SCV Water, and its predecessor, CLWA, has developed a diversified water supply portfolio and those efforts continue today. This is reflected in the Agency’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) which concludes that the SCV has adequate supplies to meet service area demands throughout the planning period that extends to full build-out of the Valley in 2050. The 2020 UWMP included more stringent requirements to plan for extended dry periods resulting from the effects of climate change. The 2019 Drought Relief Project in Kern County, is another water supply augmentation that increased SCV Water’s capability to meet dry year demands. Work continues on additional programs to further enhance our water supply portfolio going forward.

SCV Water is working to protect our local ground water in the Santa Clara River Valley East Groundwater Basin, a major source of water supply for the SCV. In response to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which was signed into law in 2014, the Santa Clarita Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SCV-GSA) was created. The SCV-GSA is tasked with developing a management plan for the basin that will ensure its continued sustainability. In 2019, the SCV Water Board of Directors adopted the Santa Clara River Stewardship Objectives to protect and preserve the entire Upper Santa Clara Valley watershed.

Water quality is a top priority for SCV Water. Since 2000, SCV Water and its predecessor water suppliers have been remediating groundwater contamination emanating from property owned by the Whittaker Corporation and other related entities. Through settlement agreements, projects have been implemented to treat groundwater contaminated by perchlorate and restore impacted well capacity. More recently, efforts are underway to install treatment for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) also emanating from the Whittaker Bermite site. In addition, SCV Water is expeditiously moving forward with projects to recover lost well capacity due to the presence of small amounts of manmade chemicals, referred to as PFAS.

During the SCV Water formation process, it was agreed an independent rate payer advocate would be hired by the Board to independently analyze water rates developed by SCV Water staff. In December 2018, the SCV Water Board adopted the Rate Payer Advocacy Process and in August 2019, the Board also approved the selection of an independent rate payer advocate, Robert D. Niehaus, Inc., (RDN). In 2024, the SCV Water Board approved continuation of the Rate Payer Advocate program and a renewal RDN’s contract to continue providing this service to our rate payers.

The new Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency was projected to save $14 million in its first ten years. This was a major commitment made by the SCV Water Board of Directors, even before the first day of operation on January 1, 2018. With adoption of the first biennial budget for FY 19/20 and FY 20/21, total savings for the first 3 ½ years of operation were projected to be $20 million. Those savings were fully realized, but the benefits of the creation of SCV Water also extend to areas related to overall water supply reliability, in addition to cost of service efficiencies. We are a stronger community with a valley-wide water agency that pulls together to meet service demands.