UPDATED: This quarterly Chino Basin Program Bulletin is your source to learn more about an exciting partnership designed to increase local water supply reliability and regional resiliency.

Introduction

The Chino Basin Program (CBP) is shaping the future of water. CBP is a first-of-its-kind water program that moves beyond traditional water management practices to achieve new levels of water security, flexibility, and affordability.

IEUA Awarded $10.8 Million to Fund Chino Basin Resiliency Efforts

The Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) has been awarded over $10.8 million by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for its Advanced Treatment of Recycled Water to Enhance Chino Basin Resiliency Project. This project aims to develop an additional 15,000 acre-feet per year of advanced purified recycled water that will be stored in the Chino Basin. IEUA was selected for anticipated funding in the amount of $10,856,662 in support of construction project components of the CBP.

Learn how the IEUA plans to utilize the awarded funds in the full press release below.

Water Quality Testing

IEUA’s Water Quality Laboratory and the CBP team recently completed a full year of water quality testing of the three water sources that will feed into the future Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF). The AWPF will treat a variable blend of source water from Regional Water Recycling Plant No. 4, Regional Water Recycling Plant No. 1, and the city of Rialto's wastewater treatment plant. This testing is crucial for understanding the seasonal variations, as the water quality from each source can fluctuate throughout the year. Additionally, this testing has provided critical data elements that will inform the design of the AWPF and optimize future treatment. Specifically, comprehensive water quality data helps inform the design and blend ratios to optimize high water recovery rates, to minimize operational costs, and to reduce the frequency of membrane fouling, which can affect the quantity of water produced. This will ensure reliability, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

We are proud that most of the sampling and analysis was conducted by IEUA staff. Kudos to IEUA’s Operations team who collect the samples during their normal rounds and the IEUA Water Quality lab team who processed over 11,600 analyte substances. 

*Individual chemical components that make up a mixture or compound.

**A substance whose chemical constituents are being identified and measured.

Program Update

Boring and Monitoring Wells Update

IEUA has successfully installed one exploratory boring and monitoring well in the city of Rancho Cucamonga and is nearing completion on the second. The third monitoring well has received required permit approval and will begin drilling soon. Once completed, the results of this project will inform the design and determine the number of aquifer replenishment wells required to meet the water storage goals of CBP. Preliminary findings suggest that the conditions are favorable for aquifer replenishment.

IEUA and Metropolitan Water District Approve Water Exchange Agreement to Enhance California Ecosystems

In October 2024, IEUA and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) approved a water exchange agreement based on a detailed term sheet, marking a significant step in collaborative water management.

As a State Water Project contractor, MWD will exchange water with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for a pulse flow release, supporting IEUA’s public benefit agreement with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to enhance ecosystems.

Locally, the CBP will coordinate in-lieu production to reduce reliance on MWD supplies.

For the full agreement details, view the term sheet below.

Connect With Us

For additional program information, project updates, and opportunities to connect with our staff directly, visit our website at chinobasinprogram.org and follow us on social media.

@chinobasinprogram