- Home
- About Us
- About CVWD
- Fields of Service
- Water Conservation
Water Conservation
Making every drop count is more than the Coachella Valley Water District slogan; it’s a way of life in the desert!
CVWD's Board of Directors adopted its first long-term Water Management Plan in 2002. This comprehensive, 35-year blueprint was designed to ensure reliable, affordable water is readily available well into the future.
In 2014, the state adopted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which required governments and water agencies of designated high—and medium-priority basins to develop a Groundwater Sustainability Plan that defines sustainability goals for the basin. SGMA also allowed local agencies to submit existing water management plans for approval by the DWR if the local agencies believed that the Alternative satisfied the objectives of SGMA for the basin.
In June 2024, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) approved the updated 2022 Indio Subbasin Water Management Plan Update, initially approved in 2019 as an Alternative to a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). This means it continues to meet the requirements of SGMA.
DWR reviews each Alternative at least every five years, based on local agencies' evaluations and annual reports, emphasizing maintaining or achieving sustainability.
The state’s approval identifies that the updated water management plans continue to comply with SGMA law, relying upon the best available science and information and that implementing the plans is likely to achieve or maintain groundwater sustainability. Alternatives based on an existing water management plan must demonstrate that implementation is expected to maintain or achieve sustainability within 20 years.
Annual reports for the Indio and Mission Creek Subbasin show that implementing the water management plans has increased groundwater levels and sustainable basin management. This is thanks to objectives outlined in the long-term plans to reliably meet current and future water demands in a cost-effective and sustainable manner.
Agriculture
Since its earliest days when district founders worked to cap free-flowing artesian wells in order to preserve previous groundwater, the district has been focused on efficient water use.
Early conservation efforts in agriculture included the construction of the Coachella Canal to provide a substitute for groundwater to local farmers. Unlike similar waterways around the world, the canal’s distribution system is entirely underground, preventing evaporation and water waste during the desert’s hottest months.
In 2003, the Coachella Canal lining project was completed, resulting in significant water savings that previously would have been lost to seepage. Today, Coachella Valley farmers are among the most efficient in the agricultural industry thanks to their widespread use of micro-irrigation, efficient irrigation scheduling, and smart salt leaching practices.
Urban
As the Coachella Valley’s domestic customer base expanded, water conservation by residential, homeowner association and business customers has become the focus of the district’s public outreach efforts.
Although only a 1/3 of the water in the Coachella Valley is used by residents, homeowner associations and businesses, these urban users can make the biggest impact on overall demand with conservation.
CVWD’s Water Management staff works closely with district customers to help them become more efficient water users and lower their monthly water bills. Since nearly 70% of residential water is used outdoors, all CVWD conservation programs are focused on promoting efficient outdoor water use.
Overwatering and leaks are the most common causes of water waste in the Coachella Valley. In 2009, the District switched to a water budget-based tiered rate billing system to curb excess water use and reward water-efficient customers. Various other conservation programs are currently available for residential, HOA, and business customers interested in reducing their water use.
Golf Courses
The Coachella Valley has over 120 golf courses, 106 are within CVWD’s service boundaries. The average golf course uses between 800 to 1,000 acre-feet per year to maintain its greens and adjacent landscaping, depending on its location.
In 2002, the District passed a strict landscape ordinance (PDF). Most importantly, it limits turf areas, requires desert landscaping in non-play areas, and sets water budgets for all new golf courses. Today, a similar law is in place across the state of California.
Currently, 17.5 golf courses within CVWD boundaries use a nonpotable blend of recycled and Colorado River water for irrigation. An additional 36 golf courses use all Colorado River water imported from the Coachella Canal. Plans are underway for an additional 40.5 golf courses to switch from groundwater to these nonpotable supplies.
The district works closely with the local golf course industry and landscape professionals to improve water efficiency, introduce new technologies, and demonstrate practices that maximize efficient water usage. Golf course superintendents are often the best water managers in the area.
What You Can Do
- Reduce your water use. Review CVWD’s conservation programs to find the one that is right for you.
- Be a role model. Convert your yard into a water-efficient landscape and show your neighbors how to be lush and efficient.
- Educate yourself. Read the Coachella Valley Water Management Plan (PDF) and learn what our valley's long-term vision for sustainable water use is.
- Support local businesses and golf courses that use recycled water and desert-friendly landscaping. Let them know you appreciate their efforts to preserve the aquifer.
For more up-to-date information regarding CVWD Water Conservation, check out our Fact Sheet (English / Spanish).