About the District

Mission & Goals

The goal of the District is to maximize the quality and quantity of supplemental water at the least expense to taxpayers in the four cities through operation of its own imported water pipeline. Our independence ensures your water supply. Other goals include the protection of the entire groundwater basin, improvement of water quality, encouragement of water conservation, the use of recycled water for irrigation, and industrial applications where appropriate.

• To provide a reliable water supply
• The preservation of water quality
• To encourage water conservation
• To minimize costs
• And to inform the public of critical water issues

History

Fifty years ago, water was plentiful in the San Gabriel Valley. However, over the years, as the Valley grew, well water pumped to supply the burgeoning population exceeded the natural replenishment from rainwater. Water tables dropped dramatically. As a result, almost every public agency throughout the San Gabriel Valley needed to develop an imported supply of water.

Long before the threat of water shortages arose, the Cities of Alhambra, Azusa, Monterey Park, and Sierra Madre studied ways to solve future problems. On July 21, 1959, the voters of the four cities approved the formation of the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District to independently bring additional water to the area, solve the pressing water problems that existed, and ensure a lasting and adequate water supply.

Purpose

In 1962, San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District signed a contract with the State of California, Department of Water Resources, to purchase water from Northern California delivered through the State Water Project. In 1975, the District completed construction of a 37-mile long, 30 to 54-inch diameter pipeline from the California Aqueduct near San Bernardino to Azusa. In 1985, a hydroelectric facility was constructed in San Dimas to generate power from the water. The District generates enough pollution-free hydroelectric power to power 500 homes, while generating revenue to offset the cost of imported water. In the Spring of 1995, a one mile extension of pipeline to the San Gabriel Canyon Spreading Grounds was completed.

Since 1975, the District has continued its commitment to providing imported replacement water in the Basin. This includes a commitment to protect the quality of the groundwater and actively oppose any plan or facility which could threaten the quality of the water you drink or the amount of water needed to meet the demands and sustain the quality of life in the San Gabriel Valley.

Future

There is still much to be done. Contamination of the groundwater in some areas of the San Gabriel Valley from agricultural fertilizers applied in years long past, septic tanks, as well as improper disposal of industrial solvents, refuse, and garbage in more recent times, now must be dealt with aggressively.

The District has been a leader in creating a mechanism to coordinate and implement projects to clean up this contamination and is committed to protecting the quality and quantity of the area's imported water, balancing the environment with the needs of recreation, agricultural, and the public.

If you would like to learn more about Groundwater contamination and what is being done in the San Gabriel Valley to clean it up then visit the link below.

Note: The link below opens into a new window, simply close the window when you are finished to get back to our page.)

San Gabriel Basin Water Authority Website

Funding

Money for District Headquarters and other District facilities and operation is obtained from property taxes and revenues derived from water sales. The District also sells power from its hydroelectric facility to offset some of the cost of imported water.