Understanding the role of various organizations in the management and protection of Orange County's water supply for its over 3 million residents is crucial to navigating your responsibilities relating to backflow prevention testing.
Though these organizations have distinct responsibilities in the management of water quality, cross-connection control, and backflow prevention, the colaboration of state, county and municipal level organizations and local agencies in Orange County, California, is invaluable in protecting public health by ensuring the following priorities:
Complying with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act
Complying with California Title 22 regulations
Protecting quality of the groundwater basin
Creating and maintaining confidence of potable water reuse
Identify sources of contamination and limit release of contaminants
Compling with government-approved cleanup processes
Orange County is served by a number of water districts and authorities that oversee water distribution and management in different areas. Each city and unincorporated community typically falls under a specific water district or agency responsible for providing potable water, wastewater treatment, and sometimes stormwater management.
Here’s a breakdown of the major water districts and authorities in Orange County, grouped by the cities and communities they oversee:
OCWD is one of the largest and most well-known water districts in the region. It primarily manages groundwater in the Orange County Groundwater Basin and serves multiple cities and unincorporated areas.
Cities Served by OCWD:
- Anaheim
- Buena Park
- Fullerton
- Garden Grove
- Orange
- Santa Ana
- Stanton
Unincorporated Communities Served by OCWD:
- Unincorporated areas within the service region, primarily around Santa Ana and Orange.
Orange County Water District (OCWD)
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD)
MWD supplies imported water to 26 member agencies throughout Southern California, including Orange County. While it doesn't directly manage water for cities, it is the primary source of water for many of the local water agencies in the county.
Member Agencies in Orange County Served by MWD:
- Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC)
- Orange County Water District (OCWD)
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD)
Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) acts as a regional wholesaler of water, purchasing water from MWD and distributing it to local water agencies.
Cities and Communities Served by MWDOC:
- Costa Mesa
- Fountain Valley
- Huntington Beach
- Irvine
- Laguna Niguel
- Lake Forest
- Mission Viejo
- Newport Beach
- Tustin
- Westminster
- Yorba Linda
Unincorporated Communities Served by MWDOC:
- Areas within its service boundaries, including parts of unincorporated areas like Ladera Ranch, Rancho Santa Margarita, and others.
Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC)
Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD)
SMWD provides water to residents and businesses in the southern parts of Orange County, including the cities and unincorporated areas in the Santa Margarita area.
Cities Served by SMWD:
- Rancho Santa Margarita
- Mission Viejo (partially)
- Ladera Ranch
- Las Flores
- Coto de Caza
Unincorporated Communities Served by SMWD:
- Ladera Ranch
- Rancho Mission Viejo
- Coto de Caza
- Las Flores
Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD)
South Coast Water District (SCWD)
SCWD serves areas along the coast of Orange County and some inland areas.
Cities Served by SCWD:
- Dana Point
- Laguna Niguel
- Laguna Beach
- San Clemente
- San Juan Capistrano (partially)
Unincorporated Communities Served by SCWD:
- Unincorporated areas around Laguna Niguel and Dana Point
South Coast Water District (SCWD)
East Orange County Water District (EOCWD)
EOCWD provides water services to communities in the eastern part of Orange County.
Cities Served by EOCWD:
- Orange (partially)
- Villa Park
Unincorporated Communities Served by EOCWD:
- Orange Park Acres
East Orange County Water District (EOCWD)
Golden State Water Company (GSWC)
GSWC is a private water utility that serves a number of communities in Orange County, including some unincorporated areas.
Cities Served by GSWC:
- La Habra
- Los Alamitos
Unincorporated Communities Served by GSWC:
- Unincorporated areas of La Habra Heights
Golden State Water Company (GSWC)
YLWD provides water to the city of Yorba Linda and some surrounding unincorporated areas.
Cities Served by YLWD:
- Yorba Linda
Unincorporated Communities Served by YLWD:
- Unincorporated areas near Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda Water District (YLWD)
IRWD provides water and wastewater services to various areas in central and southern Orange County.
Cities Served by IRWD:
- Irvine
- Tustin (partially)
- Santa Ana (partially)
Unincorporated Communities Served by IRWD:
- Unincorporated areas within the region, including portions of North Tustin.
Irvine Water District (IRWD)
Trabuco Canyon Water District (TCWD) serves areas in the southeastern part of the county.
Cities Served by TCWD:
- Rancho Santa Margarita (partially)
Unincorporated Communities Served by TCWD:
- Trabuco Canyon
Trabuco Canyon Water District (TCWD)
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