On Oct. 11, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD) recognizes Imagine a Day Without Water – a day to help us reflect on the value of water in our everyday lives. Water is the foundation of healthy, thriving communities. This simple truth often goes unnoticed, yet its impact is profound.
Imagine waking up one day without access to clean water—no showers, drinking water, or means to fight fires or provide medical care. At EVMWD, we recognize that water is more than a convenience; it’s the foundation of health, safety and prosperity in our valley.
In recent weeks, we’ve witnessed the tragic effects of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, a sober reminder of the role of water in maintaining health and public safety. While hurricanes are not common to California, our state faces its own natural threats, like wildfires and droughts, requiring us to upgrade and maintain critical water infrastructure.
Access to water is at the heart of public health and safety. It underpins healthy homes, businesses, schools and emergency services like firefighting and health care. EVMWD is committed to this responsibility, providing reliable water to support our community’s health and preparedness efforts.
Water treatment is a complex, critical process. Our highly trained professionals use proven practices to monitor and purify water to meet the highest standards of quality. In 2023 alone, EVMWD conducted over 34,000 water quality tests across 2,800 locations in our system to ensure the water we deliver is safe to drink. Each year, we produce a comprehensive water quality report to maintain transparency and build trust with our customers.
EVMWD also plays a vital role in emergency preparedness. Natural disasters like wildfires, atmospheric rivers, floods, and infrastructure failures can threaten our water supply. EVMWD has developed a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, identifying and addressing potential hazards specific to our service area. This plan helps reduce the impact of emergencies, ensuring our water system can support emergency response efforts.
Maintaining a resilient water supply for our service area is no small task. Approximately 75% of our water is imported from sources hundreds of miles away, requiring sophisticated engineering, significant energy, and constant maintenance. The journey involves billions of dollars in infrastructure and a team of experts working around the clock to deliver water to millions of people.
As our population grows and climate change reshapes California’s water landscape, the need for robust infrastructure has never been greater. To help meet this need, EVMWD launched the Near-Term Water Supply Program to accelerate projects that provide more local, sustainable water supplies. The Lee Lake Wells Project is one of our most recent successes.
Conservation is another critical piece of the puzzle. It is not just a response to dry years but an essential part of our long-term strategy. The more water we save now, the more we have when we really need it. EVMWD offers rebates, water-saving devices, landscape workshops, and water use evaluations to help our community conserve. We also partner with local schools to provide educational programs, helping to instill a sense of responsibility in future generations.
Water is the foundation of public health, safety, and prosperity. EVMWD remains committed to delivering clean water every day while preparing for the future. By investing in infrastructure, promoting conservation, and staying ahead of climate challenges, we can ensure this precious resource continues to sustain us for generations to come – so we never have to imagine a day without water.
Submitted by Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District.
