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VALLEY CENTER MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT |
| FACT SHEET 2007 |
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MISSION STATEMENT:
"Our Mission is to Ensure Customer Satisfaction Through Quality Service at the Lowest Possible Cost."
ACTION TO MEET LOCAL WATER NEEDS
Prior to the early 1950s, Valley Center, and much of San Diego's North County, relied on limited local sources of water from surface streams and the underground. In periods of limited rainfall, these local sources were quickly exhausted.
Water is imported into the Southern California region by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California through an intricate system of pipelines, canals, reservoirs and pumps that extend north to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and east to the Colorado River. Water is delivered by the State Water Project from the Delta and through the 444-mile California Aqueduct. The 242-mile Colorado River Aqueduct brings water from the east. Completion of the 1st San Diego Aqueduct in the late 1940s, which crossed through what is now the western one-third of the District's service area, linked all of San Diego County to a then abundant supply of Colorado River water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California via the newly formed San Diego County Water Authority.
In 1954, local citizens took action to secure a more reliable source of water by forming the Valley Center Municipal Water District and joining the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) thereby gaining access to imported water supplies. The role of the fledgling public agency was to build a water storage and transmission system to take imported water from MWD through the SDCWA's aqueducts and distribute the supply to properties within its service area.
GOVERNING BODY
Valley Center M.W.D. is a special district, authorized by the State Legislature under the Municipal Water District Act of 1911. It is governed by a five-member Board of Directors elected by voters in their respective divisions to serve four-year terms. The Board meets on the first and third Monday of each month beginning at 2:00 p.m. in the District's Board Room located at 29300 Valley Center Road and the public is invited to attend these meetings. Agendas for Board of Directors meetings are posted for public viewing at the Administration building site and are on the District's website.
DISTRICT'S FACILITIES
Under the ongoing guidance of its locally elected five-member Board of Directors, the District has responded to changes within its service area. To meet the water needs of its customers throughout its 100 square mile service (64,253 acres), the District has constructed a water system that today consists of:
VCMWD's Water Use
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WASTEWATER SERVICE/RECLAMATION
In addition to water supply, the District provides wastewater treatment and reclamation services for approximately 2,750 customers through two facilities: the 500,000 gallon per day (gpd) Lower Moosa Canyon Water Reclamation Facility (Moosa), and the 70,000 gpd Woods Valley Ranch Water Reclamation Facility. Moosa serves the I-15 corridor area from the Lawrence Welk Development on the southern end, east to Rimrock and Hidden Meadows, and north to Circle R. Woods Valley Ranch treats wastewater from the Woods Valley Ranch Development, returning the reclaimed water to the Woods Valley Ranch Golf Course for irrigation.
Growing wastewater treatment needs along the I-15 corridor will eventually require expansion of the secondary treatment capacity and addition of advance treatment at the Moosa facility, as well as construction of a reclaimed water distribution system to deliver high quality treated effluent to the area’s golf courses and agricultural operations. There is the potential for the Woods Valley Ranch facility to be expanded to twice or even three times its current capacity to serve wastewater needs in the Valley Center Central Valley area. Over the next three to five years, there is the potential for the District to operate several more wastewater reclamation systems to serve planned developments, including the Live Oak Ranch Project, the Lilac Ranch Project, as well as development within the North Village Planning Area.
LOOKING AHEAD
It is the legal responsibility of the water district to plan for and meet the water and wastewater needs of the lands within its boundaries. Valley Center M.W.D. assesses future service requirements based on land use decisions vested with general purpose municipal and county governments. Over the coming years, the District will be identifying, evaluating and pursuing projects to enhance water service quality and system reliability. It is anticipated there will be significant investment in replacing and/or upgrading existing distribution pipelines.
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS & PRACTICES
Water – More precious than gold – too valuable to waste. Our enviable Southern California lifestyle and economy would not exist as we know it today if there was not a dependable supply of imported water. Considering that the District’s water supply is 100% imported, we must use our limited supply wisely. Conservation programs available to our customers that can assist in the efficient use of water and thereby reduce water consumption include vouchers for High Efficiency Washing Machines, a residential landscape survey and an Agricultural Water Management Survey Program.
Create a Custom Watering Schedule for your landscape using the Watering Index on the web site: www.bewaterwise.com. The Watering Calculator gives a schedule for the maximum amount of water that your plants may need each week of the year. Irrigating of outdoor landscaping represents approximately 60% of residential water usage. By efficiently irrigating, we will conserve our region’s water supply, protecting its long-term availability and maintain healthy plantings.
Also, visit www.bewaterwise.com (The Garden Spot) to obtain information on “California’s Friendly Gardening” including a searchable plant database to assist in the selection of water efficient plants that are appropriate for our area.
Following are effective conservation measures that can be incorporated into your daily routine:
| Water your lawn only when it needs it. Step on your grass. If it springs back when you lift your feet, it doesn’t need water. Water between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. when the sun is low, winds are calm and the temperatures are cool. (Saves 750 to 1,500 gallons a month) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Fix leaky faucets and plumbing joints. (Saves 20 gallons a day for every leak stopped) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Don't run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end. (Saves 150 gallons each time) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors. (Saves 500 to 800 gallons a month) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. (Saves 300 to 800 gallons a month) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Shorten your showers. (Even a one or two-minute reduction can save up to 700 gallons a month) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks. (Saves 150 gallons or more each time) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Don't use your toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket. (Saves 400 to 600 gallons a month) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Capture tap water. While you wait for hot water to come down the pipes, catch the flow in a watering can to use later on house plants or your garden. (Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Don't water the sidewalks, driveway or gutter. Adjust your sprinklers so that water lands on your lawn or garden, where it belongs. (Saves 500 gallons a month)
Other conservation ideas and our Water Newsletter can be found on our Conservation page.
Return to Table of Contents Last Updated March 29, 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||