Taxation Lawsuit

Overview

Desert Water Agency is trying to prevent taxes from being disproportionately levied on some of its customers. In February 2014, DWA filed a motion to intervene (complaint filed by DWA) in the lawsuit filed by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians against the County of Riverside alleging that a new U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) regulation would prohibit the county from collecting taxes from individuals and businesses that lease property owned by Agua Caliente. The outcome will have a direct impact on DWA customers because the agency receives a portion of the tax revenue collected by the county.

DWA also sued the DOI directly about the regulation's impacts to DWA's fees and charges. Click here to read our most recent statement on this case.

Overview

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (Agua Caliente) filed a lawsuit against Desert Water Agency (DWA) and Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) in May 2013, claiming rights, above all other water users, to the Coachella Valley region’s groundwater – the water used to supply drinking water to the Coachella Valley community. Agua Caliente’s lawsuit aims to take rights to water away from local residents – potentially leaving families and businesses paying more for water.

Taxation Lawsuit

Overview

Water Rights Lawsuit

Overview