Benefits
Benefits of the Project Include:
- The creation of a reliable and flexible water supply for southern California communities. The Water Project is not dependent upon the water rights, the hydrology and environmental restrictions attributable to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the hydrology of the Colorado River, or drought.
- Conservation of 1.6 million acre-feet of fresh water over the 50 year life of the Water Project; water that would have been lost to evaporation or salt contamination beneath the dry lakes.
- Improved water quality. The native groundwater at Cadiz is lower in total dissolved solids than the supplies it would join in the Colorado River Aqueduct, providing a water quality benefit and reducing costs associated with hard water in Southern California. Cadiz water will be treated prior to entering the Colorado River Aqueduct to meet any standards set by Metropolitan Water District.
- Preservation of the desert ecology and habitats built on private, disturbed land and within existing corridors. And, all water captured and conserved by the Project would otherwise be lost to evaporation at nearby dry lakes. This water is not relied upon by flora and fauna on the desert floor and, according to the National Parks Service Mojave National Preserve, springs in the upper elevations of the surrounding mountains are not fed by rain and snow precipitation and not the groundwater aquifer system at the valley floor where the Project will operate.
- Reduced carbon footprint and lower energy costs for southern Californians because the water originates locally in San Bernardino County and can be transported shorter distances at lower cost compared to water imported from Northern California.
- Local economic stimulus through the creation of good paying jobs building the $225 million project. Construction of the Water Project will also create and support up to 6,000 jobs over its two phases. We have pledged to hire union labor and 10% of all jobs are dedicated to local vets.
- Improved transportation and rail safety because the Project will provide water to the local Arizona & California Railroad for critical railroad purposes such as fire suppression. The Project will also improve the railroad’s access to highways and power in the area.
- Future capacity and potential for water storage to maximize the value of the project facilities. Potentially, water could be imported from the Colorado River Aqueduct or State Water Project and banked in the aquifer, taking advantage of the facilities built on private land. These water deliveries could be phased and offer additional benefits such as saving surplus water in wet years, providing reliability, and better protecting imported water from evaporative losses.
To learn more about the Project, click on the links below: