Cities served Corona, Lake Elsinore, Norco, Riverside, Canyon Lake, Murrieta and Temecula.

Unincorporated areas served - Eagle Valley, El Sobrante, Jurupa, Rubidoux, Temescal Canyon, Woodcrest, Lake Mathews and March Air Reserve Base.

Population: 878,000

SPECIAL FEATURES OF MEMBER AGENCY

Western was formed in 1954 under the Municipal Water District Act of 1911 for the purpose of bringing supplemental water from the Metropolitan to a growing western Riverside County.  Today, Western serves roughly 23,000 retail and eight wholesale customers with water from the Colorado River, Northern California via the State Water Project and groundwater supplies.  During the years since Western was approved by voters, the District has served a leadership role in groundwater management and water resources protection.

The District’s Board and staff apply energy and planning to develop additional imported water supply redundancy and reliability as well as to protect the District’s financial integrity.  Major projects and initiatives include:

• The Riverside-Corona Feeder, which in 2009 received authorization of $26 million in federal funding with President Obama’s signing of HR 146 into law
• Expansion of the Arlington and Chino Desalters
• Expansion of the Western Water Recycling Facility to include recycled water deliveries
• The Santa Ana River Water Rights Program
• A Water Use Efficiency Master Plan
  
• Water Budget Rate Structure
  

Western works diligently to represent itself and its agencies at all government levels through advocacy efforts particularly in protecting revenue streams from state raids.

Western is one of five of the member agencies of the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority, a regional water resources planning and project implementation organization.  Western’s general manager is a court-appointed Watermaster, responsible for reporting compliance with water quality and quantity provisions of court orders regarding water rights issues in the Santa Ana watershed.  Western also works with SAWPA in operating a 30 MGD sewerage interceptor system (SARI line) that flows to the Orange County Treatment Plant.  This system helps protect and improve the quality of water in the watershed.  Western provides contract water and wastewater administration and operation services to agencies within its general district.

Western also operates Landscapes Southern California Style, a unique water conservation garden that assists Inland Empire residents in water use efficiency ideas for their landscapes.