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Yucaipa Valley Water District tells council basin is full, highlights recycled-water and dual-plumbed homes
Summary
Yucaipa Valley Water District staff told the City Council the local Yucaipa groundwater basin is at full capacity on its data series and outlined recycled-water, reverse-osmosis treatment and dual-plumbed homes as strategies that support development and local industry.
Joe Zova, representing the Yucaipa Valley Water District, told the City Council on July 28 that the local Yucaipa groundwater basin is “a 100% full based on this data series,” and outlined how the district uses recycled water, reverse-osmosis treatment and dual-plumbed homes to stretch supply for future development.
The district presented comparative groundwater charts for neighboring basins and said Yucaipa’s basin has recovered since a low in 2003. Zova said the district serves roughly 3,260,000,000 gallons a year, plans to put about 1,630,000,000 gallons into the Yucaipa Basin this year and expects to place about 282,000,000 gallons into the Beaumont Basin.
Why it matters: the district’s approach — combining local groundwater recharge, imports, stormwater capture, and treated recycled water — affects whether new housing or industrial projects can proceed without additional imported supply. The district also described technical upgrades and partnerships that aim to attract water-intensive manufacturers by offering industrial-scale brine disposal.
Zova said the district uses advanced treatment at both the potable and recycled-water facilities, including microfiltration and nano/ reverse-osmosis systems, and highlighted a growing dual-plumbed housing program that supplies recycled water for outdoor uses while reserving potable water for indoor use. "We're now able to build four new houses for what one traditional house uses in terms of drinking water," he said.
The district identified two main wholesale partners for imported water and repeatable regional partners for exports of brine by pipeline. Zova said the district’s brine-line connection and polishing capability make Yucaipa an attractive site for certain manufacturers, including biotech, medical supply, water purification and chip manufacturers, because those industries can reuse high-quality process water locally while the district handles concentrated brine.
Council members responded positively to the presentation and to a recent staff tour of district facilities. Councilmember Woolsey said the tour was “fantastic” and recommended other residents arrange visits. The council discussed how developers must coordinate with the district to determine service areas and connections.
The district offered to provide further detail and follow-up tours to staff and interested residents.
