upon a water shortage for implementation. The current volumetric rates as of September 1, 2025 are provided in Table 9.2; these rates will be adjusted July 1, 2026.
Table 9.2 City of Seal Beach Water Rates
Water Rates Effective September 1, 2025
Tier Units of Water (1 Unit = 100 cubic feet) Unit Rate Single Family Residential
1 0-17 $5.20
2 18+ $5.51
Multi-Unit Family Residential / Leisure World
1 0-17 $5.20
2 17+ $5.44
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CITY OF SEAL BEACH 9-4
Water Rates Effective September 1, 2025
Tier Units of Water (1 Unit = 100 cubic feet) Unit Rate Other
Commercial $5.20
Irrigation $5.33
City $5.27
Aquatic Park $5.89
9.1.1.3 Conservation Coordinator
Various City staff contribute to the oversight and implementation of the City’s water use efficiency programs. The City has also hired a consultant to assist with the implementation of the Water Conservation Ordinance by conducting public outreach and inspections. Sources of funding for the City’s water conservation program include the City’s Water Enterprise Funds.
9.1.1.4 Water Waste Prevention Ordinances
City Council adopted a Water and Water Conservation ordinance (Ordinance 1586) on June 8, 2009, revising and supplementing the City’s previous water conservation provisions. The ordinance established provisions for leak repair, runoff prevention, limits on watering hours and duration, limits on serving water at restaurants, excessive runoff from landscape irrigation, use of hose outdoors without a shut off nozzle, use of single pass cooling systems, and use of decorative water features with no recirculation, among other prohibitions against waste. The ordinance has a permanent water conservation clause i.e., the City’s water conservation ordinance is effective at all times and is not dependent upon a water shortage for implementation. In the event of a water supply shortage, the ordinance established provisions for three water conservation phases associated with increasingly restrictive prohibitions. Phase 1 corresponds to a water supply shortage or a threatened shortage, Phase 2 corresponds to a severe water supply shortage, and Phase 3 corresponds to an emergency condition. The provisions and water conservation measures to be implemented in response to each shortage level are described in the City’s WSCP.
In May 2022, the 2020 WSCP was amended and re-adopted, and in June 2022, Ordinance 1695 amended the City’s municipal code by revising and supplementing the City’s water conservation provisions.
9.1.1.5 Water Loss Control
SB 555 signed into law in 2015 requires urban water suppliers to submit annual, validated water loss audit reports to the DWR. Water auditing is the basis for effective water loss control. DWR’s UWMP Guidebook includes a water audit manual intended to help water utilities complete the AWWA Water Audit on an annual basis. Audits must be validated by a certified water auditor to ensure accuracy.
A Water Loss Audit was completed for the City which identified areas for improvement and quantified total loss. Based on the data presented, the three priority areas identified were customer metering inaccuracies, billed metered, and water imported. Multiple criteria are a part of each validity score, and a system wide approach will need to be implemented for the City’s improvement. The City completes a system water audit to calculate water losses on an annual basis. Expressing water loss audit results in terms of Real Losses per Service Connection per Day allows for standardized comparison across MWDOC 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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retailer agencies and is a metric consistent with the Water Board’s forthcoming economic model. The City responds to leaks, hydrant knockoffs, and other emergencies on a 24-hour basis. Stand-by crews repair all leaks quickly and efficiently to minimize losses. From time to time, the City surveys specific neighborhoods for leak detection. Additionally, the City is part of the MWDOC leak detection program and has an ongoing program to replace deteriorated and substandard pipelines and service lines. The City also has a valve and hydrant program where all valves in the system are exercised and maintained at regular intervals. This facilitates prompt shut offs for repairs when necessary and minimizes water losses.
9.1.1.6 Metering
The City is fully metered for all customer sectors, including separate meters for single-family and multi-family residential, CII, dedicated landscape, and City-owned meters. The City will continue to install and read meters on all new services and perform proactive meter replacement. The City’s program for meter replacement and calibration consists of replacing meters when stuck or when meters are reading low or high. After replacement, they are subsequently tested by flow testing and calibration. The City has mechanical meters and uses direct or touch meter reading.
9.1.2 Public Education and Outreach
The City implements several public education and outreach measures, including the programs administered by MWDOC, its wholesale supplier. The City develops, coordinates, and delivers a substantial amount of public information, education, and outreach programs aimed at elevating water agency and consumer awareness and understanding of current water issues as well as efficient water use and water-saving practices, sound policy, and water reliability investments that are in the best interest of the region. These efforts encourage good water stewardship that benefits all of the City’s residents, businesses, and industries across all demographics. An outline of the City’s public education initiatives is below.
9.1.2.1 City Hall Public Event Pop-Ups
As part of the City’s ongoing commitment to community engagement and public education on water conservation and sustainable water use, the Pop-Up City Hall Tent is regularly deployed at a variety of local events throughout the year. These include the Classic Car Show, Health Expo, Leisure World, National Night Out, Arts and Crafts Fair, and the Summer Concert Series, among others.
The Pop-Up City Hall Tent serves as a mobile outreach station where City staff provide in-person assistance and distribute informational materials related to a wide range of City services, including the municipal water system. At these events, staff are available to answer questions about the City’s drinking water supply, water system operations, and the annual Water Quality Report, helping to foster transparency and build public understanding of how local water resources are managed.
The booth offers educational resources and personalized guidance on water conservation programs, rebate opportunities, and practical strategies to enhance both indoor and outdoor water use efficiency (Figure 9.1).
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Figure 9.1 City of Seal Beach Pop-Up Tent
9.1.2.2 Print and Electronic Outreach Material
The City produces the following print and electronic outreach material to provide public education for water conservation practices and water use efficiency programs.
Water Use Efficiency Postcards: Following the rescission of the Level 2 Water Supply Shortage in 2023, the City launched a targeted public outreach effort to reinforce the importance of ongoing water use efficiency. As part of this initiative, the City developed and distributed informational postcards to residents, acknowledging the community’s contributions to water conservation during the shortage period and encouraging continued stewardship of the region’s water resources. The postcards highlighted the City’s permanent water conservation measures, provided updates on relevant state legislation, and directed recipients to helpful resources, including available rebate programs and conservation tools.
Bill Inserts: As part of the City’s ongoing public education and outreach efforts, water utility bills periodically include informational inserts focused on water use efficiency, conservation practices, and available rebate programs. These inserts provide timely updates, practical tips for reducing water use, and direct residents to local and regional resources that support sustainable water management. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Social Media and City Newsletter: The City employs both digital and print communication platforms to support ongoing public education and outreach related to water use efficiency and conservation.
Facebook and Instagram are utilized to share visually engaging and informative content focused on permanent water conservation measures, seasonal efficiency practices, current water supply conditions, and available rebate programs. These platforms serve as a tool to maintain public awareness and promote community-wide participation in water conservation efforts.
The City’s official newsletter, The Wave, is distributed in digital format and regularly features articles on water resource management, conservation initiatives, and practical strategies to support efficient water use.
9.1.2.3 K-20 Water Education Initiatives and K-12 School Programs Over the past several years, MWDOC’s investment in K-20 water education has significantly grown, evolving to include programs and activities that support environmental literacy for all Orange County students. The effort has expanded beyond K-12 water education programs to include career and workforce development initiatives in higher education through the Water Energy Education Alliance (WEEA) described in more detail in Section 9.1.2.4.
MWDOC’s K-12 Water Education School Programs bring standards-aligned, engaging water lessons directly into classrooms and connect water to every part of students’ lives. All elementary, middle, and high school programs meet California State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards, providing students with high-quality, relevant learning experiences that build both academic and real-world understanding. This includes a Grab-and-Go Water Activities program, developed in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education, which provides free, self-guided water activities for K-12 teachers, parents and students.
9.1.2.4 OC Scouts Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and OC Girl Scouts Programs The City, in partnership with MWDOC, hosts water education workshops each year to help Scouts BSA earn the Soil & Water Conservation Merit Badge and Girl Scouts earn the MWDOC Water Resources & Conservation Patch. These hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) clinics teach children of all ages where their water comes from, how to use water more efficiently, and how all life depends on the health and security of our natural resources, fostering water awareness and responsibility through fun, activity-based learning.
For example, during the 2020-2025 DMM implementation period, the City of Seal Beach Public Works Department partnered with MWDOC and the Girl Scouts of Orange County to host a STEM-focused educational clinic at the Lampson Well site. During the two-hour Water Resources and Conservation Patch Program, Girl Scout Juniors, Brownies, and Daisies learned about local water sources, the importance of water resources in Orange County, and practical ways to use water efficiently (Figure 9.2). City water staff led demonstrations on well pump operations, showcased the City's on-site disinfectant generation system, and guided the participants in testing drinking water for chlorine residual. Each Girl Scout who attended successfully earned their Water Resources and Conservation patch. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Figure 9.2 Girl Scout Tour
9.1.2.5 Water Awareness Poster Contest
The City participates in MWDOC’s annual Water Awareness Poster Contest, offered for students in grades K-12. The Poster Contest presents children with an opportunity to use their artistic talents to express the importance and value of water through artwork. Each year, hundreds of entries are collected from students and classrooms across the county, and from these entries, 40 winners are selected.
9.1.2.6 Water Energy Education Alliance
The WEEA unites over 260 water, energy, and education leaders across the state to build and strengthen career pathways for all California students. Administered and led by the MWDOC, WEEA is comprised of a powerful statewide coalition of education leaders, workforce advocates, and industry experts to raise student awareness, forge strong partnerships, and cultivate a diverse, highly skilled talent pipeline. By connecting students with high-impact opportunities, WEEA is shaping a workforce that fuels industry success, enhances worker well-being, and ensures a resilient, thriving California.
9.1.2.7 Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Training Program Since 2018, MWDOC along with the City, has offered free Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) certification classes designed for landscape professionals. Classes are open to any city staff, professional landscaper, water district employee, or maintenance personnel that would like to become a Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper. The QWEL certification program provides 20 hours of instruction on water efficient areas of expertise such as local water supply, sustainable landscaping, soil types, irrigation systems and maintenance, as well as irrigation controller scheduling and programing. QWEL has received recognition from EPA WaterSense for continued promotion of water use efficiency. To earn the QWEL certification, class participants must demonstrate their ability to perform an irrigation audit as well as pass the QWEL exam. Successful graduates will be listed as a Certified Professional on the WaterSense website as well as on MWDOC’s landscape resources page, to encourage Turf Removal participants or those making any landscape improvements to hire a QWEL certified professional. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Started in December 2020, a hybrid version of QWEL is available in conjunction with the California Landscape Contractors Association’s Water Management Certification Program. This joint effort allows landscape industry an opportunity to obtain two nationally recognized EPA WaterSense Professional Certifications with one course and one written test. This option is offered through MET.
9.1.3 Residential Indoor Rebate Programs
The City partners with MWDOC to implement residential measures that target indoor water use efficiency for single family and multifamily residential customers.
9.1.3.1 High Efficiency Clothes Washer and Toilet Rebate Programs The High Efficiency Clothes Washer (HECW) Rebate Program provides residential customers with rebates starting at $85 for purchasing and installing HECWs that use 35 to 50 percent less water than standard washer models. Devices must meet or exceed the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) Tier 1 Standard, and a listing of qualified products can be found at ocwatersmart.com. There is a maximum of one rebate per home.
The Premium High Efficiency Toilet (HET) Rebate Program offers residential customers rebates starting at $40 for replacing their toilets using 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) with Premium HETs. Premium HETs use just
1.1 gallons of water or less per flush, which is 20 percent less water than WaterSense standard toilets.
9.1.3.2 Flow Monitor Device Pilot
This pilot program provides rebates starting at $100, or more in select areas, per flow monitor device installed. These devices monitor a home’s water use and can help detect leaks, making them a proactive tool for preventing expensive water bills and water damage due to unforeseen leaks. A list of residential rebate-eligible flow monitoring devices is provided.
9.1.4 CII Programs
The City provides a variety of financial incentives, in partnership with MWDOC, to help businesses, restaurants, institutions, hotels, hospitals, industrial facilities, and public sector sites achieve their efficiency goals. Water users in these sectors have options to choose from a standardized list of water efficient equipment/devices or may complete customized projects through a pay-for-performance where the incentive is proportional to the amount of water saved. Such projects include high efficiency commercial equipment installation and manufacturing process improvements.
9.1.4.1 Water Savings Incentive Program
The Water Savings Incentive Program (WSIP) is designed for non-residential customers to improve their water efficiency through upgraded equipment or services that do not qualify for standard rebates. WSIP is unique because it provides an incentive based on the actual amount of water saved by the customers.
This “pay-for-performance” design lets customers implement custom projects for their sites. The City partners with MWDOC and MET to offer this program.
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Projects must save at least 10 MG of water to qualify for the Program and incentives are paid by MET based on the amount of water saved. Payment amount is up to $0.60 per 1,000 gallons saved per year over the project life, up to a maximum of 10 years. Payments are limited to 50 percent of the eligible project costs while funding is available. Additional funding may be available through MWDOC, but it is limited. Examples of successful projects include but are not limited to changing industrial process system water to capture and reuse process wastewater, capturing condensation and using it to supplement cooling tower water supply, and replacing water-using equipment with more efficient products.
9.1.4.2 CII Rebates
The City offers additional financial incentives under the SoCal Water$mart Rebate Program which offers rebates for various water efficient devices to CII customers. Core funding is provided by MET and supplemental funding is sourced from MWDOC via grant funds and/or retail water agencies. Devices include: High Efficiency Toilets and Urinals, Plumbing Flow Control Valves, Connectionless Food Steamers, Air-cooled Ice Machines, Food Defrosters, Cooling Tower Conductivity Controllers and pH Controllers, Dry Vacuum Pumps, and Laminar Flow Restrictors.
9.1.5 Landscape Programs
Some of the most active and effective water use efficiency programs the City provides are those that target the reduction of outdoor water use. With a large proportion of water consumed outdoors via landscape demands, this sector has been and will continue to be a focus for MWDOC and the City.
9.1.5.1 Turf Replacement Program
The Orange County Turf Replacement Program offers incentives to replace existing turf grass with California-native, drought-tolerant plants and landscaping. Residential, commercial, and public properties in the City’s service area are all eligible for this program. The goals of this program are to increase water use efficiency through sustainable landscaping practices that result in multi-benefit projects across Orange County. Participants are encouraged to utilize smart irrigation timers and furthermore, projects are required to include a stormwater capture feature, such as a rain garden or dry stream bed, and have a minimum of 3 plants per 100 square feet to increase plant density and promote healthy soils. These projects save water and reduce dry and wet weather runoff, increase urban biomass, and sequester more carbon than turf landscapes.
Additionally, MWDOC is piloting a tree program that allows eligible trees to qualify as a sustainability feature in Turf Replacement projects. Beginning March 4, 2024, Turf Replacement Program participants became eligible for an additional incentive for planting trees as part of their Turf Replacement project.
Participants can receive up to $100 per tree, for up to 5 trees ($500), in addition to the Turf Replacement rebate. The pilot goals include increasing the presence of trees in Turf Replacement projects and breaking down barriers to participation. It is anticipated that the pilot will be evaluated in 2026. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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9.1.5.2 Spray-to-Drip Rebate Program
The Spray to Drip Rebate Program offers residential, commercial, and public agency customers rebates for converting areas irrigated by traditional high-precipitation rate spray heads to low-precipitation rate drip irrigation. Drip irrigation systems are extremely water efficient. Rather than spraying wide areas subject to wind drift, overspray and runoff, drip systems use point emitters to deliver water to specific locations at or near plant root zones. Water drips slowly from the emitters either onto the soil surface or below ground.
As a result, less water is lost to wind, evaporation, and overspray, saving water, and reducing irrigation runoff and non-point source pollution. The City partners with MWDOC to provide $1 per square foot of conversion area when replaced with eligible drip irrigation products.
9.1.5.3 SoCal Water$mart Rebate Program for Landscape
The City also offers financial incentives under the SoCal Water$mart Rebate Program for a variety of water efficient landscape devices, such as Smart Irrigation Timers and Central Computer Irrigation Controllers, large rotary nozzles and rotating sprinkler nozzles, soil moisture sensors, irrigation master valves, and in-stem flow regulators.
9.1.5.4 Landscape Design Assistance Rebate
This program is offered for residential customers who are participating in the turf replacement program and are seeking professional design services. Participants must hire a landscape design professional to provide a design that meets the rebate eligible design requirements. Participants will receive up to $1,000 upon completion of their turf replacement project if they have used a professional designer.
9.2 City of Seal Beach Demand Management Measures
Implementation (2020-2025)
During the past 5 years, FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25, the City, with the assistance of MWDOC, has continued water use efficiency programs for its residential, CII, and landscape customers with the participation shown in Table 9.3. The City will continue to implement all applicable programs in the next 5 years.
Table 9.3 City of Seal Beach Water Use Efficiency Program Participation Program FY20/21 FY21/22 FY22/23 FY23/24 FY24/25
High Efficiency Clothes Washer (HECW) 14 7 10 9 3
High Efficiency Toilets (HETs) 0 1 0 0 0
Flow Monitoring Devices (FMD) -- 0 3 1 1
Commercial Plumbing Fixtures (CII) 0 0 0 0 0
Water Savings Incentives Projects (WSIP) 0 0 0 0 0
Turf Replacement (Residential) 780 4,226 2,901 627 0
Turf Replacement (Commercial) 3,962 0 0 13,614 4,427
Landscape Design Rebate Program (LDAP) 2 1 3 0 0
Landscape Design Rebate Program (LMAP) 3 1 3 1 0
Spray-to-Drip (Residential) 0 0 3,509 0 0
Spray-to-Drip (Commercial) 0 0 0 3,623 16,280
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Program FY20/21 FY21/22 FY22/23 FY23/24 FY24/25
Rotating Nozzles (Small Residential) 0 0 0 0 0
Rotating Nozzles (Small Commercial) 0 0 0 0 0
Rotating Nozzles (Large Commercial) 0 0 0 0 0
Smart Timers (Residential) 6 5 3 8 6
Smart Timers (Commercial) 0 0 0 0 0
Rain Barrels 0 0 2 0 0
Recycled Water Onsite Retrofits 0 0 0 0 0
9.3 MWDOC Demand Management Implementation Assistance
Programs
To help facilitate implementation of DMMs throughout Orange County, MWDOC’s wholesale efforts focus on the following three areas: 1) State Water Conservation Compliance Assistance (e.g., Conservation Framework and Non-Functional Turf); 2) Regional Rebate Programs and Local Program Assistance; and 3) Research and Evaluation. This both complies with and goes beyond the Foundational BMPs of Utility Operations Programs requirements.
9.3.1 State Water Conservation Compliance Assistance
To support Orange County retailers with compliance of SB 606 and AB 1668, MWDOC is providing multi-level support to assist agencies in meeting the primary goals of the legislation, including to use water more wisely and to eliminate water waste. Beginning in 2023, urban water suppliers were required to calculate and report their annual UWUO, submit validated water audits annually, and implement and report BMP CII performance measures.
MWDOC offers Orange County water suppliers a “Conservation Framework Technical Assistance Program (TAP)” and “Meter Area Measurements Program” to assist them with compliance with the Conservation Framework.
9.3.1.1 Conservation Framework Technical Assistance Program (TAP) This program provides Orange County water suppliers with support on tasks that are required as part of the Conservation Framework. An agency may opt in to receive support with any of the following:
Readiness Assessment - perform a retailer-specific readiness assessment, including task recommendations and pricing to help retail agencies understand what areas need to be addressed. Conservation Framework Compliance Plan - create a customized Framework Compliance Plan that outlines: 1) what the retailer needs to do to prepare for compliance; and 2) what needs to be implemented to achieve the water savings necessary to comply with the Urban Water Use Objective. Annual Report Compilation and Data Management - support the retailer with Annual Report preparation and assistance; and organize and manage data needed to comply with the reporting requirements of the Regulation.
CII Account Classification - classify CII customer accounts according to the Regulation requirements and create a guidance plan to keep classifications at 95 percent (or higher). 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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CII Best Management Practices (BMPs) and In-Lieu Technologies Implementation Plan - create a customized implementation plan mapping compliance with the Conservation Framework regulation, including the CII BMP requirements of § 974, the in-lieu technologies and accompanying BMP requirements in § 973, and disclosable buildings requirements in § 974a. Miscellaneous Framework Technical Assistance - various activities such as:
» Development of Development of metrics and annual targets to demonstrate progress » Additional training or technical support
» Workshop or webinar facilitation to spur cross-team collaborations » Develop outreach and engagement plans and implement meetings to support engagement of internal and external collaborators
9.3.1.2 Meter Area Measurements Program
The Program assists Orange County water supplier in providing 1) landscape area measurements (LAM) associated with dedicated irrigation meters (DIMs), which may include the creation of water efficiency budgets for dedicated landscape meter customers; 2) identification of mixed-use CII meters (MUMs) irrigating landscapes greater than half acre and subject to the regulation; and 3) reconciliation of DIM and residential LAMs where areas may overlap.
9.3.2 Regional Rebate Programs and Local Program Assistance MWDOC develops, obtains funding for, and implements regional water savings rebate programs on behalf of all retail water agencies in Orange County, such as the Turf Replacement Program. This approach minimizes confusion for consumers by providing the same programs with the same participation guidelines, maintains a consistent message to the public to use water efficiently, and provides support to retail water agencies by acting as program administrators for the region. As a leader of water efficiency in Orange County, MWDOC provides a holistic suite of programs that are accessible to all consumer groups in the region. When requested, MWDOC also assists retail agencies in developing and implementing local programs within their service areas. This assistance includes collaboration with each retail agency to design a program that fits that agency’s local needs, including providing staffing, targeting customer classes, acquiring grant funding from a variety of sources, and implementing, marketing, reporting, and evaluating the program.
On behalf of its member agencies, MWDOC also organizes and provides the following:
Monthly coordinator meetings.
Marketing materials.
Public speaking.
Community events.
9.3.3 Research and Evaluation
An essential part of MWDOC’s regional water use efficiency program is the ongoing research and evaluation of both existing and potential initiatives. Research allows an agency to measure the water savings benefits of a specific program and compare those benefits to the costs of implementing the program. This allows the agency to evaluate the economic feasibility of the program when compared to 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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other efficiency projects or existing or potential sources of supply, before investing in new initiatives or continuing to implement existing programs. MWDOC routinely conducts statistical water savings (impact) evaluations and process evaluations to guide strategic investment and ensure the effective management of its regional water use efficiency programs.
From 2021 to 2025, MWDOC conducted several research initiatives to support informed decision-making.
In partnership with Flume Data Labs, MWDOC completed its Residential End Use Study in 2021, with subsequent updates in 2022 and 2024. This study provided detailed insights into disaggregated residential indoor and outdoor water use, significantly enhancing the understanding of water use patterns across Orange County. In 2023, MWDOC released its Potential and Opportunities study, which quantified the remaining water savings potential in the Orange County residential market, identified the most promising and cost-effective methods for reducing residential demand, and made recommendations on how best to direct financial and technical assistance to Retail Agencies and consumers for implementing residential water efficiency upgrades.
To assess the economic impact of the Conservation Framework, MWDOC worked with M.Cubed and in 2023 published the Draft Water Use Efficiency Standards Economic Analysis: Impact Assessment of State-Mandated Urban Water Use Objectives. MWDOC continues to evaluate the impact of the regulation and Orange County retailer compliance.
Additionally, MWDOC is piloting a tree program that allows eligible trees to qualify as a sustainability feature in Turf Replacement projects. Pilot goals include increasing the presence of trees in Turf Replacement projects and breaking down barriers to participation. It is anticipated that the pilot will be evaluated in 2026. A pilot research program investigating water savings associated with the replacement of broken pressure regulating valves at residential homes wrapped up in 2025. The results of this study are expected in 2027.
9.4 Urban Water Use Objective and CII Performance Measure Compliance
A large focus for the City is to implement DMMs that will help them to meet the requirements of the Conservation Framework. DMMs described in this chapter may help to support member agencies with meeting their required UWUO and achieving CII Performance Measure Compliance. In addition, MWDOC provides support to agencies to assist with the calculation of UWUOs and compliance with CII Performance measures via the Meter Area Measurement and TAP Programs, as described in Section 9.3.
9.4.1 Urban Water Use Objectives Components
Table 9.4 describes MWDOC’s programs that will assist agencies in meeting their UWUO, through both direct measures (programs/activities that result in directly quantifiable water savings) and indirect measures (programs that provide resources promoting water efficiencies to the public that are impactful but not directly measurable). Additionally, MWDOC provides technical assistance to support water suppliers with compliance.
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Table 9.4 MWDOC Programs to Help OC Retail Agencies Meet their Urban Water Use Objectives UWUO Component Calculation Program Impact
Indoor Residential Population and
GPCD standard
Direct Impact
High efficiency indoor fixtures
and appliance rebates
Direct Impact
Increased indoor residential
efficiencies and reductions of
GPCD use
Outdoor
Residential
Irrigated/irrigable area
measurement and a
landscape efficiency
factor of local ETo
and effective
precipitation
Direct Impact
Turf Replacement
High efficiency irrigation rebates
Indirect Impact
Online resources such as OC
Friendly Gardens Webpage
Educational classes
Direct Impact
Increase outdoor residential
efficiencies and reductions of
gallons per ft2 of irrigated/
irrigable area used
Indirect Impact
Provide information, resources,
and education to promote
efficiencies in the landscape
Outdoor Dedicated
Irrigation Meters
Irrigated area
measurement and a
landscape efficiency
factor of local ETo
and effective
precipitation
Technical Assistance
DIM landscape classification and
measurement
Direct Impact
Turf Replacement
High efficiency irrigation rebates
Indirect Impact
Educational training and
resources
Technical Assistance
Classification and measurement
of landscapes associated with
DIMs are required to complete
the calculation.
Direct Impact
Increase outdoor residential
efficiencies and reductions of
gallons per square foot of
irrigated/ irrigable area used.
Indirect Impact
Provide information, resources,
and education to promote
landscape efficiencies.
Water Loss Agency-specific loss
factor and number of
connections
Technical Assistance
Water Balance Validation
Customer Meter Accuracy
Testing
Distribution System Pressure
Surveys
Direct Impact
Distribution System Leak
Detection
Technical Assistance
The accuracy of the water loss
audit is validated for submission
to the State.
Direct Impact
Identify areas of the distribution
system that need repair,
replacement, or other actions to
limit water loss.
Bonus Incentives Volume of indirect
potable reuse water
applied to residential
and DIM irrigation
uses; not to exceed
15% of UWUO
Direct Impact
Groundwater replenishment
system (GWRS)
Direct Impact
The GWRS (run by OCWD)
recharges the groundwater basin
with purified, highly treated
wastewater, allowing OCWDmember agencies to access
indirect potable reuse.
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9.4.2 CII Performance Measures
Urban water supplies are required to report BMPs for CII customers. The City, in partnership with MWDOC, offers a broad variety of programs and incentives to help CII customers implement BMPs and increase their water efficiencies (Table 9.5).
Table 9.5 City of Seal Beach CII BMP and Water Efficiency Programs and Incentives Component Requirement Program Offered Impact
CII Customer Account
Classifications
Classify each CII water user,
based on the end-use of
water for the water user, in
accordance with Energy Star
Portfolio Manager’s 18 broad
categories, in addition to 4
other categories.
Technical Assistance
CII Customer
Account
Classification
Technical Assistance
Classify customer accounts
according to the specified
categories to comply with the
regulation.
Large Landscape
Identification
Identify all CII water users
associated with large
landscapes – landscapes
irrigated with a mixed-use
meter greater than half an
acre
Technical Assistance
Large Landscape
identification
Technical Assistance
Identify and map landscapes
associated with MUM
landscapes that are greater
than half an acre to comply
with the regulation.
Best Management Practices
(BMPs)
Offer CII BMPs for
customers that exceed the
recommended size, volume
of water use, or another
threshold
Technical Assistance
BMP Implementation
Plan
Technical Assistance
Provide a BMP
Implementation Plan to guide
water suppliers with a
roadmap to compliance with
the regulation.
Disclosable Buildings Identify disclosable buildings
in service area according to
the list provided by the
California Energy
Commission
Technical Assistance
Disclosable buildings
list
Technical Assistance
Provide the California Energy
Commission list of
disclosable buildings by water
supplier to comply with the
regulation.
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CHAPTER 10 PLAN ADOPTION, SUBMITTAL, AND
IMPLEMENTATION
The Water Code requires the UWMP to be adopted by the City of Seal Beach’s governing body. Before the adoption, the City must hold a public hearing allowing members of the public to provide input on the UWMP. Prior to the public hearing, the City must notify the public and surrounding cities, counties and water agencies within its service area of the scheduled public hearing. Upon completion of the public hearing, the City’s governing body shall vote to adopt the UWMP. Post adoption, the City submits the UWMP to the DWR while also making it available for public access. This section provides a record of the process the City followed to adopt and implement its UWMP.
10.1 Overview
Recognizing that close coordination among other relevant public agencies is key to the success of its UWMP, the City worked closely with many other entities to develop and update this planning document.
The City also encouraged public involvement through its public review and hearing process, which provided residents with an opportunity to learn and ask questions about their water supply management and reliability. Through the public hearing, the public has an opportunity to comment and put forward any suggestions for revisions of the Plan.
Table 10.1 summarizes external coordination and outreach activities carried out by the City and their corresponding dates. The UWMP checklist to confirm compliance with the Water Code is provided in Appendix A.
Table 10.1 External Coordination and Outreach
External Coordination and Outreach Date Reference
Notified city or county within supplier’s service area that water supplier is preparing an updated UWMP (at least 60 days prior to public hearing) 2/11/2026 Appendix I
Public Hearing Notice 4/27/2026 &
5/4/2026
Appendix I
Held Public Hearing 5/11/2026
Adopted UWMP and WSCP 5/11/2026 Appendix J
Submitted UWMP to DWR (no later than 30 days after adoption) 6/10/2026 Submitted UWMP to the California State Library (no later than 30 days after adoption)
6/10/2026
Submitted UWMP to the cities and county within the supplier’s service area (no later than 30 days after adoption)
6/10/2026
This UWMP was adopted by the City Council on May 11, 2026. A copy of the adopted resolution is provided in Appendix J.
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10.2 Agency Coordination
The Water Code requires the Suppliers preparing UWMPs to notify any city or county within their service area at least 60 days prior to the public hearing. As shown in Table 10.2, the City sent a Letter of Notification to the County of Orange and the cities within its service area on February 11, 2026 to state that it was in the process of preparing an updated UWMP. This notice of preparation is included in Appendix I.
Table 10.2 Submittal Table 10-1 Retail: Notification to Cities and Counties Submittal Table 10-1 Retail: Notification to Cities and Counties Water Code Section 10621(b) and 10642
City Name 60 Day Notice
Drop Down (yes/no)
Notice of Public Hearing
Drop Down (yes/no)
Add additional rows as needed
Golden State Water Company Yes Yes
County Name
Drop Down List
60 Day Notice
Drop Down (yes/no)
Notice of Public Hearing
Drop Down (yes/no)
Add additional rows as needed
Orange County Yes Yes
The City’s water supply planning relates to the policies, rules, and regulations of its regional and local water providers. The City is dependent on imported water from MET through MWDOC, its regional wholesaler. The City is also dependent on groundwater from OCWD, the agency that manages the Orange County Basin. As such, the City involved the relevant agencies in this 2025 UWMP at various levels of contribution as described below.
The City’s 2025 UWMP leveraged data and regionally consistent analyses supplied by MWDOC, such as population projections from the California State University, Fullerton Center for Demographic Research and the information quantifying water availability to meet the City’s projected demands for the next 25 years, in 5-year increments. This 2025 UWMP was developed in collaboration with MWDOC’s 2025 UWMP to ensure consistency between the two documents.
As a groundwater producer who relies on supplies from the OCWD-managed Orange County Basin, the City coordinated the preparation of this 2025 UWMP with OCWD. Several OCWD documents, such as the Groundwater Reliability Plan, Engineer’s Report, and Basin 8-1 Alternative were used to retrieve the required relevant information, including the projections of the amount of groundwater the City is allowed to extract in the 25-year planning horizon.
The various planning documents of the key agencies that were used to develop this UWMP are listed in Chapter 2.2.1.
10.3 Public Participation
The City encouraged community and public interest involvement in the Plan update through a public hearing and inspection of the draft document on May 11, 2026. As part of the public hearing, the City discussed adoption of the UWMP, key components of the UWMP and the conclusions that served as the basis of the UWMP. Copies of the Draft 2025 UWMP were placed for public review at City Hall and Library. 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Notices of the public meeting were posted inside City Hall. Legal public notices for the meeting were published in the local newspaper and posted at City facilities. A copy of the Notice of Public Hearing is included in Appendix I.
The hearing was conducted during a regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council.
10.4 UWMP Submittal
The City Council reviewed and approved the 2025 UWMP at its May 11, 2026 meeting after the public hearing. See Appendix J for the resolution approving the Plan.
By June 10, 2026, the City’s adopted 2025 UWMP was filed with DWR and sent directly to the California State Library, and the County of Orange and Golden State Water Company. The submission to DWR was done electronically through the online submittal tool – WUE Data Portal. The City will make the Plan available for public review on its website no later than 30 days after filing with DWR.
10.5 Amending the Adopted UWMP or WSCP
Based on DWR’s review of the UWMP, the City will make any amendments in its adopted UWMP, as required and directed by DWR and will follow each of the steps for notification, public hearing, adoption, and submittal for the amending the adopted UWMP.
If the City revises its WSCP after UWMP is approved by DWR, then an electronic copy of the revised WSCP will be submitted to DWR within 30 days of its adoption. in collaboration with and
2025 Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
FINAL DRAFT / April 2026
2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
April 2026 / FINAL DRAFT
Prepared By: Prepared For:
Carollo Engineers, Inc. City of Seal Beach
707 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 3920 218 8th Street
Los Angeles, California 90017 Seal Beach, California 90740 Phone: 213.489.1587 Phone: 562.431.2527
https://www.carollo.com https://www.sealbeachca.gov
In collaboration with:
2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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pw://Carollo/CA/MWDOC/204447-000000/03 Reports and Studies/02 Deliverables/Grp2_SB UWMP/SealBeach_2025 WSCP.docx Contents
SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION AND WSCP OVERVIEW 1
1.1 Water Shortage Contingency Plan Requirements and Organization 1
1.2 Integration with Other Planning Efforts 3
SECTION 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION 4
2.1 City Service Area 4
2.2 Relationship to Wholesalers 7
2.3 Relationship with Wholesaler Water Shortage Planning 8
2.3.1 MET Water Surplus and Drought Management Plan 8
2.3.2 MET Water Supply Allocation Plan 10
2.3.3 MWDOC Water Supply Allocation Plan 11
SECTION 3 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND
RESPONSE PLANNING 13
3.1 Water Supply Reliability Analysis 13
3.2 Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment Procedures 13
3.2.1 Decision-Making Process 14
3.2.2 Data and Methodologies 15
3.3 Six Standard Water Shortage Levels 20
3.4 Shortage Response Actions 20
3.4.1 Supply Augmentation 20
3.4.2 Demand Reduction 21
3.4.3 Operational Changes 21
3.4.4 Additional Mandatory Restrictions 21
3.4.5 Emergency Response Plan (Hazard Mitigation Plan) 21
3.4.6 Seismic Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan 23
3.4.7 Shortage Response Action Effectiveness 23
3.5 Communication Protocols 24
3.6 Compliance and Enforcement 25
3.7 Legal Authorities 26
3.8 Financial Consequences of WSCP 27
3.9 Monitoring and Reporting 27
3.10 WSCP Refinement Procedures 28
3.11 Special Water Feature Distinction 28
3.12 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Availability 29
SECTION 4 REFERENCES 30
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Appendices
APPENDIX A DWR SUBMITTAL TABLES
APPENDIX B SEAL BEACH WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY RESPONSE ORDINANCE 1695
APPENDIX C NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING (PENDING)
APPENDIX D ADOPTED WSCP RESOLUTION (PENDING)
Tables
Table 1 Cross-Reference for Standard vs Supplier Shortage Levels 20 Table 2 Coordination Procedures 25
Table 3 Shortage Response Compliance and Enforcement Actions 26 Table 4 Agency Contacts and Coordination Protocols 26
Figures
Figure 1 City of Seal Beach Service Area 6
Figure 2 Regional Location of the City of Seal Beach and Other MWDOC Member Agencies 8
Figure 3 Resource Stages, Anticipated Actions, and Supply Declarations 9 Figure 4 AWSDA Reporting Timeline 15
Figure 5 Water Shortage Contingency Plan AWSDA Framework 16 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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Abbreviations
% percent
AF acre-feet
AWSDA Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment
BPP Basin Production Percentage
City City of Seal Beach
CRA Colorado River Aqueduct
DDW Division of Drinking Water
DRA Drought Risk Assessment
DVL Diamond Valley Lake
DWR California Department of Water Resources
EOC Emergency Operations Center
EOP Emergency Operations Plan
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
FY fiscal year
GRP OCWD’s Groundwater Resilience Plan
GSP Groundwater Sustainability Plan
GSWC Golden State Water Company
IAWP Interim Agricultural Water Program
LHMP Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
MCL maximum contaminant level
WEROC Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County MET Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
MWDOC Municipal Water District of Orange County
ND non detect
NIMS National Incident Management System
OCWD Orange County Water District
PFAS per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
PFOA perfluorooctanoic acid
PFOS perfluorooctane sulfonate
ppt parts per trillion
Producers Groundwater Producers
SEMS California Standardized Emergency Management System Supplier Urban Water Supplier
SWP State Water Project
UWMP Urban Water Management Plan
Water Code California Water Code
WEROC Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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WSAP Water Supply Allocation Plan
WSCP Water Shortage Contingency Plan
WSDM Water Surplus and Drought Management Plan
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SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION AND WSCP OVERVIEW
The Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) is a strategic planning document designed to prepare for and respond to water shortages. This WSCP complies with California Water Code (Water Code) Section 10632, which requires that every Urban Water Supplier (Supplier) shall prepare and adopt a WSCP as part of its Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP). This level of detailed planning and preparation is intended to help maintain reliable supplies and reduce the impacts of supply interruptions.
The WSCP is the City of Seal Beach (City)’s operating manual that is used to prevent catastrophic service disruptions through proactive, rather than reactive, management. A water shortage, when the 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 drought, climate change, and catastrophic events. This plan provides a structured guide for the City to deal with water shortages, incorporating prescriptive information and standardized action levels, along with implementation actions in the event of a catastrophic supply interruption. This way, if and when shortage conditions arise, the City’s governing body, its staff, and the public can easily identify and efficiently implement predetermined steps to manage a water shortage. A well-structured WSCP allows real-time water supply availability assessment and structured steps designed to respond to actual conditions, enabling efficient management of any shortage with predictability and accountability.
The WSCP also describes the City’s procedures for conducting an Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment (AWSDA) that is required by Water Code Section 10632.1 and is to be submitted to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on or before July 1 of each year, or within 14 days of receiving final allocations from the State Water Project (SWP), whichever is later. The City’s 2025 WSCP is included as an appendix to its 2025 UWMP, which will be submitted to DWR by July 1, 2026. However, while developed in conjunction with the UWMP, this WSCP is a standalone document and can be amended, as needed, without amending the UWMP. Furthermore, the Water Code does not prohibit a Supplier from taking actions not specified in its WSCP, if needed, without having to formally amend its UWMP or WSCP.
1.1 Water Shortage Contingency Plan Requirements and
Organization
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 standard water shortage levels that correspond to water shortage percentages ranging from 10 percent (%) to greater than 50%; 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 AWSDA; monitoring and reporting requirements to determine customer compliance; and reevaluation and improvement procedures for evaluating the WSCP.
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This WSCP is organized into three main sections, with Section 3 aligned with Water Code Section 16032 requirements:
Section 1 Introduction and WSCP Overview gives an overview of the WSCP fundamentals.
Section 2 Background Information provides a background on the City’s water service area.
Section 3 Water Shortage Contingency Preparedness and Response Planning.
Section 3.1 Water Supply Reliability Analysis provides a summary of the water supply analysis and water reliability findings from the 2025 UWMP.
Section 3.2 Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment Procedures provides a description of procedures to conduct and approve the AWSDA.
Section 3.3 Six Standard Water Shortage Stages explains the WSCP’s six standard water shortage levels corresponding to progressive ranges of up to 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and more than 50% shortages.
Section 3.4 Shortage Response Actions describes the WSCP’s shortage response actions that align with the defined shortage levels.
Section 3.5 Communication Protocols addresses communication protocols and procedures to inform customers, the public, interested parties, and local, regional, and state governments, regarding any current or predicted shortages and any resulting shortage response actions.
Section 3.6 Compliance and Enforcement describes customer compliance, enforcement, appeal, and exemption procedures for triggered shortage response actions.
Section 3.7 Legal Authorities describes the legal authorities that enable the City to implement and enforce its shortage response actions.
Section 3.8 Financial Consequences of the WSCP provides a description of the financial consequences of and responses for drought conditions.
Section 3.9 Monitoring and Reporting describes monitoring and reporting requirements and procedures that ensure appropriate data is collected, tracked, and analyzed for purposes of monitoring customer compliance and to meet state reporting requirements.
Section 3.10 WSCP Refinement Procedures addresses reevaluation and improvement procedures for monitoring and evaluating the functionality of the WSCP.
Section 3.11 Special Water Feature Distinction is a required definition for inclusion in a WSCP per the Water Code.
Section 3.12 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Availability describes the process the City followed to adopt its WSCP.
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1.2 Integration with Other Planning Efforts
As a retail water supplier in Orange County, the City considered other key entities in the development of this WSCP, including the Municipal Water District of Orange County ([MWDOC] (regional wholesale supplier)), the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California ([MET] (regional wholesaler for Southern California and the direct supplier of imported water to MWDOC)), and Orange County Water District ([OCWD] (Orange County Groundwater Basin manager and provider of recycled water in North Orange County). As a MWDOC member agency, the City also developed this WSCP with input from several coordination efforts led by MWDOC.
Some of the key planning and reporting documents that were used to develop this WSCP are:
MWDOC’s 2025 UWMP provides the basis for the projections of the imported supply availability over the next 25 years for the City’s service area.
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) is an adaptive strategies management plan outlining strategic projects to secure reliable future water supplies in the Orange County Basin. 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 2025 WSCP provides a water supply availability assessment and guide for MET’s intended actions during water shortage conditions.
OCWD’s 2023-24 Engineer’s Report provides information on the groundwater conditions, water supply, and basin utilization of the OC Basin.
OCWD’s 2022 Basin 8-1 Alternative is an alternative to the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) for the OC Basin, 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 Seal Beach 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) provides the basis for the seismic and other natural and natural disaster risk analysis of the water system facilities. 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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SECTION 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The City of Seal Beach is a predominantly residential community located along the Southern California coastline in Orange County. It was incorporated in 1915 and became a charter city in 1964. The City is administered under a council-manager form of government and is governed by a five-member City council elected by district serving 4-year alternating terms. Originally called Bay City, Seal Beach was developed in the early 1900s as a resort destination for residents of the Los Angeles area. Its early growth was accelerated by the construction of the Pacific Electric Railway Trolley, and in 1926, oil was discovered in the City, and the oil boom that followed resulted in the development of Seal Beach into the residential community it is today.
2.1 City Service Area
The City is bordered to the north by the City of Los Alamitos, and the unincorporated Rossmoor community; to the east by the Cities of Garden Grove, Westminster, and Huntington Beach; to the south by the Pacific Ocean and City of Huntington Beach; and to the west by the City of Long Beach.
Rossmoor Center, located in the City, is served by an investor-owned water utility, the Golden State Water Company (GSWC), and thus, the WSCP is limited to those communities receiving water service from the City and covers an aerial extent of approximately 7,135 acres within the City’s boundaries. The Leisure World Retirement Community, with 6,808 dwelling units, is served by the City through 3 master meters.
The City maintains the water distribution facilities and the fire hydrants within Leisure World.
The service area is divided into several distinct communities as shown in Figure 1 and described below:
Old Town the area south of Pacific Coast Highway and Marina Drive, between First Street and Seal Beach Boulevard, was developed in the 1920s. It is the oldest area of the City. High density residential and commercial land uses are prevalent. Large single-family residential lots are found in the Gold Coast District. The City’s mile long beach in Old Town is used for surfing and swimming. The Seal Beach Pier, located at the end of Main Street, provides fishing facilities. Bridgeport is the area west of Pacific Coast Highway north of Marina Drive and southeast of the San Gabriel River. It was primarily developed in the 1960s and consists of medium- and high-density residential land uses. It includes the Seal Beach Trailer Park and Oakwood Apartments. Old Town and Bridgeport cover 276 acres.
Marina Hill was developed in the 1950s and consists mostly of single-family homes. This area covers 201 acres north of Pacific Coast Highway and west of Seal Beach Boulevard, adjacent to the south edge of the Hellman Ranch property. It is further divided into Marina Hill North and Marina Hill South, with Bolsa Avenue forming the boundary.
Hellman Ranch covers 199 acres and is located west of Seal Beach Boulevard and north of Marina Hill. The development includes 100 acres of open space, freshwater wetlands and 70 single-family residential units.
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The Boeing Facility, Police Facility and City Yard are located on 107 acres between Hellman Ranch and Westminster Boulevard, west of Seal Beach Boulevard. This area is zoned for light industry. The Boeing Facility supports Boeing’s commercial aviation program. Engineering and design operations are also conducted by this facility. Development plans for the area include 31 acres of industrial, 19 acres of commercial, and a 120-room hotel on 2 acres. Surfside is a colony that was incorporated in the 1930s and became a part of Seal Beach in 1969. The area consists of single-family dwelling units located on 10 acres of the south spit of Anaheim Bay.
Although it is a gated community, pedestrian and bicycle access to the beach is available. Leisure World was completed in 1962 and covers the portion of the City between Westminster Boulevard and the San Diego Freeway westerly of Seal Beach Boulevard. It is a gated community of 533 acres with 6,608 dwelling units, 4 club houses, and a 9-hole golf course. Leisure World is a retirement community for seniors 55 years and older. Medical, religious, commercial, and recreational facilities are all provided within the compound limits. The existing population is 8,400. College Park East is a single-family residential area developed in the late 1960s. It is located on 292 acres between the San Diego Freeway and Lampson Avenue, west of Bolsa Chica Channel in the northeast section of the City.
Bixby Old Ranch and Old Ranch Golf Course are located north of Lampson Avenue and east of Seal Beach Boulevard. This area covers 230 acres. The golf course is served through two meters. Irrigation water to the golf course is provided by a private on-site well. College Park West is a 62-acre small residential community located along San Gabriel River northeast of Leisure World. Water service to College Park West is provided through a metered supply connection from Leisure World.
The Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1972 and preserves 911 acres of salt marsh and upland area in Anaheim Bay. The refuge is located within the boundaries of the United States Naval Weapons Station and there is no public access. Sunset Aquatic Park was acquired by the County in 1962 from the United States Navy. It encompasses 67 acres of Anaheim Bay and is the site of a public marina and park. The United States Naval Weapons Station was established in 1944. It covers approximately 5,000 acres of land located between Seal Beach Boulevard and Bolsa Chica Road from the San Diego Freeway to Pacific Coast Highway.
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Figure 1 City of Seal Beach Service Area
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2.2 Relationship to Wholesalers
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: MET is the largest water wholesaler for domestic and municipal uses in California, serving approximately 19 million customers. MET wholesales imported water supplies to 26 member cities and water districts in 6 Southern California counties. Its service area covers the Southern California coastal plain, extending approximately 200 miles along the Pacific Ocean from the City of Oxnard in the north to the international boundary with Mexico in the south. This encompasses 5,200 square miles and includes portions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties. Approximately 85% of the population from the aforementioned counties reside within MET's boundaries.
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 are determined by each agency’s assessed valuation. Each member of the Board shall be entitled to cast one vote for each 10 million dollars ($10,000,000) of assessed valuation of property taxable for district purposes, in accordance with Section 55 of the Metropolitan Water District Act. Directors can be appointed through the chief executive officer of the member agency or by a majority vote of the governing board of the agency. Directors are not compensated by MET for their service.
MET is responsible for importing water into the region through its operation of the Colorado River Aqueduct (CRA) and its contract with the State of California for SWP supplies. Member agencies receive water from MET through various delivery points and pay for service through a rate structure made up of volumetric rates, capacity charges and readiness to serve charges. Member agencies provide estimates of imported water demand to MET annually in April regarding the amount of water they anticipate they will need to meet their demands for the next 5 years.
The Municipal Water District of Orange County: In Orange County, MWDOC and the Cities of Anaheim, Fullerton, and Santa Ana are MET member agencies that purchase imported water directly from MET.
Furthermore, MWDOC purchases both treated potable and untreated water from MET to supplement its retail agencies’ local supplies.
The City is one of MWDOC’s 27 member agencies purchasing imported water from MWDOC. The City’s location within MWDOC’s service area is shown in Figure 2. 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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Figure 2 Regional Location of the City of Seal Beach and Other MWDOC Member Agencies
2.3 Relationship with Wholesaler Water Shortage Planning The WSCP is designed to be consistent with MET’s Water Surplus and Drought Management (WSDM) Plan, MWDOC’s Water Supply Allocation Plan (WSAP), and other emergency planning efforts as described below. MWDOC’s WSAP is integral to the WSCP’s shortage response strategy in the event that MET or MWDOC determines that supply augmentation (including storage) and lesser demand reduction measures would not be sufficient to meet a projected shortage levels needed to meet demands.
2.3.1 MET Water Surplus and Drought Management Plan
MET evaluates the level of supplies available and existing levels of water in storage to determine the appropriate management stage annually. Each stage is associated with specific resource management actions to avoid extreme shortages to the extent possible and minimize adverse impacts to retail customers should an extreme shortage occur. The sequencing outlined in the WSDM Plan reflects anticipated responses towards MET’s existing and expected resource mix.
Surplus stages occur when net annual deliveries can be made to water storage programs. Under the WSDM Plan, there are four surplus management stages that provides a framework for actions to take for surplus supplies. Deliveries in Diamond Valley Lake (DVL) and in SWP terminal reservoirs continue through each surplus stage provided there is available storage capacity. Withdrawals from DVL for regulatory purposes or to meet seasonal demands may occur in any stage. 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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The WSDM Plan distinguishes between shortages, severe shortages, and extreme shortages. The differences between each term are listed below:
Shortage: MET can meet full-service demands and partially meet or fully meet interruptible demands using stored water or water transfers as necessary (Stages 1-3). Severe Shortage: MET can meet full-service demands only by making withdrawals from storage, calling on its water transfers, and possibly calling for extraordinary conservation and reducing deliveries under the Interim Agricultural Water Program (IAWP) (Stages 4-5). Extreme Shortage: MET must allocate available imported supplies to full-service customers (Stage 6).
There are six shortage management stages to guide resource management activities. These stages are defined by shortfalls in imported supply and water balances in MET’s storage programs. When MET must make net withdrawals from storage to meet demands, it is considered to be in a shortage condition.
Figure 3 gives a summary of actions under each surplus and shortage stages when an allocation plan is necessary to enforce mandatory cutbacks. The goal of the WSDM plan is to avoid Stage 6, an extreme shortage (MET, 2026b).
Source: MET, 2026.
Figure 3 Resource Stages, Anticipated Actions, and Supply Declarations MET’s Board of Directors adopted a Water Supply Condition Framework in June 2008 to communicate the urgency of the region’s water supply situation and the need for further water conservation practices. The framework has four conditions, each calling for increasing levels of conservation. Descriptions for each of the four conditions are listed below:
Baseline Water Use Efficiency: Ongoing conservation, outreach, and recycling programs to achieve permanent reductions in water use and build storage reserves. 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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Condition 1 Water Supply Watch: Local agency voluntary dry-year conservation measures and use of regional storage reserves.
Condition 2 Water Supply Alert: Regional call for cities, counties, member agencies, and retail water agencies to implement extraordinary conservation through drought ordinances and other measures to mitigate use of storage reserves.
Condition 3 Water Supply Allocation: Implement MET’s WSAP.
As noted in Condition 3, should supplies become limited to the point where imported water demands cannot be met, MET will allocate water through the WSAP (MET, 2026a).
2.3.2 MET Water Supply Allocation Plan
MET’s imported supplies have been impacted by a number of water supply challenges, as noted earlier. In case of extreme water shortage within the MET service area is the implementation of its WSAP.
MET’s Board of Directors adopted the WSAP in February 2008 to fairly distribute a limited amount of water supply and applies it through a detailed methodology to reflect a range of local conditions and needs of the region’s retail water consumers (MET, 2026a).
The WSAP includes the specific formula for calculating member agency supply allocations and the key implementation elements needed for administering an allocation. MET’s WSAP is the foundation for the urban water shortage contingency analysis required under Water Code Section 10632 and is part of MET’s 2025 UWMP.
MET’s WSAP was developed in consideration of the principles and guidelines in MET’s 1999 WSDM Plan with the core objective of creating an equitable “needs-based allocation.” The WSAP’s formula seeks to balance the impacts of a shortage at the retail level while maintaining equity on the wholesale level for shortages of MET supplies of greater than 50% cutbacks. The formula takes into account a number of factors, such as the impact on retail customers, growth in population, changes in supply conditions, investments in local resources, demand hardening aspects of water conservation savings, recycled water, extraordinary storage and transfer actions, and groundwater imported water needs.
The formula is calculated in three steps: 1) base period calculations, 2) allocation year calculations, and 3) supply allocation calculations. The first two steps involve standard computations, while the third step contains specific methodology developed for the WSAP.
Step 1: Base Period Calculations – The first step in calculating a member agency’s water supply allocation is to estimate their water supply and demand using a historical based period with established water supply and delivery data. The base period for each of the different categories of supply and demand is calculated using data from the two most recent non-shortage years.
Step 2: Allocation Year Calculations – The next step in calculating the member agency’s water supply allocation is estimating water needs in the allocation year. This is done by adjusting the base period estimates of retail demand for population growth and changes in local supplies.
Step 3: Supply Allocation Calculations – The final step is calculating the water supply allocation for each member agency based on the allocation year water needs identified in Step 2. 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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In order to implement the WSAP, MET’s Board of Directors makes a determination on the level of the regional shortage, based on specific criteria, typically in April. The criteria used by MET include current levels of storage, estimated water supplies conditions, and projected imported water demands. The allocations, if deemed necessary, go into effect in July of the same year and remain in effect for a 12-month period. The schedule is made at the discretion of the Board of Directors (MET, 2026b).
As demonstrated by the findings in MET’s 2025 UWMP, both the Water Reliability Assessment and the Drought Risk Assessment (DRA) demonstrate that MET is projecting to be able to mitigate the challenges posed by hydrologic variability, potential climate change, and regulatory risk on its imported supply sources through the significant storage capabilities it has developed over the last two decades, both dry-year and emergency storage (MET, 2026b).
Although MET’s 2025 UWMP forecasts that MET will be able to meet projected imported demands throughout the projected period from 2026 to 2050, uncertainty in supply conditions can result in MET needing to implement its WSAP to preserve dry-year storage and curtail demands (MET, 2026b).
2.3.3 MWDOC Water Supply Allocation Plan
To prepare for the potential allocation of imported water supplies from MET, MWDOC worked collaboratively with its 27 retail agencies to develop its own WSAP that was adopted in January 2009 and amended in 2016. The MWDOC WSAP outlines how MWDOC will determine and implement each of its retail agency’s allocation during a time of shortage.
The MWDOC WSAP uses a similar method and approach, when reasonable, as that of the MET’s WSAP.
However, MWDOC’s plan remains flexible to use an alternative approach when MET’s method produces a significant unintended result for the member agencies. The MWDOC WSAP model follows five basic steps to determine a retail agency’s imported supply allocation:
Step 1: Determine Baseline Information – The first step in calculating a water supply allocation is to estimate water supply and demand using a historical base period with established water supply and delivery data. The base period for each of the different categories of demand and supply is calculated using data from the last two non-shortage years.
Step 2: Establish Allocation Year Information – In this step, the model adjusts for each retail agency’s water need in the allocation year. This is done by adjusting the base period estimates for increased retail water demand based on population growth and changes in local supplies.
Step 3: Calculate Initial Minimum Allocation Based on MET’s Declared Shortage Level – This step sets the initial water supply allocation for each retail agency. After a regional shortage level is established, MWDOC will calculate the initial allocation as a percentage of adjusted base period imported water needs within the model for each retail agency.
Step 4: Apply Allocation Adjustments and Credits in the Areas of Retail Impacts and Conservation – In this step, the model assigns additional water to address disparate impacts at the retail level caused by an across-the-board cut of imported supplies. It also applies a conservation credit given to those agencies that have achieved additional water savings at the retail level as a result of successful implementation of water conservation devices, programs, and rate structures. 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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Step 5: Sum Total Allocations and Determine Retail Reliability – This is the final step in calculating a retail agency’s total allocation for imported supplies. The model sums an agency’s total imported allocation with all of the adjustments and credits and then calculates each agency’s retail reliability compared to its Allocation Year Retail Demand.
The MWDOC WSAP includes additional measures for plan implementation, including the following (MWDOC, 2016):
Appeal Process – An appeals process to provide retail agencies the opportunity to request a change to their allocation based on new or corrected information. MWDOC anticipates that under most circumstances, a retail agency’s appeal will be the basis for an appeal to MET by MWDOC. Melded Allocation Surcharge Structure – At the end of the allocation year, MWDOC would only charge an allocation surcharge to each retail agency that exceeded their allocation if MWDOC exceeds its total allocation and is required to pay a surcharge to MET. MET enforces allocations to retail agencies through an allocation surcharge to a retail agency that exceeds its total annual allocation at the end of the 12-month allocation period. MWDOC’s surcharge would be assessed according to the retail agency’s prorated share (acre-feet [AF] over usage) of MWDOC amount with MET. Surcharge funds collected by MET will be invested in its Water Management Fund, which is used in part to fund expenditures in dry-year conservation and local resource development. Tracking and Reporting Water Usage – MWDOC will provide each retail agency with water use monthly reports that will compare each retail agency’s current cumulative retail usage to their allocation baseline. MWDOC will also provide quarterly reports on its cumulative retail usage versus its allocation baseline.
Timeline and Option to Revisit the Plan – The allocation period will cover 12 consecutive months, and the Regional Shortage Level will be set for the entire allocation period. MWDOC only anticipates calling for allocation when MET declares a shortage; and no later than 30 days from MET’s declaration will MWDOC announce allocation to its retail agencies.
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SECTION 3 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLANNING
The City’s WSCP is a detailed guide of how the City intends to act in the case of an actual water shortage condition. The WSCP anticipates a water supply shortage and provides pre-planned guidance for managing and mitigating a shortage. Regardless of the reason for the shortage, the WSCP is based on adequate details of demand reduction and supply augmentation measures that are structured to match varying degrees of shortage to ensure the relevant stakeholders understand what to expect during a water shortage situation.
3.1 Water Supply Reliability Analysis
Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(1), the WSCP shall provide an analysis of water supply reliability conducted pursuant to Water Code Section 10635, and the key issues that may create a shortage condition when looking at the City’s water asset portfolio.
Understanding water supply reliability, factors that could contribute to water supply constraints, availability of alternative supplies, and what effect these have on meeting customer demands provides the City with a solid basis on which to develop appropriate and feasible response actions in the event of a water shortage. For the 2025 UWMP, the City worked collaboratively with MWDOC, OCWD, and MWDOC’s other retail water agencies to produce long-term projected water use over the next 25 years, in 5-year increments, for each agency (MWDOC, 2025).
The City also conducted a DRA to evaluate a drought period that lasts five consecutive water years starting from the year following when the assessment is conducted (2026-2030). An analysis of both assessments determined that the City is capable of meeting all customers’ demands from 2025 through 2050 for a normal year, a single dry year, and a drought lasting five consecutive years with significant imported water supplemental drought supplies from MWDOC/MET and ongoing conservation program efforts. The City has also added reliability through receiving the majority of its water supply from groundwater from the OC Basin and supplemental supplies from MWDOC/MET. As a result, there is no projected shortage condition due to drought that will trigger customer demand reduction actions until MWDOC notifies the City of insufficient imported supplies. More information is available in the City’s 2025 UWMP Sections 6 and 7 (Seal Beach, 2026).
3.2 Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment Procedures Per Water Code Section 10632.1, the City will conduct an AWSDA pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10632 and by July 1 of each year, beginning in 2022, submit an AWSDA with information for anticipated shortage, triggered shortage response actions, compliance and enforcement actions, and communication actions consistent with the Supplier’s WSCP. 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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The City must include in its WSCP the procedures used for conducting an AWSDA. The AWSDA is a determination of the near-term outlook for supplies and demands and how a perceived shortage may relate to WSCP shortage stage response actions in the current calendar year. This determination is based on information available to the City at the time of the analysis. Starting in 2022, the AWSDA is due by July 1 of every year.
This section documents the decision-making process required for formal approval of the City’s AWSDA determination of water supply reliability each year and the key data inputs and the methodologies used to evaluate the water system reliability for the coming year, while considering that the year to follow would be considered dry.
3.2.1 Decision-Making Process
The following decision-making process describes the functional steps that the City will take to formally approve the AWSDA determination of water supply reliability each year.
3.2.1.1 City Steps to Approve the AWSDA Determination
The AWSDA will be predicated on the OCWD Basin Production Percentage (BPP) and on MWDOCs AWSDA outcomes.
The City produces local groundwater from the OC Basin managed by OCWD. 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 (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. The BPP is set uniformly for all Producers by the OCWD Board of Directors on an annual basis. Based on the projected water demand and modeled water supply, over the long-term, OCWD anticipates sustainably supporting a BPP of 85%; however, volumes of groundwater and imported water may vary depending on OCWD's actual BPP projections. A supply reduction that may result from the annual BPP projection will be included in the AWSDA.
While the City’s primary source of water is OCWD groundwater, any remaining source to meet retail demands comes from the purchase of imported water from MWDOC. MWDOC surveys its member agencies annually for anticipated water demands and supplies for the upcoming year. MWDOC utilizes this information to plan for the anticipated imported water supplies for the MWDOC service area. This information is then shared and coordinated with MET and is incorporated into their analysis of their service area’s annual imported water needs. Based on the year’s supply conditions and WSDM actions, MET will present a completed AWSDA for its member agencies’ review from which they will then seek Board approval in April of each year. Additionally, MET expects that any triggers or specific shortage response actions that result from the AWSDA will be approved by their Board at that time. Based upon MET’s Assessment and taking into consideration information provided to MWDOC through the annual survey, MWDOC will provide an anticipated estimate of imported supplies for City to incorporate into the AWSDA.
The City’s designee will be responsible for approving the AWSDA in years when no shortage is identified and submitting it to DWR by July 1. In years where a water shortage is identified, the AWSDA will be presented to City Council and submitted to DWR prior to the July 1 deadline. 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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Figure 4 AWSDA Reporting Timeline
3.2.2 Data and Methodologies
The following paragraphs document the key data inputs and methodologies that are used to evaluate the water system reliability for the coming year, while considering that the year to follow would be considered dry.
3.2.2.1 Assessment Methodology
The City will evaluate water supply reliability for the current year and one dry year for the purpose of the AWSDA. The AWSDA determination will be based on considerations of unconstrained water demand, local water supplies, MET/MWDOC imported water supplies, planned water use, and infrastructure considerations. The balance between projected local supplies coupled with MET imported supplies and anticipated unconstrained demand will be used to determine what, if any, shortage level is expected under the WSCP framework as presented in Figure 5. The WSCP’s standard shortage levels are defined in terms of shortage percentages. Shortage percentages will be calculated by dividing the difference between water supplies and unconstrained demand by total unconstrained demand. This calculation will be performed separately for anticipated current year conditions and for assumed dry year conditions. 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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Figure 5 Water Shortage Contingency Plan AWSDA Framework
3.2.2.2 Locally Applicable Evaluation Criteria
Within Orange County, there are no significant local applicable criteria that directly affect reliability.
Through the years, the water agencies in Orange County have made tremendous efforts to integrate their systems to provide flexibility to interchange with different sources of supplies. There are emergency agreements in place to ensure all parts of the County have an adequate supply of water. In the northern part of the County, agencies have the ability to meet a majority of their demands through groundwater with very little limitation, except for the OCWD BPP.
The City will also continue to monitor emerging supply and demand conditions related to supplemental imported water from MWDOC/MET and take appropriate actions consistent with the flexibility and adaptiveness inherent to the WSCP. The City’s AWSDA was based on the City’s service area, water sources, water supply reliability, and water use as described in Water Code Section 10631, including available data from state, regional, or local agency population, land use development, and climate change projections within the service area of the City. Some conditions that affect MWDOC’s wholesale supply and demand, such as groundwater replenishment, surface water and local supply production, can differ significantly from earlier projections throughout the year.
If a major earthquake on the San Andreas Fault occurs, it has the potential to damage all three key regional water aqueducts and disrupt imported supplies for up to six months. The region would likely impose a water use reduction ranging from 25% to 35% until the system is repaired. However, MET has taken proactive steps to handle such disruption, such as constructing DVL, and prepositioning necessary reconstruction resources to quickly recover from such a seismic event, which mitigates potential impacts.
DVL, along with other local reservoirs, can store a 6- to 12-month supply of emergency water (MET, 2026a).
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3.2.2.3 Water Supply
As detailed in the City’s 2025 UWMP, the City meets its customers’ demands with a combination of local groundwater from the OC Basin and imported water from MWDOC/MET. The City’s main source of water supply is groundwater, with imported water making up the rest of the City’s water supply portfolio. In fiscal year (FY) 2024-25, the City relied on 90% groundwater and 10% imported water. It is projected that by 2050, the City’s water portfolio will change to approximately 85% groundwater (and 15% imported water, consistent with OCWD’s long term 85% BPP projection, and the City can purchase more MET imported water through MWDOC should the need arise (Seal Beach, 2026).
3.2.2.4 Unconstrained Customer Demand
The WSCP and AWSDA define unconstrained demand as expected water use prior to any projected shortage response actions that may be taken under the WSCP. Unconstrained demand is distinguished from observed demand, which may be constrained by preceding, ongoing, or future actions, such as emergency supply allocations during a multi-year drought. WSCP shortage response actions to constrain demand are inherently extraordinary; routine activities such as ongoing conservation programs and regular operational adjustments are not considered as constraints on demands.
The City’s DRA reveals that its supply capabilities are expected to balance anticipated total water use and supply, assuming a 5-year consecutive drought from FY 2025-26 through FY 2029-30 (Seal Beach, 2026). This is based on the water demand projection model, in a single dry year, demand is expected to increase by 7% above a normal year (MWDOC, 2025).
For the City, the five consecutive dry year demand scenario is based on the demand model’s multiple dry year methodology. In accordance with the econometric demand model approach used to develop UWMP demand projections, a single hot/dry year was first identified based on weather conditions that produced the greatest demand response. Consecutive dry years were then represented by applying incremental scaling factors to this single hot/dry year demand to account for the compounding effects of persistent warm and dry conditions over time. These scaling factors show long-term relationships between regional water use and multi-year temperature and precipitation deficits and are applied sequentially to simulate second through fifth consecutive dry years. This approach is consistent with the demand modeling framework summarized in Chapter 7 of the City’s UWMP (MWDOC, 2025).
3.2.2.5 Planned Water Use for Current Year Considering Dry Subsequent Year Water Code Section 10632(a)(2)(B)(ii) requires the AWSDA to determine “current year available supply, considering hydrological and regulatory conditions in the current year and one dry year.” The AWSDA will include two separate estimates of City’s annual water supply and unconstrained demand using: 1) current year conditions, and 2) assumed dry year conditions. Accordingly, the AWSDA’s shortage analysis will present separate sets of findings for the current year and dry year scenarios. The Water Code does not specify the characteristics of a dry year, allowing discretion to the Supplier. The City will use its discretion to refine and update its assumptions for a dry year scenario in each AWSDA as information becomes available and in accordance with best management practices. 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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Supply and demand analyses for the single-dry year case were based on conditions affecting the SWP as this supply availability fluctuates the most among MET’s, and therefore MWDOC and the City’s, sources of supply. Severe drought conditions in 2021-2022 affected most of the Western United States, including the Colorado River system, which caused its water supply decrease. As conditions worsened, Lake Mead and Lake Powell (the largest storage units in the system), had a combined total storage capacity of 25% in 2022, a significant decrease from 39% in 2021 (MWDOC, 2025).
The Orange County Water Demand Projection Model 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 (average of FY 2017-18 and FY 2018-19). For a single dry year condition (FY 2013-14), the model projects a 5% increase in demand for the OC Basin area where the City’s service area is located (MWDOC, 2025).
Detailed information of the model is included in the City’s 2025 UWMP.
The City has documented that it is 100% reliable for single dry year demands from 2025 through 2050 with a demand increase of 7% from normal demand with significant reserves held by MET, local groundwater supplies, and conservation (Seal Beach, 2026).
3.2.2.6 Infrastructure Considerations
The AWSDA will include consideration of any infrastructure issues that may pertain to near-term water supply reliability, including repairs, construction, and environmental mitigation measures that may temporarily constrain capabilities, as well as any new projects that may add to system capacity. MWDOC closely coordinates with MET and its member agencies, including the City, on any planned infrastructure work that may impact water supply availability. Throughout each year, MET regularly carries out preventive and corrective maintenance of its facilities within the MWDOC service area that may require shutdowns to inspect and repair pipelines and facilities and support capital improvement projects. These shutdowns involve a high level of planning and coordination between MWDOC, MWDOC’s member agencies, and MET to ensure that major portions of the distribution system are not out of service at the same time. Operational flexibility within MET’s system and the cooperation of member agencies allow shutdowns to be successfully completed while continuing to meet all system demands.
Specifically for the City, as of March 2026, infrastructure considerations that could impact water supply reliability include:
Power outages and surges.
Wells or pumps temporarily out of service during rehabilitation projects, improvements, or maintenance.
Capital projects including the Navy reservoir rehabilitation, Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority (LCWA) 18-inch watermain lining, Lampson Avenue 12-inch water main replacement, and other water main replacements in various parts of the system.
Other considerations such as the age of lines and the single feed water line to Surfside and Sunset Aquatic Park.
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3.2.2.7 Other Factors
For the AWSDA, any known issues related to water quality would be considered for their potential effects on water supply reliability. Specifically for the City, Lampson Well has exhibited naturally occurring odor characteristics associated with hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). H₂S is addressed under the National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations for aesthetic effects only and is not a health or safety concern.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands of manmade chemicals that includes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). PFAS compounds were once commonly used in many products including, among many others, stain- and -water-repellent fabrics, nonstick products (e.g., Teflon), polishes, waxes, paints, cleaning products, and fire-fighting foams.
Beginning in the summer of 2019, the California State Division of Drinking Water (DDW) began requiring testing for PFAS compounds in some groundwater production wells in the OCWD area. The City has three active groundwater wells, none of which is impacted by PFAS.
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 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 MET’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 DDW regulations. As DDW and United States 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 MET water (MET, 2025).
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.
PFAS have been detected in the OC Basin in very small amounts (ppt), 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. 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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3.3 Six Standard Water Shortage Levels
Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(3)(A), Suppliers must include the six standard water shortage levels that represent shortages from the normal reliability as determined in the AWSDA or cross-reference their shortage levels to the standard levels. The shortage levels have been standardized to provide a consistent regional and statewide approach to conveying the relative severity of water supply shortage conditions.
This is an outgrowth of the severe statewide drought of 2012-2016, and the widely recognized public communication and state policy uncertainty associated with the many different local definitions of water shortage levels.
The six DWR standard water shortage levels correspond to progressively increasing estimated shortage conditions (up to 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and greater than 50% shortage compared to the normal reliability condition) and align with the response actions the Supplier would implement to meet the severity of the impending shortages. The six shortage levels the City uses in their water shortage planning and documented in the WSCP are aligned with and correspond to DWR’s six standard shortage levels in Table 1.
Table 1 Cross-Reference for Standard vs Supplier Shortage Levels Standard Shortage Levels Percent Shortage Range Suppliers Shortage Levels Percent Shortage Range 1 Up to 10% 1 Up to 10%
2 Up to 20% 2 Up to 20%
3 Up to 30% 3 Up to 30%
4 Up to 40% 4 Up to 40%
5 Up to 50% 5 Up to 50%
6 Greater than 50% 6 Greater than 50%
Source: Water Code Section 10632(a)(3)(B)
3.4 Shortage Response Actions
Water Code Section 10632 (a)(4) requires the WSCP to specify shortage response actions that align with the defined shortage levels. The City has defined specific shortage response actions that align with the defined shortage levels in DWR Table 8-2 and Table 8-3 (Appendix A). These shortage response actions were developed with consideration to the system infrastructure and operations changes, supply augmentation responses, customer-class or water use-specific demand reduction initiatives, and increasingly stringent water use prohibitions.
3.4.1 Supply Augmentation
The supply augmentation actions are described in DWR Table 8-2 (Appendix A). These augmentations represent short-term management objectives triggered by the MET’s WSDM Plan and do not overlap with the long-term new water supply development or supply reliability enhancement projects. Supply Augmentation is made available to the City through MWDOC and MET. The City relies on MET’s reliability portfolio of water supply programs including existing water transfers, storage and exchange agreements to supplement gaps in the City’s supply/demand balance. MET has developed significant storage capacity 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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(over 5 million AF) in reservoirs and groundwater banking programs both within and outside of the Southern California region. Additionally, MET can pursue additional water transfer and exchange programs with other water agencies to help mitigate supply/demand imbalances and provide additional dry-year supply sources.
MWDOC, and in turn its retail agencies, including the City, have access to supply augmentation actions through MET. MET may exercise these actions based on regional need, and in accordance with their WSCP, and may include the use of supplies and storage programs within the Colorado River, SWP, and in-region storage. The City has the ability to augment its supply to reduce the shortage gap by up to 100% by purchasing additional imported water through MWDOC or pumping additional groundwater in the OC Basin; however, both are subject to rate penalties from MWDOC and OCWD, respectively.
3.4.2 Demand Reduction
The demand reduction measures that would be implemented to address shortage levels are described in DWR Table 8-3 (Appendix A). This table indicates which actions align with specific defined shortage levels and estimates the extent to which the actions will reduce the gap between supplies and demands to deliver the outcomes necessary to meet the requirements of a given shortage level. This table also identifies the enforcement action, if any, associated with each demand reduction measure.
3.4.3 Operational Changes
During shortage conditions, operations may be affected by supply augmentation or demand reduction responses. The City will consider their operational procedures when it completes its AWSDA or as needed to identify changes that can be implemented to address water shortage on a short-term basis, such as temporarily altering maintenance cycles, deferring planned system outages, and adjusting the flow and routing of water through its system to more effectively distribute available supply across the service area.
3.4.4 Additional Mandatory Restrictions
Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(D) calls for “additional, mandatory prohibitions against specific water use practices that are in addition to state-mandated prohibitions and appropriate to the local conditions” to be included among the WSCP’s shortage response actions. The City will identify additional mandatory restrictions as needed based on the existing Seal Beach Water Shortage Contingency Response Ordinance 1695 (Appendix B).
3.4.5 Emergency Response Plan (Hazard Mitigation Plan)
A catastrophic water shortage would be addressed according to the appropriate water shortage level and response actions. It is likely that a catastrophic shortage would immediately trigger Shortage Level 6 and response actions have been put in place to mitigate a catastrophic shortage. In addition, there are several Plans that address catastrophic failures and align with the WSCP, including MET’s WSDM and WSAP, the City’s LHMP and the Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County (WEROC)’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
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3.4.5.1 MET’s WSDM and WSAP
MET has comprehensive plans for stages of actions it would undertake to address a catastrophic interruption in water supplies through its WSDM and WSAP. MET also developed an Emergency Storage Requirement to mitigate against potential interruption in water supplies resulting from catastrophic occurrences within the Southern California region, including seismic events along the San Andreas Fault.
In addition, MET is working with the state to implement a comprehensive improvement plan to address catastrophic occurrences outside of the Southern California region, such as a maximum probable seismic event in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta that would cause levee failure and disruption of SWP deliveries.
3.4.5.2 Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County Emergency Operations Plan
In 1983, the Orange County water community identified a need to develop a plan on how agencies would respond effectively to disasters impacting the regional water distribution system. The collective efforts of these agencies resulted in the formation of WEROC to coordinate emergency response on behalf of all Orange County water and wastewater agencies, develop an emergency plan to respond to disasters, and conduct disaster training exercises for the Orange County water community. WEROC, administered by MWDOC, was established through the creation of an indemnification agreement among its member agencies to protect each other against civil liabilities and to facilitate the exchange of resources. WEROC is unique in its ability to provide a single point of contact for the representation of all water and wastewater utilities in Orange County during a disaster. This representation is to the county, state, and federal disaster coordination agencies. Within the Orange County Operational Area, WEROC is the recognized contact for emergency response for the water community, including the City.
As a member of WEROC, the City will follow WEROC’s EOP in the event of an emergency and coordinate with WEROC to assess damage, initiate repairs, and request and coordinate mutual aid resources in the event that the City is unable to provide the level of emergency response support required by the situation.
The EOP defines the actions to be taken by WEROC Emergency Operations Center (EOC) staff to reduce the loss of water and wastewater infrastructure; to respond effectively to a disaster; and to coordinate recovery operations in the aftermath of any emergency involving extensive damage to Orange County water and wastewater utilities. The EOP includes activation notification protocol that will be used to contact partner agencies to inform them of the situation, activation status of the EOC, known damage or impacts, or resource needs. The EOP is a standalone document that is reviewed annually and approved by the MWDOC Board every 3 years.
WEROC is organized on the basis that each member agency is responsible for developing its own EOP in accordance with the California Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), and Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 to meet specific emergency needs within its service area.
The WEROC EOC is responsible for assessing the overall condition and status of the Orange County regional water distribution and wastewater collection systems including MET facilities that serve Orange County. The EOC can be activated during an emergency situation resulting from both natural and manmade causes, and can be activated through automatic, manual, or standby for activation. 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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WEROC recognizes four primary phases of emergency management, which include:
Preparedness: Planning, training, and exercises that are conducted prior to an emergency to support and enhance response to an emergency or disaster.
Response: Activities and programs designed to address the immediate and short-term effects of the onset of an emergency or disaster that helps to reduce effects on water infrastructure and speed recovery. This includes alert and notification, EOC activation, direction and control, and mutual aid. Recovery: This phase involved restoring systems to normal, in which short-term recovery actions are taken to assess the damage and return vital life-support systems to minimum operating standards, while long-term recovery actions have the potential to continue for many years. Mitigation/Prevention: These actions prevent the occurrence of an emergency or reduce the area’s vulnerability in ways that minimize the adverse impacts of a disaster or emergency.
The EOC Action Plans provide frameworks for EOC staff to respond to different situations with the objectives and steps required to complete them, which will in turn serve the WEROC member agencies. In the event of an emergency that results in a catastrophic water shortage, the City will declare a water shortage condition of up to Level 3 for the impacted area depending on the severity of the event, and coordination with WEROC is anticipated to begin at Level 4 or greater (WEROC, 2021).
3.4.5.3 City of Seal Beach’s Emergency Response Plan
The City will also refer to its current American Water Infrastructure Act Risk and Resilience Assessment and Emergency Response Plan in the event of a catastrophic supply interruption.
3.4.6 Seismic Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan
Per the Water Code Section 10632.5, Suppliers are required to assess seismic risk to water supplies as part of their WSCP. The plan also must include the mitigation plan for the seismic risk(s). Given the great distances that imported supplies travel to reach Orange County, the region is vulnerable to interruptions along hundreds of miles of aqueducts, pipelines and other facilities associated with delivering the supplies to the region. Additionally, the infrastructure in place to deliver supplies is susceptible to damage from earthquakes and other disasters.
In lieu of conducting a seismic risk assessment specific to the City’s 2025 UWMP, the City has included their LHMP, as required under the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390). The LHMP describes the City’s approach to proactively decreasing threats before disaster occurs, including water supply specific mitigation actions such as improving security and alert systems, upgrading back-up power systems, and retrofitting existing flood control infrastructure. (Seal Beach, 2025).
3.4.7 Shortage Response Action Effectiveness
For each specific Shortage Response Action identified in the plan, the WSCP also estimates the extent to which that action will reduce the gap between supplies and demands identified in DWR Table 8-2 and Table 8-3 (Appendix A). To the extent feasible, the City has estimated percentage savings for the chosen suite of shortage response actions, which can be anticipated to deliver the expected outcomes necessary to meet the requirements of a given shortage level.
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3.5 Communication Protocols
Timely and effective communication is a key element of the WSCP implementation. In the context of water shortage response, the purpose may be an emergency water shortage situation, such as may result from an earthquake, or a longer-term, non-emergency, shortage condition, such as may result from a drought.
In an emergency, the City will activate the communication protocol detailed in the Emergency Response Plan. In a non-emergency water shortage situation, the City will implement the communication protocols described below.
Per the Water Code Section 10632 (a)(5), the City has established communication protocols and procedures to inform customers, the public, interested parties, and local, regional, and state governments regarding any current or predicted shortages as determined by the AWSDA described pursuant to Section 10632.1; any shortage response actions triggered or anticipated to be triggered by the annual water supply and demand assessment described pursuant to Section 10632.1; and any other relevant communications.
Non-emergency water shortage communication protocols are focused on communicating the water shortage contingency planning actions that can be derived from the results of the AWSDA, and it would likely trigger based upon the decision-making process in Section 3.2. Prior to water shortage level declaration, the City will pursue outreach to inform customers of water shortage levels and definitions, targeted water savings for each drought stage, guidelines that customers are to follow during each stage, and sources of current information on the City’s supply and demand response status.
The type and degree of communication will vary with each shortage level in order to inform stakeholders of the current water shortage level status and associated shortage response actions, as defined in Section 3.4.1. Predefined communication objectives and tools will ensure the City’s ability to message necessary events and information to ensure compliance with shortage response actions. These communication objectives and tools are summarized in Table 2.
The City’s Public Works department will lead public information and outreach efforts in close coordination with other MWDOC and MET. The City will share information and provide guidance to its customers as well as monitor the customer response and attitude toward both voluntary and mandatory customer response guidelines. The City’s customer outreach is required to successfully achieve targeted water savings during each shortage level.
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Table 2 Coordination Procedures
Shortage
Level
Communication
Objectives
Communication Tools
1 Compliance with
shortage response
actions, 10% reduction in
water use
Social Media, City Media Channel, Educational Material (e.g. Door Hanger, Brochure, Bill Inserts)
Educational Site Visits (Commercial and Residential)
2 Compliance with storage
response actions,
20% reduction in water
use
Social Media, City Media Channel, Educational Material (e.g. Door Hanger, Brochure, Bill Inserts)
Educational Site Visits (Commercial and Residential)
3 Compliance with
shortage response
actions, 30% reduction in
water use
Social Media, City Media Channel, Educational Material (e.g. Door Hanger, Brochure, Bill Inserts)
Educational Site Visits (Commercial and Residential)
PSA by City of Seal Beach City Manager (or City Council) 4 Compliance with
shortage response
actions, 40% reduction in
water use
Social Media, City Media Channel, Educational Material (e.g. Door Hanger, Brochure, Bill Inserts)
Educational Site Visits (Commercial and Residential)
PSA by City of Seal Beach City Manager (or City Council) 5 Compliance with
shortage response
actions, 50% reduction in
water use
Social Media, City Media Channel, Educational Material (e.g. Door Hanger, Brochure, Bill Inserts)
Educational Site Visits (Commercial and Residential)
PSA by City of Seal Beach City Manager (or City Council) 6 Compliance with
shortage response
actions, >50% reduction
in water use
Social Media, City Media Channel, Educational Material (e.g. Door Hanger, Brochure, Bill Inserts)
Educational Site Visits (Commercial and Residential)
PSA by City of Seal Beach City Manager (or City Council)
3.6 Compliance and Enforcement
Per the Water Code Section 10632 (a)(6), the City has defined customer compliance, enforcement, appeal, and exemption procedures for triggered shortage response actions in the existing Seal Beach Water Shortage Contingency Response Ordinance 1695 (Appendix B). Communication procedures to ensure customer compliance are described in Section 3.5. Table 3 summarizes the means the City will use to ensure compliance and enforcement of Shortage Response Actions. 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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Table 3 Shortage Response Compliance and Enforcement Actions Shortage Response Actions Compliance Enforcement
Customer service, education,
and communication programs
Reduce water usage Educational Letter
Water-waste patrols Eliminate/Cease water wasting activity Educational Letter/Verbal Warning/Violation Notice/Administrative
Civil Penalties
Warning and citation protocols Correct malfunction (e.g. broken sprinkler), Reduce water usage/Cease water wasting
activity
Violation Notice/Administrative Civil
Penalties
Fines and surcharges Correct malfunction (e.g. broken sprinkler), Reduce water usage/Cease water wasting
activity
Violation Notice/Administrative Civil
Penalties
3.7 Legal Authorities
Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(7)(A), the City has provided a description of the legal authorities that empower the City to implement and enforce its shortage response in the Seal Beach Water Shortage Contingency Response Ordinance 1695 (Appendix B). The City intends to update any legal authorities in a subsequently adopted ordinance which will supersede the existing ordinance.
Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(7)(B), the City shall declare a water shortage emergency condition to prevail within the area served by such wholesaler whenever it finds and determines that the ordinary demands and requirements of water consumers cannot be satisfied without depleting the water supply of the distributor to the extent that there would be insufficient water for human consumption, sanitation, and fire protection.
Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(7)(C), the City shall coordinate with any agency or county within which it provides water supply services for the possible proclamation of a local emergency under California Government Code, California Emergency Services Act (Article 2, Section 8558). Table 4 identifies the contacts for all cities or counties for which the Supplier provides service in the WSCP, along with developed coordination protocols, can facilitate compliance with this section of the Water Code in the event of a local emergency as defined in subpart (c) of Government Code Section 8558.
Table 4 Agency Contacts and Coordination Protocols
Contact Agency Coordination Protocols
General Manager Golden State Water Company Phone/email
Public Works Director County of Orange Phone/email
City Council/City Manager City of Seal Beach Meeting/Memo 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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3.8 Financial Consequences of WSCP
Per Water Code Section 10632(a)(8), Suppliers must include a description of the overall anticipated financial consequences to the Supplier of implementing the WSCP. This description must include potential reductions in revenue and increased expenses associated with implementation of the shortage response actions. This should be coupled with an identification of the anticipated mitigation actions needed to address these financial impacts.
During a catastrophic interruption of water supplies, prolonged drought, or water shortage of any kind, the City will experience a reduction in revenue due to reduced water sales. Throughout this period of time, expenditures may increase or decrease with varying circumstances. Expenditures may increase in the event of significant damage to the water system, resulting in emergency repairs. Expenditures may also decrease as less water is pumped through the system, resulting in lower power costs. Water shortage mitigation actions will also impact revenues and require additional costs for drought response activities such as increased staff costs for tracking, reporting, and communications.
The City receives water revenue from a service charge and a commodity charge based on consumption.
The service charge recovers costs associated with providing water to the serviced property. The service charge does not vary with consumption, and the commodity charge is based on water usage. Rates have been designed to recover the full cost of water service in the charges. Therefore, the total cost of purchasing water would decrease as the usage or sale of water decreases. In the event of a drought emergency, the City will impose excessive water use penalties on its customers, which may include additional costs associated with reduced water revenue, staff time taken for penalty enforcement, and advertising the excessive use penalties. The excessive water use penalties are further described in the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Response Ordinance 1695 (Appendix B).
However, there are significant fixed costs associated with maintaining a minimal level of service. The City will monitor projected revenues and expenditures should an extreme shortage and a large reduction in water sales occur for an extended period of time. To overcome these potential revenue losses and/or expenditure impacts, the City may use reserves. If necessary, the City may reduce expenditures by delaying implementation of its Capital Improvement Program and equipment purchases to reallocate funds to cover the cost of operations and critical maintenance, adjust the work force, implement a drought surcharge, and/or make adjustments to its water rate structure.
Based on current water rates, a volumetric cutback of 50% and above of water sales may lead to a range of reductions in revenues. The impacts to revenues will depend on a proportionate reduction in variable costs related to supply, pumping, and treatment for the specific shortage event. The City has set aside reserve funding to mitigate a short-term water shortage situation.
3.9 Monitoring and Reporting
Per Water Code Section 10632(a)(9), the City is required to provide a description of the monitoring and reporting requirements and procedures that have been implemented to ensure appropriate data is collected, tracked, and analyzed for purposes of monitoring customer compliance and to meet state reporting requirements.
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Monitoring and reporting key water use metrics is fundamental to water supply planning and management. Monitoring is also essential in times of water shortage to ensure that the response actions are achieving their intended water use reduction purposes, or if improvements or new actions need to be considered (see Section 3.10). Monitoring for customer compliance tracking is also useful in enforcement actions.
Under normal water supply conditions, potable water production figures are recorded daily. Weekly and monthly reports are prepared and monitored. The data from these reports will be used to measure the effectiveness of any water shortage contingency level that may be implemented. As levels of water shortage are declared by MET and MWDOC, the City will follow implementation of those levels as appropriate based on the City’s risk profile provided in UWMP Chapter 6 and continue to monitor water demand levels. When MET calls for extraordinary conservation, MET’s Drought Program Officer will coordinate public information activities with MWDOC and monitor the effectiveness of ongoing conservation programs.
The City will participate in monthly member agency manager meetings with both MWDOC and OCWD to monitor and discuss monthly water allocation charts. This will enable the City to be aware of import and groundwater use on a timely basis as a result of specific actions taken responding to the City’s WSCP.
3.10 WSCP Refinement Procedures
Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(10), the City must provide reevaluation and improvement procedures for systematically monitoring and evaluating the functionality of the water shortage contingency plan in order to ensure shortage risk tolerance is adequate and appropriate water shortage mitigation strategies are implemented as needed.
The City’s WSCP is prepared and implemented as an adaptive management plan. The City will use the monitoring and reporting process defined in Section 3.9 to refine the WSCP. In addition, if certain procedural refinements or new actions are identified by City staff, or suggested by customers or other interested parties, the City will evaluate their effectiveness, incorporate them into the WSCP, and implement them quickly at the appropriate water shortage level.
It is envisioned that the WSCP will be periodically reevaluated to ensure that its shortage risk tolerance is adequate and the shortage response actions are effective and up to date based on lessons learned from implementing the WSCP. The WSCP will be revised and updated during the UWMP update cycle to incorporate updated and new information. For example, new supply augmentation actions will be added, and actions that are no longer applicable for reasons such as program expiration will be removed.
However, if revisions to the WSCP are warranted before the UWMP is updated, the WSCP will be updated outside of the UWMP update cycle. In the course of preparing the AWSDA each year, City staff will routinely consider the functionality of the overall WSCP and will prepare recommendations for City Council if changes are found to be needed.
3.11 Special Water Feature Distinction
Per Water Code Section 10632 (b), the City has defined water features in that are artificially supplied with water, including ponds, lakes, waterfalls, and fountains, separately from swimming pools and spas, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 115921 of the Health and Safety Code, in the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Response Ordinance 1695 (Appendix B).
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3.12 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Availability
Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(c), the City provided notice of the availability of the Public Review Draft 2025 UWMP and Draft 2025 WSCP and notice of the public hearing to consider adoption of the WSCP.
The public review drafts of the 2025 UWMP and the 2025 WSCP were posted prominently on the City’s website in advance of the public hearing on May 11, 2026. Copies of the Draft WSCP were also made available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s and Public Works Department offices and public hearing notifications were published in local newspapers. A copy of the published Notice of Public Hearing is included in Appendix C.
The City held the public hearing for the Draft 2025 UWMP and Draft WSCP on May 11, 2026, at the City Council meeting. The City Council reviewed and approved the 2025 UWMP and the WSCP at its May 11, 2026 meeting after the public hearing. See Appendix D for the resolution approving the WSCP.
By July 1, 2026, the City’s adopted 2025 UWMP and WSCP was filed with DWR, California State Library, and the County of Orange. The City will make the WSCP available for public review on its website no later than 30 days after filing with DWR.
Based on DWR’s review of the WSCP, the City will make any amendments to its adopted WSCP, as required and directed by DWR.
If the City revises its WSCP after UWMP is approved by DWR, then an electronic copy of the revised WSCP will be submitted to DWR within 30 days of its adoption. 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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SECTION 4 REFERENCES
City of Seal Beach. (2026). 2025 Urban Water Management Plan.
City of Seal Beach. (2025). Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET). (2026a). 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET). (2026b). 2025 Urban Water Management Plan.
Municipal Water District of Orange County. (2023, July). 2023 Orange County Water Reliability Study.
Municipal Water District of Orange County. (2025, December 30). Orange County Water Demand Projection Model Technical Memorandum.
Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County (WEROC). (2025). WEROC 2025 Annual Report.
2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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APPENDIX A DWR SUBMITTAL TABLES
2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
APRIL 2026 / FINAL DRAFT / CAROLLO
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Submittal Table 8-1: Water Shortage Contingency Plan Levels Submittal Table 8-1: Cross-reference for Standard vs Supplier Shortage Levels Water Code Section 10632(a)(3)(B)
Check the box if the Supplier uses the Standard six levels of water shortage.
Proceed to the next table.
Standard Shortage
Levels Percent Shortage Range Suppliers Shortage Levels Percent Shortage Range 1 Up to 10% 1 Up to 10%
2 Up to 20% 2 Up to 20%
3 Up to 30% 3 Up to 30%
4 Up to 40% 4 Up to 40%
5 Up to 50% 5 Up to 50%
6 >50% 6 >50%
NOTES:
Submittal Table 8-2: Supply Augmentation and Other Actions Submittal Table 8-2 Retail: Supply Augmentation and Other Actions Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(A),(C) and (E)
Yes Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) Shortage
Level
Supply Augmentation
Methods and Other Actions
by Water Supplier
Drop down list
These are the only
categories that will be
accepted by the WUEdata
online submittal tool
How much is this going to reduce
the shortage gap?
Additional
Explanation or
Reference
(OPTIONAL)
Volume or
Percentage
Drop down
Shortage Gap
Reduction Value
(May be a range)
(AF)
Add additional rows as needed
1 through 3 Other Purchases Percentage 0 - 100 percent
Additional
imported water
purchase through
MWDOC
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES: Additional Imported Water Purchases to meet the supply gap may have financial ramifications per the MWDOC Water Supply Allocation Plan.
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Submittal Table 8-3: Demand Reduction Actions
Submittal Table 8-3 Retail: Demand Reduction Actions
Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(B) and (E)
Yes Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) Shortage
Level
Demand Reduction
Actions
Drop down list
These are the only
categories that will
be accepted by the
WUEdata online
submittal tool. Select
those that apply.
How much is this going to reduce the
shortage gap?
Additional Explanation or Reference
(OPTIONAL)
Penalty, Charge, or
Other
Enforcement?
For Retail Suppliers
Only
Drop Down List
Volume or
Percentage
Drop down
Shortage Gap
Reduction Value
(May be a range)
(AF)
Add additional rows as needed
0 Landscape - Prohibit
certain types of
landscape irrigation
On-going Long
Term-Conservation
Savings Measure.
Not applicable to
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
quantifiable
savings.
Watering or irrigation of nonfunctional
turf (NFT) on State and local government
properties, commercial, industrial and
institutional owned landscapes,
homeowners' associations common area
landscapes, and local government
facilities in disadvantaged communities
(DAC) is prohibited. See Note 1 below.
No
0 Landscape - Limit
landscape irrigation
to specific times
On-going Long
Term-Conservation
Savings Measure.
Not applicable to
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
quantifiable
savings.
Watering or irrigating of lawns,
landscaping, and other vegetated areas
with potable water between 9:00 a.m.
and 5:00 p.m. on any day, except by use
of a hand-water shut-off nozzle or
device, or for a very short period of time
for the limited purpose of adjusting or
repairing an irrigation system.
0 Landscape - Limit
landscape irrigation
to specific times
On-going Long
Term-Conservation
Savings Measure.
Not applicable to
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
quantifiable
savings.
No water user shall cause or allow
watering or irrigation of lawn, landscape
or other vegetated area with potable
water using a landscape irrigation
system or a watering device that is not
continuously attended for longer than
15 minutes watering per day per station.
This section does not apply to landscape
irrigation systems that exclusively use
very low-flow drip type irrigation
systems where no emitter produces
more than 2 gallons of water per hour
and weather based controllers or stream
rotor sprinklers that meet a 70%
efficiency standard.
0 Other - Require
automatic shut of
hoses
On-going Long
Term-Conservation
Savings Measure.
Not applicable to
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
quantifiable
savings.
No person shall wash a motor vehicle,
trailer, boat or other type of mobile
equipment other than by a hand-held
bucket or by a hose equipped with a
positive shut-off nozzle. This prohibition
shall not apply to washing performed at
a commercial car wash.
0 Water Features -
Restrict water use
for decorative water
features, such as
fountains
On-going Long
Term-Conservation
Savings Measure.
Not applicable to
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
quantifiable
savings.
No person shall operate a water
fountain or other decorative water
feature that does not use re-circulated
water.
0 Landscape - Restrict
or prohibit runoff
from landscape
irrigation
On-going Long
Term-Conservation
Savings Measure.
Not applicable to
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
quantifiable
savings.
No water user shall cause or allow water
to run off landscape areas into adjoining
streets, sidewalks, driveways, alleys,
gutters, ditches or any paved surfaces
due to incorrectly maintained sprinklers,
excessive watering or use.
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Submittal Table 8-3 Retail: Demand Reduction Actions
Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(B) and (E)
Yes Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) 0 Other - Customers
must repair leaks,
breaks, and
malfunctions in a
timely manner
On-going Long
Term-Conservation
Savings Measure.
Not applicable to
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
quantifiable
savings.
Each water user shall repair all leaks
from indoor and outdoor plumbing
fixture at the user’s premises. Such
water user shall eliminate any loss or
escape of water through breaks, leaks or
other malfunctions in the water user’s
plumbing or distribution system
promptly after discovering the leak and
in no event in less than 7 days.
0 CII - Restaurants may
only serve water
upon request
On-going Long
Term-Conservation
Savings Measure.
Not applicable to
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
quantifiable
savings.
Restaurants shall not offer water service
and shall serve water only to a customer
that specifically requests water.
0 Other - Prohibit
vehicle washing
except at facilities
using recycled or
recirculating water
On-going Long
Term-Conservation
Savings Measure.
Not applicable to
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
quantifiable
savings.
No person shall install non-recirculating
water systems in connection with
commercial conveyor car wash and
commercial laundry systems. Effective
on January 1, 2010, the owner or
operator of any commercial conveyor
car wash system shall install operational
re-circulating water systems, or secure a
waiver of this requirement from the
director.
0 CII - Other CII
restriction or
prohibition
On-going Long
Term-Conservation
Savings Measure.
Not applicable to
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
quantifiable
savings.
No person shall install single pass
cooling systems in connection with new
water service.
0 Other - Prohibit use
of potable water for
washing hard
surfaces
On-going Long
Term-Conservation
Savings Measure.
Not applicable to
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
quantifiable
savings.
Water shall not be used to wash down
sidewalks, hard or paved surfaces,
including but not limited to sidewalks,
walkways, driveways, parking areas,
tennis courts, patios or alleys.
Notwithstanding this prohibition, a
water user may wash down such
surfaces when necessary to alleviate
safety or sanitary hazards, and then only
by use of a hand-held bucket or similar
container, a hand-held hose equipped
with a positive self-closing water shutoff device, a low-volume, high-pressure cleaning machine equipped to recycle
any water used, or a low-volume highpressure water broom.
Yes
0 Landscape - Other
landscape restriction
or prohibition
On-going Long
Term-Conservation
Savings Measure.
Not applicable to
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
quantifiable
savings.
No landscape watering shall occur within
48 hours after measurable precipitation.
0 Landscape - Other
landscape restriction
or prohibition
On-going Long
Term-Conservation
Savings Measure.
Not applicable to
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
quantifiable
savings.
Irrigating ornamental turf on public
street medians is prohibited.
1 Expand Public
Information
Campaign
Percentage 5%
Community Outreach and Messaging
(Expand Public Information Campaign to
reflect Level 1 Shortage Response
Actions)
No
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Submittal Table 8-3 Retail: Demand Reduction Actions
Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(B) and (E)
Yes Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) 1 Landscape - Limit
landscape irrigation
to specific times
Percentage 2%
Irrigation shall not be performed except
on designated irrigation days and
between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00
a.m. Irrigation may be performed at any
time if done by means of a hand-held
hose equipped with a positive shut-off
nozzle, a hand-held faucet filled bucket
of 5 gallons or less, or a drip irrigation
system.
Yes
1 Other Percentage 2%
Agricultural users and commercial
nurseries shall curtail all non-essential
water use, but are otherwise exempt
from Level 1 measures. Watering of
livestock and irrigation of propagation
beds are permitted at any time.
Yes
1 Other Percentage 1%
Washing of motor vehicles, boats,
airplanes and other mobile equipment
shall be performed only on designated
irrigation days and between the hours of
6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This prohibition
shall not apply to the washing of
garbage trucks, vehicles used to
transport food and perishables and
other mobile equipment for which
frequent cleaning is essential for the
protection of the public health, safety
and welfare.
Yes
1 Other water feature
or swimming pool
restriction
Percentage 1%
Filling or refilling of swimming pools,
spas, ponds and artificial lakes shall be
performed only on designated irrigation
days and between the hours of 6:00
p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Yes
1 Landscape - Limit
landscape irrigation
to specific times
Percentage 1%
Watering golf courses, parks, school
grounds and recreational fields shall be
performed only between the hours of
6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This prohibition
does not apply to golf course greens.
Yes
1 Other - Customers
must repair leaks,
breaks, and
malfunctions in a
timely manner
Percentage 2%
Each water user shall repair all leaks
from indoor and outdoor plumbing
fixture at the user’s premises. Such
water user shall eliminate any loss or
escape of water through breaks, leaks or
other malfunctions in the water user’s
plumbing or distribution system
promptly after discovering the leak and
in no event in less than five (5) days.
1 Other water feature
or swimming pool
restriction
Percentage 3% Ornamental fountains and similar
structures shall not be operated. Yes
2 Expand Public
Information
Campaign
Percentage 5%
Community Outreach and Messaging
(Expand Public Information Campaign to
reflect Level 2 Shortage Response
Actions)
No
2 Other Percentage 2%
Agricultural users and commercial
nurseries shall curtail all non-essential
water use, but are otherwise exempt
from Level 2 measures. Watering of
livestock and irrigation of propagation
beds are permitted at any time.
Yes
2 Other - Customers
must repair leaks,
breaks, and
malfunctions in a
timely manner
Percentage 2%
Each water user shall repair all leaks
from indoor and outdoor plumbing
fixture at the user’s premises. Such
water user shall eliminate any loss or
escape of water through breaks, leaks or
other malfunctions in the water user’s
plumbing or distribution system
promptly after discovering the leak and
in no event in less than 4 days.
2 Landscape - Limit
landscape irrigation
to specific days
Percentage 15%
Watering or irrigating of lawn,
landscape, or other vegetated area with
potable water is limited to three (3) days
per week.
Yes
2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
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Submittal Table 8-3 Retail: Demand Reduction Actions
Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(B) and (E)
Yes Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) 3 Expand Public
Information
Campaign
Percentage 5%
Community Outreach and Messaging
(Expand Public Information Campaign to
reflect Level 3 Shortage Response
Actions)
No
3 Other - Customers
must repair leaks,
breaks, and
malfunctions in a
timely manner
Percentage 2%
Each water user shall repair all leaks
from indoor and outdoor plumbing
fixture at the user’s premises. Such
water user shall eliminate any loss or
escape of water through breaks, leaks or
other malfunctions in the water user’s
plumbing or distribution system
promptly after discovering the leak and
in no event in less than three (3) days.
3 Landscape - Limit
landscape irrigation
to specific days
Percentage 15%
Watering or irrigating of lawn,
landscape, or other vegetated area with
potable water is limited to two (2) days
per week.
Yes
3 Landscape - Limit
landscape irrigation
to specific times
Percentage 1%
Irrigation shall not be performed except
on designated irrigation days and
between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and
6:00 a.m.
Yes
3 Landscape - Limit
landscape irrigation
to specific times
Percentage 1%
Agricultural users and commercial
nurseries shall use water only between
the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Watering of livestock and irrigation of
propagation beds are permitted at any
time.
Yes
3 Other - Prohibit
vehicle washing
except at facilities
using recycled or
recirculating water
Percentage 2%
Washing of motor vehicles, boats,
airplanes and other mobile equipment is
prohibited except when performed at a
commercial car wash. This prohibition
shall not apply to the washing of
garbage trucks, vehicles used to
transport food and perishables and
other mobile equipment for which
frequent cleaning is essential for the
protection of the public health, safety
and welfare.
Yes
3 Other water feature
or swimming pool
restriction
Percentage 1%
Filling or refilling of swimming pools,
spas, ponds and artificial lakes shall be
performed only on designated irrigation
days and between the hours of 10:00
p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Yes
3 Landscape - Limit
landscape irrigation
to specific times
Percentage 2%
Watering golf courses, parks, school
grounds and recreational fields shall be
performed only between the hours of
10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This
prohibition does not apply to golf course
greens.
Yes
3 Moratorium or Net
Zero Demand
Increase on New
Connections
Percentage 3%
New construction meters and permits
for unmetered service shall not be
issued. Construction water shall not be
used for earth work or road construction
purposes.
Yes
3 Other Percentage 1%
The use of non-reclaimed and nonrecycled water by commercial car washes shall be reduced in volume by
20%.
Yes
4 Expand Public
Information
Campaign
Percentage 5%
Community Outreach and Messaging
(Expand Public Information Campaign to
reflect Level 4 Shortage Response
Actions)
No
4 Other - Customers
must repair leaks,
breaks, and
malfunctions in a
timely manner
Percentage 2%
Each water user shall repair all leaks
from indoor and outdoor plumbing
fixture at the user’s premises. Such
water user shall eliminate any loss or
escape of water through breaks, leaks or
other malfunctions in the water user’s
plumbing or distribution system
promptly after discovering the leak and
in no event in less than two (2) days.
2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
APRIL 2026 / FINAL DRAFT / CAROLLO
CITY OF SEAL BEACH
Submittal Table 8-3 Retail: Demand Reduction Actions
Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(B) and (E)
Yes Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) 4 Landscape - Limit
landscape irrigation
to specific days
Percentage 15%
Watering or irrigating of lawn,
landscape, or other vegetated area with
potable water is limited to one (1) days
per week.
Yes
4 Other Percentage 1%
The use of non-reclaimed and nonrecycled water by commercial car washes shall be reduced in volume by
30%.
Yes
5 Expand Public
Information
Campaign
Percentage 5%
Community Outreach and Messaging
(Expand Public Information Campaign to
reflect Level 5 Shortage Response
Actions)
No
5 Other - Customers
must repair leaks,
breaks, and
malfunctions in a
timely manner
Percentage 2%
Each water user shall repair all leaks
from indoor and outdoor plumbing
fixture at the user’s premises. Such
water user shall eliminate any loss or
escape of water through breaks, leaks or
other malfunctions in the water user’s
plumbing or distribution system
promptly after discovering the leak and
in no event in less than one (1) day.
Yes
5 Landscape - Prohibit
all landscape
irrigation
Percentage 15% Outdoor irrigation is prohibited. Yes
5 CII - Other CII
restriction or
prohibition
Percentage 2%
Use of water for agricultural or
commercial nursery purposes is
prohibited. This prohibition shall not
apply to watering of livestock.
Yes
5 Other water feature
or swimming pool
restriction
Percentage 2%
Filling or refilling of swimming pools,
spas, ponds and artificial lakes is
prohibited.
Yes
5 Landscape - Other
landscape restriction
or prohibition
Percentage 5%
Watering golf course areas, other than
greens, is prohibited. Watering of parks,
school grounds and recreational fields is
prohibited except for plant materials
classified as rare, exceptionally valuable
or essential to the well being of rare
animals.
Yes
5 Other Percentage 2%
The use of non-reclaimed and nonrecycled water by commercial car washes shall be reduced in volume by
40%.
Yes
5 CII - Other CII
restriction or
prohibition
Percentage 2%
The use of water for commercial
manufacturing or processing purposes
shall be reduced in volume by 40%.
Yes
5 Other Percentage 2% Water shall not be used for air
conditioning purposes. Yes
6 Expand Public
Information
Campaign
Percentage 5%
Community Outreach and Messaging
(Expand Public Information Campaign to
reflect Level 6 Shortage Response
Actions)
No
6 Other Percentage 2%
The use of non-reclaimed and nonrecycled water by commercial car washes shall be reduced in volume by
50%.
Yes
6 CII - Other CII
restriction or
prohibition
Percentage 2%
The use of water for commercial
manufacturing or processing purposes
shall be reduced in volume by 50%.
Yes
6 Other Percentage 50% Water use for public health and safety purposes only. Yes
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES: Note 1: NFT irrigation requirements begin January 1, 2027 for State and local government properties, January 1, 2028 for commercial, industrial and institutional owned landscapes, January 1, 2029 for homeowners' associations common area landscapes, and January 1, 2031 for local government properties in disadvantaged communities (DAC). 2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
APRIL 2026 / FINAL DRAFT / CAROLLO
CITY OF SEAL BEACH
APPENDIX B SEAL BEACH WATER SHORTAGE
CONTINGENCY RESPONSE ORDINANCE
1695
Below is the weblink to the current ordinance (last accessed on April 17, 2026) http://www.qcode.us/codes/sealbeach/
2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
APRIL 2026 / FINAL DRAFT / CAROLLO
CITY OF SEAL BEACH
APPENDIX C NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING (PENDING)
2025 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
APRIL 2026 / FINAL DRAFT / CAROLLO
CITY OF SEAL BEACH
APPENDIX D ADOPTED WSCP RESOLUTION (PENDING)
2025 Urban Water
Management Plan &
2025 Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
Public Hearing
Prepared for:
May 11, 2026
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Agenda
• Purpose and Overview of the UWMP and WSCP
• 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
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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 C A R O L L O / 4
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System Description
• Service Area: 7,135 acres
• Water System Components
» 4 wells (3 active, 1 inactive)
» 1 imported water connections to MET
» 4 connections with other agencies.
» 2 reservoirs with a capacity of 7 MG
» 2 booster pump stations
» 75 miles of pipelines ▪ City’s Population in 2025: 24,399 ▪ Projected Population 2050: 23,666
▪ Population Change: -3.0%
0 5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Population Forecast
Source: Center for Demographics Research (CSUF)
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Water Use Projections
• The City participated in the
development of the 2025 Orange
County Water Demand Projection
Model led by MWDOC.
▪ City’s demand projection:
» 2020: 3,443 afy
» 5-year average: 3,287
» 2050: 3,358 afy
» Change 2020-2050: -2.5%
Total demand in Orange County continues to trend down, while population has increased more than 700,000 (+30%)
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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 Seal Beach, complied
collectively rather than individually.
The City is in compliance with the mandated
20% water use reduction and WUE target.
142
95 0
20 40
60 80
100
120
140
160
2020 Target 2020 Actual
Per Capita Water Use (gpcd)
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Water Supply Characterization
▪ City’s existing supply mix:
» Groundwater: 90.4%
» Imported Water: 9.6%
• The City has 4 interconnections with adjacent
agencies
• The City anticipates to
rehabilitating existing wells
in the near future as new
water supplies.
City’s Projected Water Supply Mix
The City’s water supply mix is not projected to change through year 2050
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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.
0 500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Example: Single Dry Year Assessment
Supply (afy) Demand (afy)
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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 Shortage
Percentage 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 >50% • Same as level 5
• Up to 60% consumer demand reduction required.
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Demand Management Measures
▪ Water Use Efficiency Program and
Rebates 2020-2025:
» High Efficiency Clothes Washers
» High Efficiency Toilets
» Flow Monitoring Devices
» Turf Replacement Programs
» Spray to Drip conversion
» Smart Timers
» Rain Barrels
» Landscape Design Rebate Programs
▪ 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
https://www.mwdoc.com/
save-water/water-use-efficiency/
Public Hearing
May 11, 2026
QUESTIONS?
Prepared for:
2025 Urban Water
Management Plan &
2025 Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
Agenda Item J
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: May 11, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THRU: Patrick Gallegos, City Manager
FROM: Barbara Arenado, Director of Finance/City Treasurer SUBJECT: Street Lighting Assessment District
________________________________________________________________ SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
That the City Council adopt:
1. Resolution 7774 initiating the annual levy of the street lighting assessment; and,
2. Resolution 7775 setting the date for the public hearing for June 8, 2026; and,
3. Resolution 7776 approving the Engineer's Report. No increase in assessments is projected for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS:
Similar to previous years, the City contracted with Willdan Financial Services to develop a proposal to initiate an annual levy of assessments for the Street Lighting Assessment District for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. Under the provisions of the "Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972," (Part 2 of Division 15 of the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California), the three (3) resolutions included on this agenda are required to initiate the levy process and must be passed in order to schedule the date for Public Hearing. The Engineer's Report (prepared by Willdan Financial Services) includes: 1) the plans and specifications for the lighting improvements, 2) an estimate of the cost for the improvements, 3) a diagram of the assessment district, and 4) an assessment of the estimated cost of the improvements.
Upon conclusion of the public hearing, Council may adopt a resolution confirming the diagram and assessment either as originally proposed or as modified by Council. The adoption of the resolution shall constitute the levy of an assessment for the fiscal year referred to in the assessment.