Who formed the United Water Conservation District?

Originally formed as the Santa Clara Water Conservation District in 1927, voters approved the formation of United Water Conservation District in 1950. The civic leaders of the communities of Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ventura, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Channel Island Beach Community Services District, Naval Base Ventura County, plus agriculture interests in the Oxnard Plain and Santa Clara River valley guided the voters to approve the district.

 

Why was it called United Water Conservation District?

When civic leaders and their communities voted, they came together and became “UNITED” in a specific structure to meet the needs of all citizens within the district’s boundary by improving the groundwater, hence the name United Water Conservation District.*

 

What is the purpose of UWCD?

To create a special district to address the decreasing supply of water that has been developing since the early 1930s. With the growth of the area, the natural supply of water was not enough to meet the demand. The solution was to find additional sources of water to meet the needs of developing growth.

 

What is UWCD’s authority?

UWCD has no regulatory authority; it is an operational agency to recharge the groundwater.

 

What is UWCD’s mission?

UWCD’s mission is to manage, protect, conserve, and enhance the water resources of the district and produce a reliable and sustainable supply of groundwater for the reasonable, beneficial use of all users.

 

What are some of the ways UWCD reduces the cost of water delivered?

Since 1950, UWCD has worked with local water agencies, state, and federal agencies to develop better and more cost-effective solutions to our collective water issues.

 

What is an example?

Over the past eight years, UWCD’s General Manager has built strong and powerful relationships with key Federal, State, and local agencies. Based on those relationships and with board approval, direction, and support, the General Manager’s efforts secured over 60,000 acre-feet of UWCD’s water and other supplemental water by working with the California Department of Water Resources to block the proposed illegal transfer of UWCD water to the Metropolitan Water District (MET). Without the General Manager’s personal and prior work in developing relationships and contacts, the political gamesmanship would have cost UWCD ratepayers massive extra costs or loss of our water.

 

What is the value and benefit of the example to the cities and other water users?

The water secured by the General Manager has a retail value of over $80 million. Additionally, the UWCD General Manager, working with Board approval, has guided and leveraged UWCD staff to process water project grants from Federal and State agencies of over $45 million. Both combined represent a benefit of savings to all the water users of over $125 million. Those savings are a direct benefit to all water users. More grants are in the process, which could add additional savings.

To do all of these activities, the UWCD Board recruits, hires, and compensates employees that have the knowledge, experience, and leadership to make a significant impact on water sustainability.

 

How is UWCD viewed within the water community?

From the beginning, United has distinguished itself as a leader among water agencies by conserving and enhancing water resources from the Santa Clara River while working to protect the river’s natural features.

 

How does UWCD accomplish its mission?

Over the years, United has constructed numerous facilities, pipelines, and recharge basins—including the Santa Felicia Dam, Lake Piru Reservoir, and Freeman Diversion—to enhance the local water system and maintain sustainable water management.

 

How does UWCD serve the cities, mutual water district, individual pumpers, and agriculture?

Today, UWCD continues to serve as the conservator of groundwater resources that are utilized by the cities of Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Ventura County Wells, Naval Base Ventura County, and several mutual water districts, farms, and individual pumpers. We also provide surface water for agricultural irrigation and safe drinking water to the cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme.

 

How much water has UWCD recharged since 1950?

Since 1950, over 1.6 trillion gallons of water have been recharged into the groundwater. That amount is equivalent to a football field with a water column 850 miles high—the approximate length of California.

 

How much water does UWCD supply to Oxnard?

UWCD directly supplies Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Channel Island Beach Community Services District, Naval Base Ventura County Oxnard, and Port Hueneme, with approximately 30% of their water needs. State project water is approximately 30%, and the City of Oxnard, with its wells, supplies 30%.

 

What is UWCD’s cost of water delivered to Oxnard and Port Hueneme?

First, understand that the cost of “water” is free. The State of California owns all the water within the State. Their charge is zero. The cost of water is for the systems and facilities it takes to move water from A to B to C (customer).

Therefore, all water bill charges are for the safe and reliable delivery, quality, and processing of water.For 2024, UWCD charges approximately $1,068 per acre-foot of water. One acre-foot is approximately 325,851 gallons. That equates to 0.0033 cents per gallon, a cost of 1 cent for 3 gallons. Metropolitan Water District (MET) and Oxnard’s costs are added to UWCD costs. The city controls that blended ratio of costs by varying their purchase of water.

 

How does UWCD develop the annual water delivery and processing charges?

UWCD charges are adjusted annually following detailed discussions with the city’s staff and other customers. Following their input, staff makes a recommendation to the Board. Customers know the proposed charges and adjustments well in advance of Board approval. All support documents are available on the UWCD web page.

 

What is UWCD’s web page?

UNITEDWATER.ORG

 

What does UWCD do to keep water costs fair and reflective of the actual cost of service?

As part of its process over the years, UWCD has developed a professionally produced cost-of-service review and published the results on its web page. This report and process are approved in compliance with oversight from the appropriate agency.

 

Are UWCD financial records reviewed?

Yes. UWCD has over 14 consecutive years of financial records and audits that are “clean,” with no findings or corrections.Independent Auditor’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting on Compliance and Other Matters Based on an Audit of Financial Statements. These reviews are performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards.

 

Will new projects be needed to help secure the future water needs of the area?

Yes. As in the past, as population, usage, conditions, and demand change, UWCD is looking long term to meet the needs of all the users. As with past projects that helped address the area’s needs, new projects will be needed to meet the changing demand for water.

 

The future example: Extraction Barrier Concept

Use coastal extraction wells to create a groundwater depression; water would flow toward wells from all directions and, if the extraction rates are sufficient, seawater should not advance inland past the wells. The brackish water would be treated and put to beneficial use, and the residual brine would be disposed of in the Salinity Management Pipeline (SMP).This project is the foundation for water sustainability well into the future.

 

What are the key benefits of the proposed project?

- Control seawater intrusion with an extraction barrier

- Restore offshore groundwater gradients in coastal areas

- Remove saline and brackish water from the Oxnard basin

- Support and increase sustainable yield of the OPV basins

- Mitigate the need for significant groundwater extraction reduction

- Enhance the resilience of the local water supply

- Enable Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) to meet its water security goals