OCWD Management Area
water source to remain healthy and strong. It further acknowledges that the imported water that is purchased annually to meet the needs of the groundwater producers is becoming uncertain as environmental, agricultural, and urban interests maneuver to obtain a greater share and is susceptible to impacts from climate change. The Policy contains the following tenets: • The District recognizes the impacts of climate change and their ability to disrupt predictions of future local water supplies for the District’s service territory • The District will evaluate and undertake economical and environmentally sensitive projects and programs to work towards the goal of ensuring adequate water supplies are always available to its service territory • The types of projects that will be evaluated include: (1) Maximizing Santa Ana River base and storm flow capture, (2) Increasing water conservation, (3) Increasing water recycling, (4) Improving the reliability of imported water supplies, (5) Brackish water desalination, (6) weather modification/cloud seeding; and (7) Seawater desalination
Conjunctive Use and Water Transfers
By agreement with OCWD, MWD established a Conjunctive Use Project (CUP) in the OCWD Management Area by purchasing the right to store up to 66,000 acre-feet of water in the groundwater basin until 2028. OCWD used the funds provided by MWD to improve basin management facilities including the construction of eight new production wells for water retail agencies and new injection wells for the Talbert Barrier. Under the agreement, MWD may request that stored water be extracted up to a maximum of 22,000 acre-feet each year. OCWD reviews opportunities for additional conjunctive use projects that would store water in the basin and potentially in other groundwater basins. Additionally, OCWD reviews opportunities for water transfers that could provide additional sources of recharge water. Such projects are evaluated carefully with respect to their impact on available storage, reliability and cost effectiveness.
10.4.1 Water Demands
Water demands within the OCWD Management Area for WY2016-17 to 2020-21 averaged 400,000 acre-feet per year (Figure 6-1). Total demand includes the use of groundwater, surface water from Santiago Creek and Irvine Lake, recycled water, and imported water.
Projected Water Demands
OCWD estimated future total water demands (including recycled water) within the OCWD Management Area to be approximately 431,000 acre-feet per year in 2050. This is based on a water demand study jointly funded by OCWD and MWDOC. This study was undertaken to assist the 19 major groundwater producers in the development of their 2020 Urban Water Management Plans. Water Demands within the OCWD Management Area was determined by summing the 19 producer future estimates and water produced by private, mutual water company, and irrigation wells.
BASIN 8-1 ALTERNATIVE 2022 UPDATE
Sustainable Management: Basin Storage 10-6
Appendix F - 160
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