On October 11, the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD) will recognize “Imagine a Day Without Water” – a day designed 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, but its impact is profound.

Imagine waking up one day without access to clean water—no showering, no drinking water, no means of firefighting or medical care. At EVMWD, we recognize that water is more than just an amenity; It is the foundation of health, safety and prosperity in our valley.

In recent weeks, we have witnessed the tragic impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, a sober reminder of the role of water in maintaining health and public safety. While hurricanes are not a common occurrence in California, our state faces its own natural threats such as wildfires and droughts that require modernization and maintenance of critical water infrastructure.

Access to water is central to public health and safety. It supports healthy homes, businesses, schools and emergency services such as fire and health care. EVMWD is committed to this responsibility and provides reliable water to support our community's health and preparedness efforts.

Water treatment is a complex and critical process. Our highly trained professionals use proven methods to monitor and purify water to meet the highest quality standards. In 2023 alone, EVMWD conducted over 34,000 water quality tests at 2,800 locations across our system to ensure the water we supply is safe to drink. Every year we produce a comprehensive water quality report to maintain transparency and build trust with our customers.

EVMWD also plays an important role in emergency preparedness. Natural disasters such as wildfires, atmospheric rivers, floods and infrastructure failures can threaten our water supplies. EVMWD has developed a local hazard mitigation plan that identifies and addresses potential hazards specific to our service area. This plan will help reduce the impact of emergencies and ensure our water system can support emergency response.

Maintaining a stable water supply for our service area is no easy task. Approximately 75% of our water is imported from sources hundreds of kilometers away, requiring sophisticated technology, lots of energy and constant maintenance. The journey requires billions of dollars in infrastructure and a team of experts working around the clock to bring water to millions of people.

As our population grows and climate change alters California's water landscape, the need for resilient infrastructure has never been greater. To meet this need, EVMWD launched the Short-Term Water Supply Program to accelerate projects that provide more local, sustainable water supplies. The Lee Lake Wells Project is one of our recent successes.

Conservation is another important 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 will have when we really need it. EVMWD offers rebates, water-saving devices, landscaping workshops and water use assessments to help our community protect the environment. We also work with local schools to offer educational programs to help 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 the challenges of climate change, 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.