Perris, CA (March 3, 2023) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) this week received a multi-million dollar funding commitment from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) to construct infrastructure to support EMWD’s groundwater desalination program.

The Army Corps Fiscal Year 2023 workplan included $4.5 million for Phase 2 of the Valley Boulevard and Murrieta Road pipeline project in Menifee. The pipeline will deliver untreated water to EMWD’s desalination facility.

Of the 13 non-earmark projects listed in the workplan, EMWD received the single-highest funding amount nationally. The Army Corps has been a longstanding funding, technical and strategic partner in helping EMWD to develop a nationally recognized groundwater desalination program that includes wells, pipelines and three desalination facilities.

EMWD’s desalination program provides enough water for more than 30,000 households annually while helping to remove more than 50,000 tons of salts from the groundwater basin each year.

EMWD received broad support for its application for funding from all its entire Congressional Delegation, including from Reps. Ken Calvert, Mark Takano, Darrell Issa, and Raul Ruiz who conveyed their support of this project directly to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“EMWD appreciates the continued support and partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers, which has been a longstanding and valued partner in the success of our desalination program,” EMWD Board President Phil Paule said. “We also wish to thank our Congressional Delegation, whose emphatic support was incredibly valuable in helping to advance this funding request.”

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Eastern Municipal Water District is the water, wastewater service and recycled water provider to nearly one million people living and working within a 558-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 diverse 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.