Water supply security and reliability will be the focus of the grant funded program.
To further foster water supply planning efforts and engage community stakeholders in preparation for drought emergencies in the future, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD) received $115,000 to expand its drought contingency plan. The funding, which was made available through the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation will allow EVMWD to address several factors to sustain water supply security and reliability within the region over the next several years.
EVMWD initiated a drought task force in recent months to address the drought issues within its service area. The cities of Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, and Canyon Lake, along with the Lake Elsinore, Menifee and Murrieta Unified School Districts, and the County of Riverside are all working together to identify drought issues and solutions and coordinating response activities related to the drought. With key stakeholder participation and the allocation of grant funds, EVMWD will take on several projects to ensure water security and reliability for the future, including rehabilitation of its Canyon Lake water treatment plant and expansion of groundwater storage and supply.
“With great regional growth in our service area, EVMWD is leading the way for future supply and increased reliability,” said Phil Williams, president of the board of directors for EVMWD. “Having access to the grant funding allows EVMWD to plan for the future and continue to reduce our dependence on expensive imported water supplies, especially during dry times.”
EVMWD is one of 11 agencies from the Western United States to receive the funding from the drought response program. The grant was received through the Department of the Interior’s WaterSMART Program, which focuses on improving water conservation and sustainability, while helping water resource managers make sound decisions about water use.
EVMWD provides service to more than 140,000 water, wastewater and agricultural customers in a 96-square-mile area in Western Riverside County. The District is a sub-agency of the Western Municipal Water District and a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Visit the EVMWD website at www.evmwd.com for additional information.