Press Releases
EMWD Celebrates Water Awareness Month
Perris, CA (May 1, 2023) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) is celebrating Water Awareness Month throughout the month of May with its commitment to bring customers cost-effective water supplies while promoting sustainability.
For more than seven decades, EMWD has been steadfast in its commitment to managing our region’s water supply resources with a focus on efficiency.
EMWD Relaxes Drought Water Use Regulations
Perris, CA (April 19, 2023) — Eastern Municipal Water District today announced it is moving into Stage 1 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan after record-setting rain and snowfall throughout the state this winter helped reverse California’s historic drought conditions.
EMWD had been in Stage 3a of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan since November 2021. In Stage 3a, EMWD suspended variances for filling swimming pools and establishing new landscaping, and asked customers for a voluntary 25 percent reduction in water use.
EMWD Vice President Corona Elected as LAFCO Commissioner
Perris, CA (March 30, 2023) — Eastern Municipal Water District Vice President Stephen J. Corona this week was elected to the Board of Commissioners for the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) for the western district of Riverside County.
Corona joins the seven-member LAFCO Board as a Special District
representative. The LAFCO Board includes two Riverside County
Supervisors, two City Council representatives, two special
district representatives, and a member of the public.
EMWD Celebrates World Water Day
Perris, CA (March 22, 2023) — Eastern Municipal Water District is encouraging its customers to take a moment today to commit to water use efficiency as part of the United Nations’ World Water Day.
World Water Day is celebrated on March 22 each year and is part of the United Nations’ efforts to raise awareness about the importance of clean water, responsible water use, and sanitation issues that help promote public health and sustainability.
EMWD Releases Annual Report Highlighting Organizational Successes
Perris, CA (March 15, 2023) — Eastern Municipal Water District today released its first-ever annual report, highlighting its 2022 accomplishments in providing services to its nearly 1 million customers throughout western Riverside County.
The 2022 Year In Review provides EMWD customers and stakeholders a look at the highlights from a year in which EMWD achieved historical milestones in its nearly 75-year commitment to deliver safe, environmentally sustainable and industry-leading services to the nearly 1 million customers who depend on it.
Even With Rains, EMWD Encourages Efficiency During Ongoing Drought
Perris, CA (March 13, 2023) — With California seeing record snowfall and precipitation this winter, Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) wants to remind customers that using water wisely needs to be a way of life, regardless of weather patterns.
California is still in a years-long drought that has impacted both surface and groundwater supplies. The plentiful winter storms are a boon to the state’s reservoirs and snowpack, but drought conditions are still impacting many of our water supply sources.
EMWD’s Honored With WateReuse Award for Excellence
Perris, CA (March 7, 2023) — Yesterday, Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) was honored by the national WateReuse Association with its Award for Excellence for its innovative recycled water retrofit and landscape transformation at The Lakes at Hemet West community.
EMWD received the award at the WateReuse Symposium in Atlanta. The awards recognize individuals and projects that have made significant contributions in support of greater adoption of recycled water usage.
EMWD Celebrates Groundwater Awareness Week
Perris, CA (March 6, 2023) — Eastern Municipal Water District is celebrating National Groundwater Awareness Week by highlighting its commitment to using groundwater within its service area as part of its Groundwater Reliability Plus initiative.
EMWD has a robust portfolio of groundwater projects and is continually expanding its groundwater infrastructure to help meet the needs of its growing communities with this valuable local water supply.
EMWD Secures $4.5M in Federal Funding for Desalination Program
Perris, CA (March 3, 2023) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) this week received a multi-million dollar funding commitment from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) to construct infrastructure to support EMWD’s groundwater desalination program.
The Army Corps Fiscal Year 2023 workplan included $4.5 million for Phase 2 of the Valley Boulevard and Murrieta Road pipeline project in Menifee. The pipeline will deliver untreated water to EMWD’s desalination facility.
EMWD Honors County of Riverside with Water Champion Award
Perris, CA (March 1, 2023) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) this week honored the County of Riverside with its 2022 Water Champion Award for its continued commitment to partner to provide a more sustainable water supply future for the region.
EMWD’s Water Champion Award is presented to those who show exemplary service in helping EMWD achieve its mission to deliver value to its diverse customers and the communities it serves by providing safe, reliable, economical, and environmentally sustainable water, wastewater and recycled water service.
EMWD’s Patrick the Poo Recognized for Educational Excellence
Perris, CA (February 15, 2023) — Eastern Municipal Water District’s (EMWD) beloved wastewater mascot, Patrick the Poo, was honored this week with the 2022 National Environmental Achievement Award by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) for excellence in public information and education. EMWD received the award at NACWA’s 2023 conference in Sonoma on February 14, 2023.
EMWD Bird Tours Continue Through April
Perris, CA (February 2, 2023) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) invites you to join us for our popular and free bird walks at our San Jacinto Valley Wetlands.
The tours provide guests the opportunity to see some of the more than 120 species of birds that call the Wetlands home throughout the year, including during the migratory season. It is not uncommon for a Bald Eagle to be seen throughout the winter months.
EMWD Posts Unclaimed Money List
Perris, CA (January 10, 2023) — Current and former customers of Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) may be entitled to unclaimed money. Each year, EMWD posts a list of unclaimed monies, which are typically refunds associated with the closing of water accounts, water efficiency rebates or other fees.
Phil Paule Reelected as EMWD Board President
Perris, CA (January 4, 2023) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) Board Director Phil Paule was reelected as EMWD’s Board President for the 2023-24 term during today’s Board of Directors meeting.
Paule has served as EMWD’s Board President for the 2021-22 calendar years and was nominated by his peers on the Board to serve another two-year term. He represents French Valley, Winchester, and portions of Murrieta as the representative for District 1. Paule has served on EMWD’s Board since 2007.
EMWD Achieves Reliability Through Proactive Infrastructure Investments
Perris, CA (December 29, 2022) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) has taken a forward-thinking and equitable approach to providing reliable and safe services to the nearly 1 million people who rely on our infrastructure at their homes and businesses each day.
As the regional water, wastewater and recycled water provider to a growing region in western Riverside County, EMWD proactively invests in its infrastructure so that it may be prepared to meet the current and anticipated needs of its service area.
EMWD Secures $17.5M Federal Grant for Purified Water Replenishment Program
Perris, CA (December 27, 2022) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) has received an additional $17.5 million in funding from the United States Bureau of Reclamation to advance its Purified Water Replenishment (PWR) program.
The new funding authorization, which is part of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, brings the total federal funding for the project to $27.5 million, making it the largest federal grant funding total EMWD has received for a single project.
EMWD’s Randy Record Announces Retirement from Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board of Directors
Perris, CA (December 21, 2022) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) Board Vice President Randy Record, who is widely considered one of the leading water policy makers in California, announced today that he would be stepping down from his position as EMWD’s representative on The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) Board of Directors.
The move is effective December 31, 2022. Record will remain on EMWD’s Board of Directors.
EMWD Employees Proudly Give Back to the Community
Perris, CA (December 20, 2022) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) employees this holiday season are continuing their year-long commitment to giving back to their community through charity work and donations.
EMWD employees donate to a wide range of causes throughout the year, including through automatic payroll deductions to local and industry efforts. The largest single donation effort in 2022 was Water For People, which helps disadvantaged communities throughout the world receive the infrastructure necessary to provide safe water and sanitation services.
Menifee Student Honored For Award Winning Artwork
Perris, CA (December 12, 2022) — A Menifee kindergartner has an important message to help save water.
Kimber Atchison, who attends Mesa View Elementary School in the Romoland School District, produced the winning entry for Eastern Municipal Water District’s (EMWD) 2021-22 annual Poster Contest, which will be included in The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s (MWD) 2023 Water Is Life Calendar.
Atchison’s artwork included a girl making sure she turned the water off in her sink with the words “It is good to turn the faucet off.”
EMWD Celebrates America Recycles Day With Recycled Water Commitments
Perris, CA (November 15, 2022) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) is celebrating America Recycles Day by proudly doing its part as an industry leader in recycled water.
As California and the West continue to face historic water supply challenges, there has never been a more important time for water agencies to beneficially use 100 percent of their recycled water supplies. EMWD has done so for many years, as recycled water accounts for more than one-third of the water used in EMWD’s service area.