Perris, CA (September 27, 2023) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) hosted its State of the District event today, providing its key stakeholders with the organization’s vision for providing safe, reliable and cost-effective services for the future.

As part of its nearly 75-year commitment to serving the community, EMWD has focused on a diverse water supply portfolio and environmentally sustainable investments that can deliver around-the-clock services to the nearly 1 million people who live and work within its 558-square mile service area.

“EMWD’s Board of Directors has laid out a clear vision for our agency,” EMWD General Manager Joe Mouawad told attendees. “That vision centers around providing our customers an exceptional value and doing so in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner.”

EMWD’s strategic priorities were presented during the event, which highlighted EMWD’s collaborative approach toward community service and environmental stewardship. EMWD has been a statewide leader in infrastructure programs that are designed to reduce its environmental footprint while also providing long-term reliability to its customers.

As California continues to face water supply challenges due to a changing climate and statewide infrastructure challenges, EMWD has been at the forefront of addressing both. Its investments in recycled water and local groundwater are at the forefront of its industry.

EMWD’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan has outlined $686 million in planned investments that will help it meet the needs of a rapidly growing service area, which is just 43 percent built out based on land use agency projections.

Those investments include further expansion of its groundwater desalination program, a planned Purified Water Replenishment program, and investments in other groundwater reliability projects to maximize its local resources.

EMWD has also worked to create a sustainable and equitable financial structure through responsible investments and a commitment to maximizing state and federal funding opportunities to return customer tax dollars back to their service area. In 2022, EMWD received more than $115 million in grants and low-interest loans from its funding partners.

As it looks to the future, EMWD has also prioritized its own workforce through its industry-leading safety program and a commitment to employee retention and development. Water agencies throughout the nation are facing challenges attracting and retaining a qualified workforce, and EMWD has proactively addressed this through efforts to highlight the industry through its education and workforce development programs.

“We are proud to share our successes as we work on behalf of the communities we serve,” EMWD Board President Phil Paule said. “EMWD is a progressive and leading water agency, and we are committed to sound investments in infrastructure and our workforce so that we can maintain high levels of service to our region for future generations.”