CVWD-DWA the State of the Coachella Valley Aquifer (PDF)

the state of the Coachella Valley Aquifer The Coachella Valley Water District and Desert Water Agency are committed to carefully managing the region’s aquifer. This collaboration will ensure this precious resource is available for generations to come. early 100 percent of the water that is used in the Coachella Valley comes from an underground aquifer – or groundwater basin. This water is Nlocated beneath the surface, where it is stored and eventually pumped for use by nine cities, 400,000 people, numerous businesses and thousands of acres of farmland. Due to the dry climate in the Coachella Valley, the groundwater basin must be very carefully managed. The very little precipitation that is seen in the desert and nearby mountains helps to replenish the aquifer but must be augmented by importing additional supplies. Currently, groundwater levels are declining but together, the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) and Desert Water Agency (DWA) have been working hard to replenish the aquifer and protect this important resource. Since 1973, the agencies have replenished the aquifer with more than 3.1 million acre-feet (1 trillion gallons) of imported water. Together, the agencies have made great strides when it comes to recycling wastewater and encouraging and implementing conservation programs – efforts that reduce the region’s reliance on the aquifer. Imported water, conservation programs and local efforts are important tools that CVWD and DWA employ to ensure that the aquifer will continue to provide Coachella Valley residents, businesses and farmland the water they depend on. Brought to you by the Coachella Valley Water District and Desert Water Agency The State of The Aquifer 3 - 4" rainfall annually 99%of the Coachella Valley’s water supply is groundwater Our Dry Climate Who Uses Temperatures up to This Groundwater? 9 400,000 7,000 66,000 cities people businesses acres of farmland 120ºF Cross Section of Coachella Valley Aquifer Rain Supply Supply Snow well well Rain + Snowmelt Recharge Basin Colorado River Water The aquifer receives small amounts of water from Water from the Colorado River ﬂows to the valley through Unsaturated Zone snowmelt and rainfall a canal and an aqueduct, and is used to recharge the aquifer Aquifer Bedrock cvwd & dwa actions Replenishing The Aquifer What This Means to conserve water How You Can Help hile groundwater How It Works of wastewater is levels are declining, recycled by DWA Use Low Plant 1 Water is carried Million 100% WCVWD and DWA are into the recharge basin acre-feet of water Flow Water Wise Toilets Landscaping working hard to replenish the Consumers The water seeps 2 is enough to serve groundwater basin and ensure into the ground 3 have reduced a reliable water supply for the water needs for 3 ...and replenishes the aquifer water use by Install the region. Since 1973, the 20%s i n c e 2 0 0 7 Fix Water Smart agencies have imported Leaky 6 Million Sprinkler more than 3.1 million acre- facilities families of four Faucets feet to replenish the aquifer. have recharged for one year Million Systems 3.1 million acre-feet square-feet of lawn are gone thanks to CVWD’s 3 2 landscape rebate District Boundary Map he Coachella Valley Water District is a Desert Hot Springs T 62 public agency governed 10 by a five-member board of directors. The district Cathedral City serves approximately Palm 108,000 residential and Springs business customers across Rancho Mirage Palm 1,000 square miles, located Desert primarily in Riverside Indio 111 County, but also in 10 Indian La Coachella portions of Imperial and Wells Quinta 86S San Diego counties. Lake Cahuilla 74 111 86 Coachella Canal (123 Miles) Salton Sea Legend Desert Water Agency District Boundary S22 esert Water Agency is a public, non-profit Coachella Valley Water District Boundary agency and a State Water Contractor, serves a D DWA and CVWD Shared Boundary population of 60,000 people in a 325-square-mile area, Highways including parts of Cathedral City, outlying county areas, Coachella Canal Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs. An elected five- Map not to scale member board sets policy and represents the ratepayers. Desert Water Agency Coachella Valley Water District 1200 S Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, CA 92264 75-515 Hovley Lane East, Palm Desert, CA 92211 Phone: 760.323.4971 Phone: 760.398.2651 • Fax: 760.398.3711 www.dwa.org www.cvwd.org.

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