Laserfiche WebLink
Water in Orange County Needs “One Voice” <br /> <br /> <br />2021-2022 Orange County Grand Jury Page 3 <br /> <br />SUMMARY <br />The future of a reliable water supply for California, as well as Orange County (OC), is at risk. <br />The intense dry spell in the West, the worst in 1,200 years, is being labeled a “Mega Drought.”0F <br />1 <br />Multiple years of drought and inconsistent availability of imported surface water from Northern <br />California and the Colorado River should inspire OC leaders responsible for a reliable water <br />supply to consider new ways to offset the likely depletion of aquifers and reservoirs. <br />Ronald Reagan once said: “No government ever voluntarily reduced itself in size.” However, it <br />is important that Orange County water providers consolidate their resources and establish a <br />unified voice to lead the County more efficiently in its water policies and planning. Multiple <br />water experts agree it is time to coordinate strategies in water conservation, development of new <br />supply and infrastructure, and preparation for the possibility of continued drought, disaster, and <br />State-mandated water cutbacks. <br />Providing water to Orange County residents is a complicated process and requires the work of <br />water wholesalers and retailers. Retail water agencies (districts and cities) are the direct link to <br />residential and commercial customers. It is they who set the retail price for the water that is <br />delivered. Providers of drinkable water to these retail entities are the wholesalers (suppliers) of <br />imported and local groundwater from the aquifer. <br />The current structure of wholesale water supply and operations in Orange County, although <br />fragmented between Orange County Water District (OCWD), Metropolitan Water District of <br />Southern California (MET), and Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), has <br />been successful in providing reliable, high-quality drinking water. While differences in geology <br />and geography dictate different water supplies, no single governmental body is solely <br />responsible for wholesale water policy and operations in Orange County, even though providing <br />future reliable water supply is becoming more challenging. <br />While the processes of supplying wholesale groundwater and imported water are arguably <br />dramatically different, complex, and should remain separated in OC, the Orange County Grand <br />Jury (OCGJ) has determined that all sources of water are interconnected and would be best <br />administered by one governmental entity. All the water flowing to OC taps looks the same, <br />whether imported or groundwater, so why do we need two wholesale agencies? <br />This single leadership structure, whether through consolidation of existing dual entities (OCWD <br />and MWDOC) or creation of a new water authority, is achievable through a combination of <br />governance and local and State legislative changes that authorizes the single organization to lead <br />all aspects of Orange County wholesale water. Although any consolidation or formation of a new <br />water agency would pose political, administrative, and operational challenges, the OCGJ <br />concluded that, at long last, it is time for Orange County to operate with “one water voice.” <br /> <br />1 February 14, 2022, Peer reviewed study published in the journal Nature Climate Change <br />https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-022-01290-z