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Water in Orange County Needs “One Voice” <br /> <br /> <br />2021-2022 Orange County Grand Jury Page 14 <br /> <br />supply.14F <br />15 Currently, many projects are undertaken by individual or small groups of retail <br />agencies that could be more expansive if guided by a single wholesale water supplier providing <br />diverse water sources. <br />Another missed opportunity is a lack of coordinated County analysis about the benefits and <br />drawbacks related to potential desalination projects. Even though desalination projects <br />potentially impact the water supply for all of Orange County, OCWD and MWDOC <br />independently consider these desalination projects and their impact. <br />Furthermore, many water experts believe that this fragmentation results in less than optimum <br />legislative lobbying effectiveness. This affects programs such as water conservation, related <br />water consumption standards such as State storage projects to capture more water supply during <br />wet years, contamination treatment standards, and the Delta Conveyance System, which is a <br />proposed more efficient and effective system to move water from Northern California to the <br />central and southern part of the State. <br /> <br />Benefits of a Single County Agency - “One Voice” <br />The Orange County Grand Jury found that creation of a single County wholesale water agency to <br />serve as a conduit for both imported and groundwater would be most effective in coordinating <br />water supply diversification, major infrastructure investments, and developing forward-thinking <br />policies and practices. This single agency would also help facilitate fiscal and environmental <br />responsibility. <br />Orange County water agencies have earned a tremendous reputation for innovative projects and <br />strategies related to increasing a reliable water supply, even in drought conditions. How do we <br />leverage what already is exemplary and collaborative in Orange Counter water operations? <br />• Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) <br />• Santa Ana River Conservation and Conjunctive Use program (SARCCUP)15F <br />16 <br />• Inter-county perspective with neighboring jurisdictions of the Inland Empire, San Diego, <br />and Los Angeles Counties. <br />• Purple water recycling for irrigation coming from treated waste and stormwater capture. <br />• Burris Basin conversion to Anaheim Coves Trail (OCWD / City partnership).16F <br />17 <br />Water experts believe “One Voice” would result in increased influence on the MET Board. The <br />OCJG concluded that having all types (groundwater and imported water) of wholesale water <br /> <br />15 Information based on multiple water professional interviews. <br />16 www.ieua.org/read-our-reports/santa-ana-river-conservation-and-conjunctive-use-program/ <br />17 http://www.santa-ana-river-trail.com/trail/burris_basin.asp