As of this week, Coachella Valley Water District and Desert Water Agency have imported more than 200,000 acre-feet of water for the year to replenish groundwater in the Coachella Valley. The public water agencies expect to put more water into the aquifer this calendar year than will be used by valley residents and businesses.
CVWD and DWA are State Water Contractors that import water for replenishment at two facilities in the western end of the Coachella Valley. CVWD also imports Colorado River water for groundwater replenishment in the eastern Coachella Valley and has started work on a new replenishment facility in the middle of the valley.
While the agencies’ combined State Water Project water allocation is 194,100 acre-feet, the actual amount delivered varies each year based on water availability, environmental restrictions and advance deliveries.
To date, more than 3.5 million acre-feet of imported water has been returned to the aquifer at the three replenishment facilities in the Coachella Valley. That’s more than a trillion gallons. Groundwater replenishment is a key component of the Coachella Valley’s water management efforts, combined with conservation, increased use of recycled water and imported Colorado River water for agriculture and golf course irrigation.