Perris, CA (July 17, 2018) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) was recently awarded $750,000 in grant funding from the United States Bureau of Reclamation for the construction of a large diameter raw water pipeline in the San Jacinto Valley that will help provide long-term water supply sustainability.

The funding allocation from the Bureau of Reclamation is for the first phase of the San Jacinto Valley Raw Water Conveyance Facilities and its connection to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Inland Feeder, which supplies water to Diamond Valley Lake.

The first phase of the project includes approximately 2.25 miles of 60-inch pipeline from the intersection of Warren Road and Esplanade Avenue to just before the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Kirby Street near EMWD’s Hemet Water Filtration Plant. Subsequent phases will extend the pipeline east to EMWD’s future groundwater replenishment basins, located near Mountain and Esplanade Avenues in San Jacinto. Phase 1 construction will break ground in late 2019 or early 2020.

“We sincerely appreciate the support of the Bureau of Reclamation and the successful partnership we have with them,” EMWD President David Slawson said. “Our agencies have worked together to make EMWD’s area a model for water supply resiliency and we are appreciative to again be awarded funding for this incredibly important project.”

The pipeline is one piece of a larger program to replenish groundwater basins using imported water from the State Water Project system. By putting water into the ground when it is available during years with normal or above average water supplies, EMWD will be better prepared for drought conditions and will also protect water quality in the San Jacinto Groundwater Basin.

The funding is part of the United States Department of the Interior’s WaterSMART initiative. A combined $8.3 million was awarded to 15 projects in California, New Mexico and Utah.

“Helping western states prepare and build resiliency for future drought is an essential part of Reclamation’s 116-year history,” Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman said. “By proactively planning for drought, communities are able to reduce its impact and improve their ability to recover once the rain and snow start to fall.”

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Eastern Municipal Water District is the water, wastewater and recycled water service provider to approximately 816,000 people living and working within a 555-square mile service area in western Riverside County. It is California’s sixth-largest retail water agency and its mission is “To deliver value to our customers and the communities we serve by providing safe, reliable, economical and environmentally sustainable water, wastewater and recycled water services.” More information can be found at www.emwd.org.