Agenda Packet_2022-09-20 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Water in Orange County Needs "One Voice" • In -person and virtual interviews. Specifically, interviews of current and former Water District Managers, City and Regional Water Managers and other involved State entities and individuals. • Water District website meeting minutes and document review. • Independent research (articles, websites, reports, minutes, documents, etc.). • Research of applicable State and local water -related statutes and ordinances. • Site tours of water and sanitation districts' operations. • Past Grand Jury reports. • 2021 Orange County Water Summit. The interviews included personnel from water agencies that represented a cross section of regional and local wholesalers and retailers to obtain a diversity of perspectives based on geography, demographics, and practices. The investigation took into consideration the variety of characteristics that exist in the County, including: • North compared to South County sources of water supply (reliance on imported water). • Variety of projects to provide water supplies during normal and emergency times. • Diversity of projects and plans to increase reliable sources of water supply including. categories related to conservation, recycling for irrigation and potable use, storage, desalination options, etc. • Multi -agency collaboration. INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS Overall, California water sources come from imported supplies (State Water Project in Northern California and the Colorado River), groundwater, stormwater, water transfers, desalination, and water recycling. Orange County, like the rest of California, relies on a variety of sources, with the exception of desalination which is currently in the planning stage. Status Quo To best understand the background of wholesale water in California, and specifically Orange County, one must examine the three major governmental agencies involved: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET), Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), and Orange County Water District (OCWD). These agencies have similar names but very different responsibilities. The role of retail water districts will also be explained. Metropolitan Water District of Southern California MET provides water from the Colorado River and the State Water Project from Northern California to Southern California. It wholesales this imported water to its Orange County member agencies, MWDOC and the independent cities of Anaheim, Fullerton, and Santa Ana. 2021-2022 Orange County Grand Jury Page 5 City Council 8-7 9/20/2022