Company Profile
Eastern Municipal Water District
Company Overview
Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) is the water, wastewater service and recycled water provider to more than 825,000 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 customers and the communities we serve by providing safe, reliable, economical and environmentally sustainable water, wastewater and recycled water services.”
EMWD provides service to retail customers located within the cities of Canyon Lake, Hemet, San Jacinto, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Perris and Temecula, as well as the unincorporated communities of French Valley, Good Hope, Homeland, Lakeview, Mead Valley, Murrieta Hot Springs, Nuevo, Romoland, Valle Vista and Winchester.
EMWD also supplies water on a wholesale basis to the Cities of Hemet, San Jacinto and Perris; Lake Hemet Municipal Water District; Nuevo Water Company; Rancho California Water District; and Western Municipal Water District.
With more than 50 years of experience, the board members and staff of EMWD are proud, confident and ready for the future.
Company History
EMWD was organized as a Municipal Water District in 1950 for the primary purpose of importing Colorado River water to its service area in order to augment local water supplies. Today, EMWD receives approximately half of its water supply from The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) via the Colorado River Aqueduct and State Water Project.
Since its formation in 1950, EMWD has matured from a small, primarily agricultural-serving agency, to one whose major demands come from domestic customers. EMWD’s forward-thinking leadership has resulted in a diverse water supply portfolio, which also includes local groundwater supplies, recycled water and desalination efforts. EMWD is now one of California’s largest water agencies.
Authorized under the Municipal Water District Act of 1911, EMWD’s duties and responsibilities are further delineated in the California Water Code. In 1951, EMWD annexed to MWD. Municipal water and sewer rates are not subject to regulation by the California Public Utilities Commission. EMWD customers instead are represented by a Board of Director. Directors are elected by registered voters to four-year terms in divisions representing comparably sized populations.
As a Municipal Water District operating under state law, the publicly elected Board of Directors is legally responsible for its organization and performance. The Board hires the General Manager to carry out its executive functions to oversee operations. Residents and voters within the service area are the primary stakeholders, and the Board of Directors are the direct representative voice of this group.
As with many other public entities, EMWD is authorized to exercise the power of eminent domain; to levy and collect taxes; and to fix, revise and collect rates or other charges. EMWD may also issue bonds, borrow money and incur indebtedness.
Benefits
For an overview of EMWD's benefits, please visit our website: https://www.emwd.org/overview-benefits