WATER SUPPLY

The DWP provides water service to about 16,000 customers from four separate water systems within the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California. Three of the water systems and the majority of the customers are located in Big Bear Valley. The DWP provides water to its Big Bear Valley customers by pumping ground water from local aquifers. Currently, no outside water source is available to augment the local supply. The fourth system is in Rimforest, California located near Lake Arrowhead and water used in this system is purchased from the Crestline-Lake Arrowhead Water Agency (CLAWA).

Big Bear Valley lies 6,750 feet above sea level at the eastern end of the San Bernardino Mountains. The watershed surrounding the valley encompasses roughly 38.5 square miles. The main ridges, to the north and south, are relatively steep and support peaks ranging from 8,000-10,000 feet elevation. The climate is Mediterranean with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Average annual precipitation ranges from nearly 40 inches at the west end of the valley to 10-15 inches at the east end of the valley. Annual precipitation is highly variable and it is common to have long dry spells (3-8 years) between years with above average precipitation. Ground water recharge varies accordingly and it can be several years between significant recharge events.

Due to the variation in annual precipitation, the potential for extended droughts, and the finite nature of the ground water supply, the DWP is faced with both short-term and long-term challenges in providing water to its customers. Potential solutions to ensure a safe, adequate water supply include water reuse, conservation, and water importation. A supplemental water source that is currently being considered, is a ground water replenishment program spearheaded by the Big Bear Area Wastewater Agency (BBARWA, www.bbarwa.org). Highly treated, recycled water will undergo micro-filtration, reverse osmosis, and finally ultraviolet disinfection before it is allowed to percolate into the ground water basin. This artificially recharged ground water would then be pumped into Big Bear Valley's water systems after it has undergone additional filtration while percolating into the valley's aquifers. In the short term, reducing the community's water demand through conservation is the quickest and most cost-effective option for addressing the DWP's water supply issues. Reducing demand will provide time to thoroughly explore, identify, and implement the best long-term water supply solution. Additionally, the DWP is currently working on a water master plan that will identify future water needs and guide water supply planning for many years to come.

In the DWP's Big Four service area (Erwin Lake, Sugarloaf, Moonridge and City of Big Bear Lake), the maximum perennial yield* is estimated to be 2,940 acre-feet. In 2001, the water demand for this area was 2,850 acre-feet. Since 2001, the annual water demand has been reduced through an aggressive water conservation effort by the community. The water demand during the summer of 2004, for the Big Four, was down 14%, helping to significantly stretch the limited water supply. However, even with this conservation effort and by creating additional water-use efficiencies in this water system, there will not be sufficient ground water to meet the future water demands of the valley. More part-time residents are projected to become full-time residents and there are still several thousand undeveloped lots, in the DWP service area, which will need water service in the future. Therefore, a supplemental water source will always be essential to meet the future needs of the DWP's customers.

* Perennial Yield = The maximum quantity of ground water perennially available if all possible methods and sources are developed for recharging the basin. This quantity depends on the amount of water economically, legally, and politically available to the organization or agency managing the basin.

Click Here for  Update January 2006 (2.1M .pdf file)