Perris, CA (December 21, 2020) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) this week kicked off its Perris North Groundwater Program with the construction of two groundwater wells in northern Moreno Valley.

The program is a long-term solution to improve groundwater quality in the Perris North Groundwater Basin, located in the Moreno Valley area. The program will not only address groundwater contamination, but it will also provide safe drinking water for approximately 15,000 households annually.

The first two wells will be located along Ironwood Avenue, between Heacock and Indian streets. Construction crews began installing sound barriers on December 14, 2020, and well drilling is anticipated to begin in early January 2021.

EMWD received an agency-record $44.9 million grant from the State Water Resources Control Board for the program. The grant is funded through the voter-approved Proposition 1 Water Bond of 2014.

“EMWD is excited to officially begin work on the Perris North Groundwater Program,” EMWD Vice President Phil Paule said. “We sincerely appreciate the commitment from the State Board to help fund this program and also the understanding of the community during construction as we work to further secure their water supply future.”

The Perris North Groundwater Program will include six groundwater wells, a centralized treatment facility, and pipelines in the Moreno Valley area. Additional monitoring wells will be constructed to monitor groundwater levels and quality.

For more information on the program and construction updates, please visit www.emwd.org/Moreno-Valley-Projects.

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Eastern Municipal Water District is the water, wastewater service and recycled water provider to approximately 839,000 people living and working within a 555-square mile service area in western Riverside County. It is California’s sixth-largest retail water agency and its mission is “To deliver value to our diverse customers and the communities we serve by providing safe, reliable, economical and environmentally sustainable water, wastewater and recycled water services.” More information can be found at www.emwd.org.