Western Water’s Board of Directors recently adopted the 2024-2026 biennial operating budget and capital spending plan. With a total allocation of $171.4 million for fiscal year 2024-25 and $183.5 million for fiscal year 2025-26, the budget underscores Western Water's commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences.
Since 1954, Western Water has provided reliable, high-quality service to customers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Each year, Western Water delivers approximately 25 billion gallons of water to our retail and wholesale service areas. Achieving this requires continuous resources, maintenance, staffing, and innovation, all made possible through customer investment.
Western Water is committed to continually improving transparency and accountability as stewards of that public investment, adopting a conservative budgeting and investment strategy.
Investing in water supply reliability
Most of the budget is dedicated to purchasing water, a crucial necessity for a region with limited natural water sources. Most of this water is sourced from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), traveling hundreds of miles from the Sierra Nevada mountain snowpack in Northern California to local homes and businesses. This essential journey is both long and costly. Additionally, Western Water sources water from the San Bernardino Basin Area and the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, contributing to the overall cost.
Enhancing Services for Our Customers
The newly adopted budget reflects a collaborative and focused effort to navigate increasing costs while ensuring the delivery of high-quality water and wastewater services. This forward-thinking budget ensures that Western Water can continue to meet the evolving needs of its communities, reinforcing its dedication to delivering reliable and high-quality services.
Capital Improvement Plan
In addition to operational expenditures, the budget includes a robust capital improvement plan to upgrade and expand Western Water’s infrastructure. This plan is essential for maintaining service reliability and accommodating future growth.