Drinking Water
Where Does Your Water Come From
Like many water districts in south Orange County, El Toro Water District (ETWD) is 100% dependent on imported water to meet the drinking water needs of our customers. Our imported supply typically consists of a blend of water from the Colorado River and the Sacramento Bay Delta via the State Water Project. Both sources of import water are transported from hundreds of miles through a series of tunnels, aqueducts and pipelines to reach Orange County.
ETWD is a member agency of the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), a wholesaler of imported water, which is purchased, transported and treated by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWDSC).
When the imported water supply reaches Southern California, it goes to the Diemer Filtration Plant, located in the City of Yorba Linda, to be purified and to ensure that it meets or exceeds all federal, state and local water quality regulations. From there the fully treated water is conveyed to south Orange County via two large pipelines called the Allen McColloch Pipeline (AMP) and the East Orange County Feeder #2 Pipeline. The AMP ultimately traverses its way to ETWDs largest reservoir, which is located in the City of Mission Viejo. ETWD also recieves surface water from Irvine Lake delivered through the Baker Water Treatment Plant.
ETWD does not overly the Orange County Groundwater Basin nor does it have any sustainable source of ground water.
Given our dependence on imported water and the extensive delivery system, it is critical that ETWD maintains and creates local water supply resources that will sustain our daily water need.
ETWD's Largest Reservoir Improves South County Water Reliability
El Toro Water District (District) has taken a leading role in improving local water supply reliability for south Orange County. The District owns and maintains the largest covered drinking water reservoir in all of Orange County with a capacity of 275 million gallons. Moulton Niguel Water District and Santa Margarita also own capacity in the reseroir as an emergency backup supply of water. In the event of an emergency or unplanned interruption of water service, the reservoir could provide between 11 - 45 days supply of water to El Toro Water District customers depending on various conditions.
Future Water Supply Reliability
Realizing that water resources in California are diminishing as the population increases, the El Toro Water District Board of Directors has committed the District to on going cooperation and participation in regional partnerships to ensure that water service to our 53,145 customers remains reliable and economical for generations to come. Future water reliability will require continued financial investment in a diversified portfolio of:
- Water resources and infrastructure
- Robust education in the areas of demand side management/water use efficiency programs
- Expanded recycling of domestic wastewater for beneficial reuse