Bureau of Reclamation 

Notice of Funding Opportunity 

No. R23AS0007 6 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and 

Desalination Planning 

Chino Basin 

Advanced Treated 

Recycled Water, 

Storage, and Production 

Feb ru ary 2023 

Inland Empire Util ities Agency 

6075 Kim ba ll Ave. 

Chino, CA 91708 

Ashley Womack 

Grants and Govern ment Affairs Officer 

909. 925. 7205 

awo mack@ieua.org 

~) Inland Empire Utilities Agency l. A M U NICIPAL WATER DI STRICT 

i 
Table of Contents 

Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................................1 

Project location ...................................................................................................................................................1 

Technical Project Description ..............................................................................................................................1 

Inland Empire Utilities Agency .........................................................................................................................1 

Applicant Category ..........................................................................................................................................2 

Eligibility of Applicant......................................................................................................................................2 

Goals and Objectives .......................................................................................................................................2 

Approach.........................................................................................................................................................2 

Responses to Evaluation Criteria..........................................................................................................................4 

Evaluation Criterion 1: Project Planning and Analysis (30 points) .....................................................................4 

Subcriterion No.1a-Water Recycling Needs and Opportunities (15 Points).......................................................4 

1. Problems and Needs ............................................................................................................................4 

2. Current and Projected Water Supplies and Demands ...........................................................................5 

3. Potential Uses and Markets for Recycled Water...................................................................................7 

4. Source Water and Related Infrastructure .............................................................................................7 

Subcriterion No.1b-Evaluation of Project Alternatives (15 Points)....................................................................8 

1. Project Objectives ................................................................................................................................8 

2. Project Alternatives..............................................................................................................................8 

3. Description of the Preferred Alternative...............................................................................................9 

4. Project Schedule ................................................................................................................................ 10 

Evaluation Criterion 2 - Stretching Water Supplies (20 points) ....................................................................... 10 

1. Reducing the Need for New Non-Recycled Water Supplies.................................................................10 

2. Alleviating Pressure on the Existing Water System ............................................................................. 10 

3. How the Project Alleviates Regional Challenges.................................................................................. 11 

4. Potential of the Project to Create Additional Flexibility to Drought.....................................................12 

Evaluation Criterion 3-Environment and Water Quality (20 points) ................................................................ 12 

1. Potential of the Project to Improve the Quality of Surface Water and Groundwater........................... 12 

2. Potential of the Project to Improve Effluent Quality ........................................................................... 13 

3. Potential of the Project to Improve Flow Conditions in a Natural Stream Channel .............................. 13 

4. Potential of the Project to Restore or Enhance Habitat for Non-listed Fish and Wildlife Species ......... 13 

5. Potential of the Project to Provide Water for Federally Listed Threatened/Endangered Species.........13 

6. Potential of the Project to Provide Indirect Benefits ........................................................................... 14 

Evaluation Criterion 4 - Department of the Interior Priorities (15 points) ....................................................... 14 

1. Climate Change and Impacts on the Region........................................................................................ 14 

2. How Will the CBP Help Combat the Climate Crisis in the Region? ....................................................... 16 

ii 
3. Disadvantaged Communities.............................................................................................................. 17 

Evaluation Criterion 5—Watershed Perspective and Stakeholder Involvement (15 Points)............................. 18 

1. Will the Proposed Project Implement a Regional or State Water Plan or an Integrated Resource 

Management Plan? Explain........................................................................................................................ 18 

2. Will the Proposed Project Help Meet the Water Supply Needs of a Large Geographic Area, Region, or 

Watershed? Explain. .................................................................................................................................. 19 

3. Will the Proposed Project Promote Collaborative Partnerships to Address Water-Related Issues? 

Explain. Describe Stakeholder Involvement in the Project Planning Process. .............................................. 19 

4. Will the Proposed Project Include Public Outreach and Opportunities for the Public to Learn About the 

Project? Explain. ........................................................................................................................................ 20 

Project Budget................................................................................................................................................... 20 

Funding Plan.................................................................................................................................................. 20 

Letters of Commitment ................................................................................................................................. 21 

Budget Proposal ............................................................................................................................................ 21 

Budget Narrative ........................................................................................................................................... 21 

Required Permits or Approvals .......................................................................................................................... 21 

Official Resolution ............................................................................................................................................. 22 

Letters of Support ............................................................................................................................................. 22 

Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement (recommended).............................................................................. 22 

Uniform Audit Reporting Statement (recommended) ........................................................................................ 22 

Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement (recommended)................................................................................. 22 

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Figure 1: Project Location Map 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Summary 

Date: February 23, 2023 

Application Name: Inland

Empire Utilities Agency 

(IEUA) 

Applicant City, County, 

State: Various Cities, San

Bernardino County, 

California. 

IEUA’s Chino Basin 

Program (CBP) is an 

innovative approach to 

addressing local, regional,

and statewide water 

resources management 

issues through strategic 

partnerships, creative water exchanges, and deployment of new critical infrastructure. Integral to 

the CBP is a 15 million gallon per day (MGD) advanced water purification facility (AWPF) that 

would remove salinity from recycled water, improving the sustainability of a resource that would 

otherwise be gradually degraded beyond usability, resulting in loss of local supplies, stranded 

assets, and increased reliance on State Water Project (SWP) supplies. Along with these water 

quality benefits, the CBP is uniquely designed to deliver other public benefits including 

environmental, water supply, emergency response, and additional regional benefits. Over the 

October 31, 2023 to October 31, 2025 planning period, IEUA will be executing planning and 

pre-final design activities in support of the CBP, including advancing terms and agreements 

necessary to implement the CBP, preparation of environmental documentation, regulatory 

compliance and permitting activities, and pre-final design of key CBP components. Program 

management in support of these activities will also be provided over the planning period. These 

activities directly align with the activities outlined in WaterSMART: Water Recycling and 

Desalination Planning Notice of Funding Opportunity No. R23AS00076. Planning, regulatory 

compliance and permitting, and pre-final design activities for the CBP are currently underway 

and are estimated to be completed in late 2025. The proposed planning efforts are not for a 

project on a Federal facility and will not involve Federal land. 

Project Location 

The proposed project (the CBP) is primarily located within the northeastern region of IEUA’s 

service area in the cities of Rialto, Fontana, and Rancho Cucamonga in San Bernardino County, 

California, which is approximately 40 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. See Figure 1 for a 

project location map. 

Technical Project Description 

Inland Empire Utilities Agency 

IEUA is a regional wastewater treatment agency and wholesale distributor of imported water. 

Today, IEUA is responsible for serving approximately 935,000 people over 242 square miles in 

western San Bernardino County. IEUA is focused on providing three key services: (1) treating 

wastewater and developing recycled water, local water resources, and conservation programs to 

reduce the region’s dependence on imported water supplies, thus enabling the service area to 

become drought-resilient; (2) converting biosolids and waste products into a high-quality 

Page 1 of 23 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

compost made from recycled materials; and (3) generating electrical energy from renewable 

sources. 

Applicant Category 

In the mid-1990s, IEUA identified recycled water as one of the critical components to provide a 

resilient water supply for the region, a hydrology-independent and reliable local supply source. 

IEUA’s CBP is an innovative approach which will help secure recycled water as a resource 

within the region. The CBP would develop new southern California advanced treated water 

supplies to be stored in the Chino Basin and exchanged in dry years for southern Californiabound imported SWP supplies stored in northern California. The stored northern California 

water would subsequently be released as multi-day pulse flows to support anadromous fish 

populations in the Feather River and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta), providing a 

statewide public benefit. Integral to the CBP is a 15 MGD AWPF that would remove salinity 

from recycled water, improving the sustainability of the region’s water resources that would 

otherwise be gradually degraded beyond usability, resulting in loss of local supplies, stranded 

assets, and increased reliance on imported SWP supplies. The CBP would also consist of 

injection wells, extraction wells, groundwater treatment facilities, external recycled water 

supplies, and a pipeline distribution network connecting the facilities to local agencies. The 

estimated cost of the CBP in 2019 dollars is $650 million. With an estimated cost greater than 

$500 million, IEUA is seeking funding under Funding Group II. A greater description of the 

CBP including project features, benefits, and anticipated costs can be found in Subcriterion 1b. 

Eligibility of Applicant 

IEUA is eligible to receive an award under this funding opportunity as a wastewater treatment 

agency and wholesale distributor of imported water located in San Bernardino County, 

California. 

Goals and Objectives 

IEUA’s goal is to meet or exceed key final design and construction milestones for the CBP 

identified in the Subcriterion 1b Project Schedule. To meet this goal, IEUA has identified the 

following objectives: 

• Identify key participation, ownership, and operating considerations for the CBP. 

• Ensure the CBP is constructed and implemented in accordance with local, State, and 

federal laws and regulations. 

• Identify and inform the public of the potential environmental effects of the CBP. 

• Prepare the basis of design for key CBP components. 

IEUA intends to achieve these objectives by executing planning and pre-final design activities as 

described below. 

Approach 

IEUA will be executing activities under the following categories to further advance the CBP over 

the October 31, 2023 to October 31, 2025 planning period: 

• Agreements: IEUA will coordinate and collaborate with local and regional partner 

agencies along with state resource agencies to advance the terms and agreements 

necessary to implement the CBP. The agreements that will be advanced over the 

planning period include: 

o Public benefit agreements with California Department of Fish and Wildlife 

(CDFW), the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), and the California 

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Department of Water Resources (DWR) for delivery of ecosystem, water quality, 

and emergency response water supply benefits, respectively. 

o Pulse flow agreements with CDFW and DWR to describe the criteria and timing 

and volume of the pulse flow releases from Lake Oroville to the Feather River to 

achieve the desired ecosystem benefits. 

o Water exchange agreements with Metropolitan Water District of Southern 

California (Metropolitan) and DWR to describe the commitments and terms for 

use of CBP water supplies stored in the Chino Basin in lieu of water deliveries 

from Metropolitan. 

o Recycled water purchase agreement with Western Riverside County Regional 

Wastewater Authority (WRCRWA)/Jurupa Community Services District to 

secure water supplies for advanced water treatment to implement the CBP. 

o Performance, ownership, and operating agreements with Fontana Water 

Company (FWC), Cucamonga Valley Water District (CVWD), and potentially 

other retail agencies to describe commitments for funding the design, 

construction, and operation of CBP facilities. 

o Call year performance operating agreement with Metropolitan. 

o Local storage agreement (injection wells) with the Chino Basin Watermaster and 

performing partners (FWC, CVWD, and potentially other retail agencies) to 

describe the storage capacity in the Chino Basin for the CBP and mitigation 

measures to protect the Chino Basin. 

o Funding agreement with the State of California (California Water Commission) 

that will identify the terms and conditions for the State to provide funding from 

the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 to IEUA 

to assist in financing the CBP. 

• Regulatory Compliance and Permitting: The CBP will require a variety of regulatory 

permits/approvals from federal, state, and local agencies as described in the required 

permits or approvals section in this grant application. IEUA will prepare a permitting and 

regulatory strategy and engage with these agencies over the planning period to secure the 

necessary permits/regulatory approvals needed for construction and implementation of 

the CBP. 

• Environmental Documentation: IEUA will develop supplemental project-level 

environmental documentation required for the CBP in compliance with California 

Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements. 

• Pre-final Design: IEUA will execute pre-final design activities for the following CBP 

components over the planning period: extraction wells, purified and potable conveyance 

pipelines, booster stations and reservoirs, and interconnections (Metropolitan, CVWD, 

and FWC). 

• Program management activities over the planning period will also be performed to 

ensure the coordinated planning, management, and execution of the planning and prefinal design activities described above. 

IEUA will be executing activities under each of these categories concurrently over the October 

31, 2023 to October 31, 2025 planning period as shown in the project schedule under 

Subcriterion 1b – Project Schedule. 

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Responses to Evaluation Criteria 

Evaluation Criterion 1: Project Planning and Analysis (30 points) 

Subcriterion No.1a-Water Recycling Needs and Opportunities (15 Points) 

1. Problems and Needs 

IEUA's water resources are affected by climate conditions, environmental and regulatory factors, 

and growth. Climate change-induced temperature increases, changes in precipitation patterns, 

and droughts impact regional water supplies. As one of the fastest growing regions in the State, 

continued residential and commercial growth in the region will create new demands for water 

that could strain existing water supplies. IEUA will be required to continue investing in 

treatment technologies for the region's water supplies in the future and improve the operational 

management of these treated supplies to help meet future demands. 

IEUA is heavily reliant on imported water supplies, which can vary significantly from year to 

year based on uncertain regional hydrology, changing environmental conditions, and established 

legal and institutional regulations. As shown in Table 1, Table 1: SWP Allocation History the SWP was able to supply 75 percent of its contract 

allocation during the 2019 water year, but since drought 

conditions began in 2020, SWP allocations have declined 

significantly, with the SWP only able to supply 5 percent 

of contract allocations in the 2021 and 2022 water years. 

It is anticipated that climate change and other factors will 

further curtail SWP supplies to the region, underscoring 

the need to maintain existing and develop new local 

supplies. 

As a result of the nation's most variable climate, 

California is frequently affected by severe and extreme droughts (Figure 2(a)). According to data 

from the U.S. Drought Monitor, San Bernardino County (i.e., IEUA’s service area) experienced 

seven severe drought events, six extreme drought events and two exceptional drought events 

between 2000 and 2022 (Figure 2(b)), which has resulted in strict water use restrictions and 

significant water rate increases. Portions of the IEUA service area can also be classified as 

disadvantaged (see Criterion 4). Both water restrictions and rate hikes are more detrimental to 

disadvantaged communities than to wealthier communities. Unless measures are taken to 

increase the resilience of the water supply in the region, future climate conditions will cause 

droughts to become more severe, leading to increased social vulnerability and greater income 

inequality. 

Water Year SWP Allocation 

2022 5% 

2021 5% 

2020 15% 

2019 75% 

2018 35% 

2017 85% 

2016 60% 

Recycled water is an increasingly essential asset to the region particularly with the uncertain 

future of imported water supplies due to climate change and environmental factors. Currently, 

recycled water makes up approximately 20 percent of IEUA’s water supply portfolio. However, 

the continued use of recycled water is compliance driven, with regulatory limitations for total 

dissolved solids (TDS) in IEUA’s recycled water and groundwater recharge. In the event of noncompliance, IEUA would need to supplement the water supply portfolio with more expensive 

and/or less reliable sources. Today, IEUA estimates that without taking additional action, TDS 

limits for recycled water direct use and groundwater recharge may be exceeded within the next 

ten years. 

Page 4 of 23 
 

 

 

 

 

California Percent Area in U.S. Drought Monitor Categories 100.00'I; 

80.00% 

60.00% 

40.00l 

20.00% I, 

o."°' 

i i ;. i ~ ;. 

§ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ DO (Abnormally Dry) D1 (Moderate Drought) ■ D2 (Severe Drought) ■ D3 (Extreme Drought) ■ D4 (Exceptional Drought) 

San Bernardino County [CA) Percent Area in U.S. Drought Monitor Categories 100.00% 

60.00l 

40.lm 

20.00% 

0.00'< 

DO (Abnormally Dry) 01 (Moderate Drought) ■ D2 (Severe Drought) ■ 03 (Extreme Drought) ■ 04 (Exceptional Drought) 

(a) 

(b) 

Figure 2: Percent area affected by historical droughts (a) State of California, and (b) San 

Bernardino County. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor 

2. Current and Projected Water Supplies and Demands 

a. Current and Projected Water Supply 

The water resource inventory for the IEUA service area is generally made up of stormwater and 

other local supply sources (3%), desalter product water (10%), direct use recycled water (10%), 

imported water (32%), and groundwater (45%). IEUA’s regional water usage in fiscal year 

2021/2022 was 196,552 acre-feet (AF) (177,292 AF potable usage and 19,260 AF in recycled 

direct usage). Recycled water used for groundwater recharge is not included in this total. IEUA 

estimates that regional water supply will increase to 287,804 AF by 2030 and 322,461 AF by 

2040. The section below provides an overview of current and projected water supplies and 

demand for these key supply sources, as well as the potential impacts of climate change these 

sources. 

Groundwater: Groundwater makes up 45 percent of the area’s annual water supply and comes 

primarily from the Chino Basin and from basins adjacent to the Chino Basin. These basins 

include Cucamonga, Rialto, Lytle Creek, Colton, and the Six Basins groundwater basins. 

Climate Change Impacts: Climate change is expected to have a negative impact on groundwater 

supply. Warmer temperatures and severe droughts cause the soil to absorb less water. More 

intense periods of rainfall also lead to increased water runoff instead of percolating into the soil. 

Simulations by the Chino Basin Watermaster indicate that a 1 percent decrease in long-term 

precipitation would lead to a 0.44 percent decrease in natural groundwater recharge. In addition, 

reduced rainfall and increased groundwater withdrawal can result in increased salinity levels in 

the topsoil and aquifer. The future viability of local groundwater is likely to be affected by 

changes in precipitation and temperatures as well as increases in salinity and other constituents in 

the aquifer. 

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Other Challenges: Future development patterns, such as increased hardscaping and more 

efficient irrigation practices, may alter the groundwater supply. Additionally, groundwater 

quality in the Chino Basin has historically been adversely affected by high concentrations of salt, 

nitrate, and other constituents, making water quality a crucial constraint in future groundwater 

production. 

Imported Water: Imported water contributes to 32 percent of the regional water supply. 

Imported water purchased from Metropolitan is limited by a purchase order agreement. This 

limit is based on historical imported water purchases for municipal use. 

Climate Change Impacts: The largest potential climate change impact on imported SWP water is 

the effect of shifting snowmelt and resulting runoff patterns on the SWP. The SWP’s 

infrastructure was designed to capture snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada snowpack, and when 

snow melts during the spring and summer months, a combination of reservoirs and conveyance 

facilities provide a steady water supply throughout the year. The reservoirs were sized based on 

historical precipitation patterns, so with more precipitation falling as rain instead of snow in the 

winter months, more water will be required to be released from reservoirs due to flood storage 

operating constraints and will not be stored to be made available later during the higher summer 

demand periods. The reliability of imported SWP water is expected to decrease as the changes in 

precipitation caused by climate change continue. 

Other Challenges: The existing SWP infrastructure relies on the ability to pump water from the 

Delta where local water rights, environmental protections, and imported water conveyance are 

often in competition with one another. As a result of these frequently competing interests, 

regulations, and restrictions on Delta exports, SWP deliveries to the IEUA service area could be 

adversely affected in the future. In addition, the infrastructure that is used to deliver imported 

supplies in the region is also susceptible to damage because of earthquakes and other natural 

disasters. Unplanned or catastrophic occurrences may halt the supply of imported water. 

Recycled Water: Recycled water is generated from IEUA’s four recycling plants (see section 

Source Water and Related Infrastructure). Recycled water is used within the region for direct use 

(landscape irrigation, agricultural irrigation, industrial process water and construction), 

groundwater recharge, and to meet discharge requirements in the Santa Ana River. 

Climate Change Impacts: Recycled water is a constant source not subject to the variable seasonal 

rainfall, snowpack conditions, and drought that impact other water supplies. 

Other Challenges: The Chino Basin groundwater quality affects the use of recycled water in the 

region, as requirements from the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Board and the SWRCB 

mandate salt management and reduction actions for recycled water to be used for outdoor 

irrigation and groundwater recharge. If recycled water increases salinity levels in the Chino 

Basin, its applications will be limited (see Criterion 2 and 3 for further details). 

Stormwater and Other Local Water Supply: Stormwater comes primarily from rain and snow 

starting in the San Gabriel Mountains and moving down through the Santa Ana watershed and 

diverted into groundwater recharge basins. Local surface water is available on a limited basis 

from several tributaries in the region. This local surface water is treated at local water treatment 

facilities and delivered locally to help meet demands. 

Climate Change Impacts: Local surface water supplies are dependent on precipitation and 

temperature, and each of these factors is predicted to be influenced by climate change, creating 

uncertainty from year to year. In the future, it is expected that the climate extremes will be more 

severe, and temperatures are expected to increase. Extreme precipitation events can result in 

short periods with high volumes of runoff that will be difficult to capture. Conversely, extended 

droughts and dry years will result in long periods without available local surface water supplies, 

Page 6 of 23 
 

 

 

 

 

 

which will increase demands on other supply types. Additionally, warmer temperatures cause 

more evaporation and transpiration, reducing the amount of soil moisture. This means that the 

soil may absorb and hold more water when rain occurs, and this can reduce the amount of water 

flowing into creeks and streams. 

b. Current and Projected Water Demands 

IEUA currently serves a population of 935,000. Based on IEUA’s 2020 Urban Water 

Management projections, the population within IEUA’s service area is expected to reach 

1,119,568 by 2045. Additionally, the IEUA service area is experiencing rapid growth in 

business, industry, and real estate. If the current rate of expansion is sustained, residential areas 

will grow by over 38 percent. It is expected that these developments will result in an increase in 

water demand. Table 2 presents the water demands for the IEUA service area for the years 2030 

to 2045. These demands include imported water, surface water, groundwater, desalinated water, 

and recycled water. 

Table 2: Projected Water Demand (acre-feet per year) 

Water Demand (AFY) 2030 2035 2040 2045 

IEUA Service Area 243,050 251,989 267,512 270,471 

3. Potential Uses and Markets for Recycled Water 

IEUA has identified the need to augment recycled water supplies by 15 thousand acre feet per 

year (TAFY) to meet the growing demand for recycled water while reducing reliance on 

imported water and enhancing overall water supply reliability. Concurrently, through CBP 

planning efforts to date, IEUA has identified that both the City of Rialto and WRCRWA are 

interested in marketing their unused recycled water supplies which are currently discharged to 

the Santa Ana River. The CBP will leverage these unused recycled water supplies from the City 

of Rialto and WRCRWA as external supply sources for the AWPF, allowing IEUA to deliver 

greater recycled water supply volumes to those retail agencies who currently use recycled water. 

Over the planning period, IEUA plans to continue engaging with WRCRWA and local agencies 

to identify additional supply sources and other potential markets. 

4. Source Water and Related Infrastructure 

A description of the source water and related infrastructure for the CBP is provided below. 

Water Recycling Plants: IEUA owns and operates four regional water recycling plants that 

produce recycled water as described above (see Figure 1). The treated wastewater effluent from 

the regional wastewater recycling plants delivers the reuse supply to the member agencies and 

customers via six pressures zones, several hundred miles of pipelines, several booster pump 

stations and storage reservoirs, and four pressure regulating stations. 

Selected Advanced Water Purification Facility: Recycling Plant (RP)-4 was selected as the 

preferred location for the CBP AWPF due to its close proximity to recharge basins, its greater 

capacity to pump to these basins, proximity to surface water treatment facilities, and overall 

operational flexibility. A 15 MGD (17 TAFY) AWPF is proposed at RP-4 as part of the CBP. 

Approximately 2 TAFY of water will be lost through the AWPF process, requiring that 17 

TAFY of source water supply to the AWPF be made available for treatment. At RP-4, the 

proposed treatment processes consist of membrane filtration (MF), reverse osmosis (RO), and 

ultraviolet advanced oxidation process (UV-AOP). 

Groundwater Recharge: The Chino Basin has 19 existing spreading basins that can recharge 

stormwater, recycled water, and/or imported water. IEUA operates 10 existing recharge basins 

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that are currently connected to the recycled water system. These recharge basins provide capacity 

to recharge imported water, stormwater, and recycled water, based on availability. The recharge 

infrastructure consists of a network of pipelines that direct stormwater run-off, imported water 

from the SWP, and IEUA recycled water to recharge sites. 

Subcriterion No.1b-Evaluation of Project Alternatives (15 Points) 

1. Project Objectives 

Issues of rising TDS concentrations in recycled water nearing compliance levels and other 

regulatory challenges associated with contaminants of emerging concern puts the region at great 

risk. IEUA’s objectives are to meet permit compliance for the continued use of recycled water in 

the Chino Basin, maintain commitments for salt management to enable sustainable use of 

recycled water in the Basin, develop infrastructure that addresses long term supply 

vulnerabilities, provide a source of water for emergency response, and develop an integrated 

solution to produce State and federal environmental benefits. 

2. Project Alternatives 

To achieve the objectives identified above, IEUA and its partners explored three different 

alternatives, which include: (1) Baseline Compliance; (2) Regional Water Quality and 

Reliability; and (3) CBP. Each of these project alternatives, along with the No Action alternative, 

are discussed below. 

No Action Alternative: Under this “no project” No Action Alternative, there would be no 

expansion of existing recycled water systems or groundwater by member agencies of IEUA. 

Anticipated future growth would generally be served with imported potable water and local 

agencies would need to increase their water purchases or implement more restrictive 

conservation programs to satisfy potable water demand. 

Alternative 1 - Baseline Compliance Plan Alternative: Alternative 1 would address TDS 

levels for both direct use of recycled water and groundwater recharge. Under Alternative 1, an 

AWPF located at RP-4 would be used with IEUA’s existing conveyance system to help address 

the region’s regulatory compliance challenges. With the AWPF, the effluent TDS concentration 

will be reduced by 100 milligrams per liter (mg/L). Also included is a pump station, 6 TAFY of 

external supplies, and brine conveyance pipelines. The facilities under Alternative 1 would be 

expanded to 9 TAFY online by 2030 and 15 TAFY by 2040. Alternative 1 does not include any 

facilities associated with the extraction of groundwater from the Chino Basin, or the conveyance 

of potable water supply (also known as TAKE facilities). 

Alternative 2 - Regional Water Quality and Reliability Plan Alternative: Alternative 2 builds 

upon Alternative 1 to address regional water quality and water supply challenges. Alternative 2 

would include an AWPF, 16 injection wells, purified water pipelines, and brine conveyance (also 

collectively known as PUT facilities). Alternative 2 includes the same AWPF, pump station, 

external supplies, and brine conveyance pipelines as Alternative 1. These facilities would not be 

phased, and the full 15 TAFY capacity AWPF would be on-line by 2030. Alternative 2 also 

includes TAKE facilities, including extraction wells, groundwater treatment facilities, pipelines, 

and connections that are integrated with the PUT facilities. Alternative 2 would collectively treat 

and store up to 15 TAFY of recycled water in the Chino Basin, creating a new local water 

supply. This water would be available for local use for the 50-year project life, which would 

reduce dependence on imported water, improve water quality, and provide a new local water 

supply for the Basin. It would include a network of regional pipelines that provide the ability for 

IEUA and its member agencies to access 15 TAFY of stored water in the Chino Basin, 

Page 8 of 23 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

connecting these new potable water supplies for use in lieu of planned water deliveries from 

Metropolitan. 

Alternative 3 - Chino Basin Program: Similar to Alternative 2, the CBP would consist of 

AWPF, injection wells, extraction wells, groundwater treatment facilities, external recycled 

water supplies, and a pipeline distribution network connecting the facilities to local agencies. 

The CBP differs from Alternative 2 by increasing total extraction capacity from 15 TAFY to 40 

TAFY and connects the CBP pipeline distribution network to Metropolitan’s distribution system 

to allow for up to 10 TAFY of water supply to be pumped to Metropolitan to offset imported 

water supplies that would be released from Lake Oroville to create pulse flows in the Feather 

River for ecosystem benefit. The CBP greatly enhances flexibility and resiliency of regional and 

local water operations, particularly during future extended droughts that are expected as climate 

change continues to impact California. The CBP will allow more optimal management of a new 

local source of water that will reduce TDS concentrations to meet water quality requirements for 

the continued use of recycled water within the Chino Basin, improve groundwater storage and 

recovery operations, reduce dependence on imported water, and add redundancies in water 

delivery infrastructure that will facilitate future rehabilitation and replacement of existing major 

water supply pipelines and provide emergency water supply in response to catastrophic events. 

Evaluation and Comparison of Alternatives: The No Action Alternative is not a feasible 

alternative as it results in the Chino Basin being out of regulatory compliance, threatens water 

supply, and does not meet IEUA’s objectives. Therefore, the No Action alternative is not 

considered to be a feasible alternative by IEUA. 

The three alternatives identified above were evaluated by IEUA as part of a feasibility study 

prepared for the California Proposition 1 Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP). As part of 

this feasibility study, each alternative was evaluated for economic feasibility, technical 

feasibility, environmental feasibility, financial feasibility, along with constructability and an 

evaluation of how each alternative met the planning objectives identified by IEUA, as described 

above. Based on this evaluation, the CBP was identified as the preferred alternative. The CBP 

has been thoroughly vetted through WSIP and found to be a feasible project. 

3. Description of the Preferred Alternative 

The CBP was selected as the preferred alternative since it is the only alternative that meets the 

objectives previously identified above. 

Under the CBP, various program facilities were examined including the location of the AWPF, 

the number and locations of injection and extraction wells, the external sources of recycled water 

supply, the connections for pump-in to Metropolitan's water distribution system, and the ratio of 

direct pump-in to Metropolitan to in-lieu injection. The major components of the preferred 

combination are PUT facilities (i.e., those that recharge recycled water into the Chino Basin) and 

TAKE facilities (i.e., those that extract groundwater) for the CBP: 

• PUT facilities: 

o 15 MGD AWPF located at IEUA’s RP-4 

o 16 injection wells (12 active, 4 on standby) 

o Associated pipelines (~23 miles) and pump stations (2) 

• TAKE facilities: 

o 17 extraction wells 

o Associated pipelines (~27 miles), connections/turnouts (4), pump stations (2), and 

storage tank (5 million gallons) 

Page 9 of 23 
 

 

 

z 

z 

z 

:5 

ll. 

Agreements 

Environmental 

Documentation 

Compliance & 

Permitting 

Pre-final Design 

Program 

Management 

(planning) 

Final Design 

Bid 

Construction 

Program 

Management 

(construction) 

2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 

WELi., START UP AND AWPF START UP AND 

COMMISSIONING COMMISSIONING 

4. Project Schedule 

The CBP is currently in the planning and pre-final design phase. As shown in Figure 3, the 

planning activities included in this grant include development of agreements, environmental 

documentation, compliance and permitting activities, and pre-final design activities. Program 

management related to these planning activities will be performed concurrently over the planning 

period. Final design of the CBP components will follow a staggered schedule. Design of PUT 

components will begin in 2023 and continue into 2024. Design of TAKE components will occur 

between 2024 and late 2025. The bid process and construction will be initiated following final 

design. Major milestones for the project are included on Figure 3. 

Figure 3: Project Schedule 

Evaluation Criterion 2 - Stretching Water Supplies (20 points) 

1. Reducing the Need for New Non-Recycled Water Supplies 

As described further under Criterion 3, IEUA has a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 

System (NPDES) permit that governs TDS concentrations in recycled water effluent. Analysis 

performed by IEUA indicates that, without taking action, TDS limits for recycled water direct 

use and groundwater recharge may be exceeded within 10-years. In the event of non-compliance, 

assets would become stranded and IEUA would need to replace recycled water, which currently 

accounts for 20 percent of their water supply portfolio, with more expensive and/or less reliable 

sources such as imported water. Through implementation of an AWPF, the CBP secures recycled 

water as a resource within the region, reducing the need to secure new non-recycled water 

supplies. 

2. Alleviating Pressure on the Existing Water System 

As previously discussed, IEUA supplies water to the region through the Chino Basin and 

surrounding basins, local surface water from creeks, recycled water produced locally, and 

imported water. IEUA receives 45 percent of its water supplies from groundwater, 32 percent 

from imported water, 10 percent from recycled water, 10 percent from desalter product water, 

and 3 percent from stormwater and other local sources. A description of how existing water 

supplies will be impacted by the project are provided below. 

Groundwater: Groundwater quality poses a significant threat to local water supply reliability, 

which can be compounded as other supplies currently used for blending, such as imported water, 

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become less reliable. Further, groundwater supply is likely to be adversely impacted by climate 

change induced temperature increases and drought. The CBP will enhance groundwater levels 

and groundwater quality by recharging 15 TAFY of low TDS recycled water. Additional 

information on how the CBP will improve groundwater quality can be found in Criterion 3. 

Imported Water: As described in Criterion 1, the reliability of imported water is expected to 

decrease as a result of climate change. The CBP will allow more optimal management of a new 

local source of water that will reduce TDS concentrations to meet water quality requirements for 

the continued use of recycled water within the Chino Basin and improve groundwater storage 

and recovery operations, thus reducing dependence on imported water. 

Recycled Water: IEUA’s recycled water program has a number of benefits, including increasing 

use of the climate resilient water supply, enhancing groundwater quality, and reducing 

dependence on imported water. The continuation of this program and the realization of these 

benefits hinges on compliance with regulatory TDS limits. The CBP will improve recycled water 

quality by reducing the TDS concentration of the AWPF effluent by 100 mg/L, which will help 

maintain compliance for the long-term and improve recycled water reliability. Additional 

information on how the CBP will improve recycled water quality can be found in Criterion 3. 

3. How the Project Alleviates Regional Challenges 

The CBP will reduce reliance on imported water, enhance groundwater quality, and provide a 

source of emergency water supply that the region can use during emergency events. 

Reducing Reliance on Imported Water Supplies: The reliability of imported water supply has 

been severely impacted by recent extreme drought conditions. IEUA typically receives 30percent 

of its supplies from the SWP. In recent years, DWR has reduced allocations for requested SWP 

supplies as a direct result of drought conditions. In 2021, the initial allocation for the second time 

in recorded history was 0 percent, with only limited water made available for unmet human 

health and safety needs. The final allocation for 2021 was ultimately increased to 5 percent as a 

result of precipitation volumes but was followed by another 5 percent allocation in 2022. Climate 

change is expected to continue to significantly impact the timing and characteristics of 

snowpack, on which the SWP system depends. 

Recycled water is not subject to the variable seasonal rainfall, snowpack conditions, and drought 

that impact imported water supplies. This project enhances the existing recycled water system 

and enables IEUA to use more of this reliable resource within the region, reducing reliance on 

imported water supplies. The CBP will provide a new average annual recycled water supply of 

15 TAFY. As a result of the project, communities in the IEUA service area will enjoy access to 

increased water supplies that are much more resilient to future droughts and climate change. 

Alleviating Declining Groundwater Quality: The management of TDS is one of the primary 

water quality concerns in the Chino Basin. Use and recharge of recycled water in the Chino 

Basin hinges on compliance with a TDS limit of 420 mg/L. Current recycled water TDS 

concentrations are around 460 mg/L and requires being blended with imported water for 

groundwater recharge. Under the CBP, the effluent TDS concentration from the AWPF will be 

reduced by 100 mg/L. This low-TDS recycled water will be piped directly to the injection wells 

for groundwater recharge, which will help ensure water quality objectives are met and local 

groundwater is sustainable. 

Improving Emergency Water Supply during Natural Disasters: Given the great distances 

that imported water supplies travel to reach the Inland Empire, the region and the infrastructure 

that delivers the supplies are vulnerable to interruptions along hundreds of miles of aqueducts, 

pipelines, and other facilities. Unplanned or catastrophic occurrences may halt the supply of 

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these imported supplies, which represents over 30% of IEUA's water supply portfolio. New 

water stored by the CBP in the Chino Basin will enhance emergency response water supply 

availability for IEUA and other participating agencies during crises such as prolonged drought, 

or catastrophic events or other infrastructure failure that limits delivery of imported water 

supplies. The CBP would include provisions to provide stored water in the Chino Basin under 

emergency conditions to local agencies or regionally by utilizing Metropolitan’s water 

distribution system. 

4. Potential of the Project to Create Additional Flexibility to Drought 

Alternative water supply sources are more vulnerable to droughts. In comparison with the 

other primary supply sources of IEUA (local surface water, groundwater, and imported water), 

recycled water is the least vulnerable to drought. Local surface water and imported supplies are 

dependent on precipitation and temperature. Both are significantly influenced by dry years and 

extended droughts. Groundwater recharge from surface water sources is negatively impacted by 

warmer temperatures caused by climate change that increase water loss through 

evapotranspiration, reducing the amount of water available to naturally recharge from creeks and 

streams. Dry years and prolonged droughts will increase the pressure on all other supply sources. 

Recycled water is more drought resilient than other supply sources. Recycled water is more 

drought resilient as the volume of wastewater does not change significantly during different 

seasons of the year or from year to year. This is because it is produced from indoor water uses 

which do not change significantly with changes in weather. As a result, recycled water supplies 

do not decrease significantly during periods of drought. The use of recycled water therefore 

makes the region’s water supplies more resilient to future dry years and extended droughts. 

Evaluation Criterion 3-Environment and Water Quality (20 points) 

1. Potential of the Project to Improve the Quality of Surface Water and Groundwater 

Groundwater: The primary water quality constituent of concern in the Chino Basin is the 

management of TDS. IEUA must comply with TDS ambient groundwater quality objectives 

along with TDS limits specified in their groundwater recharge requirements from the Regional 

Water Quality Control Board to continue using recycled water in the region. In particular, 

ambient water quality in the Chino Basin along with groundwater recharge are limited to a TDS 

concentration of 420 mg/L, while TDS concentrations in recycled water effluent, which are 

governed by IEUA’s NPDES permit, are limited to 550 mg/L. 

Increasing TDS levels in recycled water have been exacerbated by climate change, conservation, 

and episodic periods of drought over the last twenty years. In 2015, there was a period where 

every month was setting a record-high recycled water TDS concentration. As a result, recycled 

water TDS approached the maximum effluent limit for recycled water (550 mg/L) in 2015, 

prompting IEUA to evaluate TDS trends in the region. The TDS evaluation demonstrated that 

TDS concentrations in recycled water are steadily increasing, and drought conditions and water 

conservation activities were exacerbating TDS concentrations. IEUA anticipates that recycled 

water recharge will increase by 23 percent between 2020 and 2045. As IEUA continues to 

recharge recycled water, and lower-TDS imported water that is used for blending with recycled 

water becomes less reliable, TDS concentrations in the Chino Basin are likely to rise. 

Integral to the CBP is an AWPF that will reduce the effluent TDS concentration by 100 mg/L, 

improving groundwater quality through the recharge of this recycled water. Furthermore, the 

lower TDS recycled water will be injected upgradient of locations in the basin where TDS 

concentrations hover at and above 2,000 mg/L. This will promote migration of the high TDS 

groundwater to a desalter well system to remove the TDS from the basin. 

Page 12 of 23 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surface water: Recycled water in the region is used in part to meet IEUA’s discharge obligation 

of 17 TAFY to the Santa Ana River. The Santa Ana River also has a TDS discharge limitation of 

550 mg/L. Along with improving the groundwater quality of the Chino Basin, the CBP will also 

improve the quality of the Santa Ana River by discharging low-TDS recycled water. 

2. Potential of the Project to Improve Effluent Quality 

As discussed above, IEUA evaluated TDS trends in the region in 2015 as a result of TDS 

concentrations nearing the NPDES permit limit of 550 mg/L. As part of this evaluation, IEUA 

analyzed future TDS concentrations for recycled water using statistical modeling techniques. 

This analysis suggested an average increase in TDS of 1.36 mg/L which would result in IEUA 

exceeding their permit limit by 2034. As previously noted, the CBP’s AWPF will reduce effluent 

TDS concentrations by 100 mg/L. 

3. Potential of the Project to Improve Flow Conditions in a Natural Stream Channel 

The CBP will provide statewide benefits through a water exchange with the SWP. The CBP 

would include a regional pipeline connecting CBP potable water facilities to the region to 

provide for up to 30 TAFY of in lieu use of CBP supplies, as well as connections to Metropolitan 

with the ability to pump up to 10 TAFY of CBP potable supplies into Metropolitan’s water 

distribution system. This in-lieu and direct pump-in use of CBP water supplies would allow the 

CBP to make 40 TAFY available to Metropolitan in drier years in exchange for the same amount 

of supply delivered by the SWP. In return, 40 TAFY that would otherwise have been exported to 

Metropolitan would be stored in Lake Oroville and used together with Delta carriage water 

savings to enhance instream flows in the Feather River. 

This exchange element would be in operation during the first 25 years of the CBP, administered 

through agreements with DWR, CDFW, and Metropolitan. Over the 25-year period, 375,000 

acre-feet of water would be available in Lake Oroville for ecosystem improvement in the Feather 

River. After the 25-year period, the full 15 TAFY of CBP supply would be available for local 

use, providing a new local water supply for the region. 

4. Potential of the Project to Restore or Enhance Habitat for Non-listed Fish and Wildlife 

Species 

By continuing to prioritize habitat restoration and enhancement as part of its mission, the CBP 

has the potential to make a lasting positive impact on the health and well-being of non-listed fish 

and wildlife species. Currently, excess treated water from Rialto is discharged into the Santa Ana 

River. During summer, the canal heats the water causing water discharge to the river as hot as 90 

○F. The temperature spikes within the river are detrimental to native fish and promote the 

invasion of non-native species. The Santa Ana River Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan 

has documented that significant ecological benefits to the river will accrue if recycled water 

discharges from the Rialto are reduced during warmer summer months while also maintaining 

minimum in-stream flow requirements. By diverting Rialto’s recycled water from the Santa Ana 

River to IEUA during the summer months, the CBP will reduce adverse effects on native species 

and enhance habitat in the Santa Ana River. 

5. Potential of the Project to Provide Water for Federally Listed Threatened/Endangered 

Species 

The CBP water exchange will encompass a capacity to use this new local water supply to support 

an exchange of 50 TAFY “call” for water in dry and critical years, for up to three consecutive 

years, that would be delivered from Lake Oroville to be used to enhance instream flows in the 

Feather River, providing ecosystem benefits during an extended dry period. Releases of this 

magnitude equate to an increase of instream flows in the low flow channel of the Feather River 

Page 13 of 23 
 

 

 

 

 

by 2,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) per day (baseflow is approximately 800 cfs). These releases 

would be designed to improve the survival rate of emigrating juvenile spring-run Chinook 

salmon. The proposed ecosystem benefit also pledges to work with resource agencies to alter the 

location of spring-run Chinook smolt releases to a point further upstream. This would increase 

natal imprinting which in turn decreases adult stray rates upon return. While the releases will 

target spring-run Chinook salmon other federally listed species would also benefit. Specifically, 

pulse releases would provide migratory cues for steelhead, increase forage opportunities for 

rearing steelhead and green sturgeon, increase access to floodplain habitat, and decrease 

predation by nonnative species. These benefits are specifically identified in federal planning 

documents as priority recovery actions to improve habitat and survival rates for these federally 

listed species. 

This exchange element will be in operation during the first 25-years, administered through 

agreements with DWR, CDFW, Metropolitan, and other project partners. The total exchange 

commitment is 375,000 acre-feet at the end of the 25-year period. Afterwards, this water will be 

available for local use, therefore reducing dependence on imported water, improving water 

quality, and providing a new local water supply for the Basin. 

6. Potential of the Project to Provide Indirect Benefits 

In addition to the ecosystem and water quality benefits discussed above, the project will also 

improve groundwater levels and reduce subsidence, reduce wildfire risks, and improve water 

supply resiliency. 

Reduce wildfire risks by preventing dryness and providing adequate water for firefighting: 

Drought conditions can result in decreased soil moisture, causing vegetation to dry out and 

increasing risk of wildfires. Studies have indicated that wildfires are more likely to occur in the 

project area in the future because of climate change. This project aims to utilize climate-resilient 

recycled water to diversify its water supply. By providing adequate water to the landscape, the 

project will reduce the dryness of vegetation during droughts as well as enhance the supply of 

water for firefighting. 

Water Supply Resiliency: According to California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment Report, 

changes in precipitation and snowpack (especially Eastern Sierra snowpack) will affect water 

availability in watersheds that provide imported water to the region. Additionally, climate 

change-induced temperature increases, and droughts are likely to adversely affect groundwater 

storage in the basin. Moreover, given the great distances that imported supplies travel to reach 

the Inland Empire, the region is vulnerable to interruptions along hundreds of miles of aqueducts, 

pipelines, and other facilities associated with delivering the supplies to the region. IEUA’s 

imported water supply is delivered through the Rialto Feeder and alternative options for delivery 

of imported supplies are not available for IEUA and its agencies. Additionally, earthquakes and 

other natural disasters can damage this infrastructure, resulting in water supply interruptions. 

Recycled water is the region’s most climate resilient water supply because the amount of water 

available is not affected by dry years. By enhancing recycled water and groundwater recharge 

programs, this project will reduce dependence on imported water and enhance regional water 

supply reliability and resilience. The CBP will also enhance the resilience of groundwater quality 

by utilizing advanced water treatment and recharging high-quality recycled water. 

Evaluation Criterion 4 - Department of the Interior Priorities (15 points) 

1. Climate Change and Impacts on the Region 

Climate change is expected to result in warmer summer temperatures in California. Due to 

warmer temperatures, evaporation increases, resulting in decreased surface waters and drier soils 

Page 14 of 23 
 

 

 

 

-

80-------------------

and vegetation. Thus, periods with low precipitation become drier than they would be under 

cooler conditions. The California Fourth Climate Assessment states that “future increases in 

temperature, regardless of whether total precipitation goes up or down, will likely cause longer 

and deeper California droughts, posing major problems for water supplies, natural ecosystems, 

and agriculture.” More frequent, severe, and long-lasting droughts are already becoming 

apparent. Recently, the 2012–2016 California drought led to the most severe moisture deficits in 

the last 1,200 years and a 1-in-500-year low in Sierra snowpack. 90 

storical - observed LI- ri

-

Hi Histo ca l - observed 88 

-

Historical - modeled range ID 70 .t::. - Historica l - modeled range 

~ 86 RCP4.5 average u RCP4.5 average 

~ §. 60 .5 average :;; B4 RCP8 RCP8.5 average 

a. RCP4.5 range 62 " 0 

E RCP8 .5 range ~ 50 

!I ·15. BO 

E " "' 78 ~ 40 a. 

~ 76 15, 30 

C: ~ 74 "' ~ 

"' 20 72 ~ "iii 

~ " 70 § 10 <( 

" 68 +----r------.--,--,----r----,---+ 

1960 1980 2000 2020 2040 2060 2080 2100 1980 2000 2020 2040 2060 2080 2100 

(a) (b) 

Figure 4: Historical and projected climate of the LA region (a) annual average maximum 

temperature, and (b) annual average precipitation. Source: California Fourth Climate 

Assessment. 

Projected Changes in Regional Precipitation & Temperatures: Regional temperatures in the 

IEUA service area, and indeed across California, are projected to increase as a result of climate 

change. Figure 4 illustrates the historical and projected future annual average maximum 

temperatures and annual average precipitation in the Los Angeles region based on RCP4.5 and 

RCP8.5 emission scenarios. Under RCP4.5 scenario, temperatures will increase approximately 

4.4 degrees F by mid-century (2035-2064) and 5.5 degrees F by the end of the century (2070-

2099). Similarly, under RCP8.5 scenarios, temperatures will increase approximately 5.3 degrees 

F by mid-century and 9.1 degrees F by the end of the century (Figure 4(a)). On the other hand, 

compared to the region's large historical variability, model projections indicate small changes in 

mean precipitation (positive or negative) (Figure 4(b)). It is expected that dry and wet extremes 

will both increase in the future, despite small changes in average precipitation. In the late 21st 

century, there is a possibility that the frequency of extremely dry years will double or more in 

southern California. 

Projected Changes in Regional Drought: Climate studies have indicated that the extremely dry 

conditions will continue to occur in Southern California under future conditions. CAL-Adapt 

(cal-adapt.org), which was jointly developed by the University of California, Berkeley, the 

California Energy Commission, and the California Strategic Growth Council, provides historical 

and projected drought durations in California. 

A multi-scale drought index, the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), 

was used to identify, monitor, and analyze future droughts. A SPEI reflects the combined impact 

of potential evapotranspiration and precipitation deficits on soil moisture. Drought duration is 

calculated by using the number of months in a year with a SPEI <= -1. For San Bernardino 

County, CA, during the baseline historical period (1961-1990), the duration of the drought was 

estimated as ~6 days. Per California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, the average drought 

duration is projected to increase by 18-days at mid-century (2035-2064) and 21-days by late 

Page 15 of 23 
 

 

 

 

 

 

century (2070-2099) under medium emission RCP4.5 scenarios compared to the historic baseline 

period. Using high emission RCP8.5 scenario, the average drought duration is projected to 

increase by 24-days at mid-century and by 39-days by late century. 

Climate Change impacts on demand and supply: More intense storm events and the changing 

frequency and duration of drought years are becoming evident throughout the State. This makes 

future water supplies available to the region more uncertain, particularly imported water 

supplies. The Eastern Sierra's snowpack is expected to decrease as a result of climate change in 

the future. This will result in a reduction in the availability of imported water during the late 

summer and early fall. Furthermore, more frequent occurrences of high temperatures and low 

precipitation will result in a decrease in groundwater recharge and streamflow. 

High temperatures and low precipitation will increase the evaporative demand in the region. 

IEUA developed a regional water demand forecast model as part of their 2015 Integrated 

Resources Plan (IRP). By 2040, IEUA estimates that one dry year could increase demand by 

5.6%. A longer period of dry weather (3‐years) could increase demand by 8.9%. 

2. How Will the CBP Help Combat the Climate Crisis in the Region? 

Climate change will likely lead to a reduction in the availability of imported water supplies and a 

decrease in local surface and groundwater supplies. Additionally, frequent and more intense 

droughts can result in increased salinity levels in the topsoil and aquifer, adversely impacting 

groundwater quality. Moreover, considering the current hot, dry conditions of this region, 

increases in temperatures may result in a significant increase in water demand. 

Recent droughts in the IEUA service area have forced strict restrictions on water use for local 

communities. For the IEUA service area, drought response measures such as increasing 

groundwater pumping and restricted water use are not sustainable in the long term. Further, local 

water agencies are required to enhance their water treatment processes to maintain compliance 

with drinking water standards. The added costs of sourcing and treating water are passed on to 

the community in the form of water price increases. Water rate hikes are more detrimental to 

disadvantaged communities than to wealthier communities. As climate change increases the 

uncertainty of other water supplies, recycled water becomes an increasingly important resource. 

The CBP aims to provide flexibility during future extended droughts that are expected to affect 

the region because of climate change. 

The CBP will help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on the regional water supply 

and water quality, as well as on the ecosystem of Northern California. 

• Overall, the CBP will improve regional sustainability and resiliency of the water supply 

in the Chino Basin by utilizing recycled water sources that are independent of climate 

change and the variability of California hydrology. Therefore, IEUA will become less 

reliant on imported water supplies that are vulnerable to climate change. Furthermore, the 

CBP will reduce the need for water use restrictions during droughts, reduce the need for 

drought-related water rate hikes, and reduce the burden placed on disadvantaged 

communities during droughts. 

• The AWPF integral to the CBP will reduce effluent TDS concentrations by 100 mg/L. As 

previously noted, compliance with TDS limits governs the future use of recycled water, 

thus this project will help to ensure the use of this reliable resource into the future. By 

recharging this high-quality recycled water, the CBP will also enhance groundwater 

quality. 

• Moreover, the CBP will also provide benefit to ecosystems in northern California during 

dry and critical dry years by reserving a volume of water in Lake Oroville that would 

normally be conveyed to southern California. 

Page 16 of 23 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Disadvantaged Communities 

The goal of the E.O. 14008 Justice 40 initiative is to provide 40 percent of federal overall 

benefits of certain Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, 

underserved, and overburdened by pollution. Portions of the IEUA service area qualify as 

disadvantaged based on the following measures as outlined in E.O. 14008 Justice 40 initiative: 

Indicator A and B. Low income, high poverty, and high unemployment 

The most recently available GIS-based income data for the entire IEUA service area indicates 

that over 12% of the households in the IEUA service area live below the Federal Poverty 

Guidelines as of 2018. However, this value may not accurately reflect the levels of poverty in the 

IEUA service area since California has a higher cost of living than other states. The 

CalEnviroScreen tool developed by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard 

Assessment (OEHHA) indicator sets the poverty line at twice the federal poverty level to account 

for the actual cost of living cost in California. Using the CalEnvironScreen definition, 

approximately 32.5% of people in the IEUA service area were living below California poverty 

level in 2018. 

As of 2020, over 85% of census tracts in the IEUA service area have average per capita incomes 

less than $35,384 (the 2020 US Average). 

In 2018, the average unemployment rate across census tracts in the IEUA service area was 

5.69%. As a function of the entire population of IEUA, the average unemployment rate was 

5.54%, which is significantly higher than the nationwide 2018 average of 3.8%. 

Indicator C and D. Racial and ethnic residential segregation and Linguistic isolation 

As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the population for San Bernardino County was 2,181,654, more 

than half of whom are Latino. It is the fifth-most populous county in California and the 14thmost populous in the United States. 

The US Census Bureau reported in 2018 that the IEUA service area is composed of 58.65% 

Hispanic and Latinx communities. The San Bernardino 2020 Community Health Report reported 

that in 2019, the Cities of Ontario and Fontana were comprised of 70.6% and 71.4% Hispanic 

residents, respectively, where 51.3% of households in these two cities spoke Spanish primarily at 

home. 

Indicator G. High transportation cost burden and/or low transportation access 

California gas price have been recorded as the highest in the nation. Current gas prices in the 

state average to around $4.60 per gallon as compared to the US average of $3.40 as reported by 

American Automobile Association (AAA). An alternative to driving is taking public transit. 

OmniTrans is the public transit agency serving the San Bernardino Valley that offers affordable, 

reliable, and safe transportation. Select communities in the IEUA service area also offer other 

limited forms of public transportation (for example, the City of Fontana offers a ride sharing 

program for senior citizens limited to Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 5:00PM). Given 

high gas prices and limited access to transportation, these factors further economic stresses for 

portions of the IEUA service area. 

Indicator H. Disproportionate environmental stressor burden and high cumulative impacts 

Portions of the IEUA service area experience high levels of air pollution due to the high 

concentration of vehicle traffic on major roadways and highways including Interstate Highway I15. These areas include the cities of Fontana, Ontario, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, and Chino. 

For example, according to the CalEnviroScreen tool, the City of Fontana ranks in the 86th 

percentile of communities with high levels of environmental pollution including Ozone (97%), 

PM 2.5 (89%), Lead in Housing (81%), Diesel Particulate Matter (79%), Toxic Releases (76%) 

Page 17 of 23 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and exposure to contaminated cleanup sites (73%). Exposure to pollution can affect the longterm health of residents and can increase the financial burden on low-income communities who 

have limited access to healthcare. 

Indicator I: Limited water and sanitation access and affordability 

According to the US Drought Monitor, San Bernardino County has reported drought conditions 

ranging from moderate to exceptional drought. The drought emergency throughout San 

Bernardino County and the state of California has resulted in recent water restrictions limiting 

outdoor water use to one day a week effective as of June 1, 2022. 

Indicator J. Disproportionate impacts from climate change 

The Federal Emergency Management agency (FEMA) national risk index is an indicator of 

disproportional climate change. At a national level, the FEMA measures the level of risk by 

examining the expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. San 

Bernardino County is rated at 54.40 as compared to the California average of 28.10 and national 

average of 10.60. As such, San Bernardino County is categorized as very high since the county is 

nearly 5 times higher than the average of national hazard risk. 

Tribal Benefits – the project does not directly serve and/or benefit a tribe, improve water 

management for an Indian Tribe, support Tribal resilience to climate change and drought impacts 

or provide or Tribal benefits. 

Evaluation Criterion 5—Watershed Perspective and Stakeholder Involvement (15 Points) 

1. Will the Proposed Project Implement a Regional or State Water Plan or an Integrated 

Resource Management Plan? Explain. 

The CBP combines various projects that will allow the region to meet the needs identified in the 

regional planning efforts conducted by IEUA in conjunction with its member agencies. These 

regional planning efforts enable IEUA to better prepare for the region’s future water needs. Each 

planning report is backed by technical studies and supporting documentation to ensure regional 

planning efforts are well informed. Through these planning documents IEUA has identified 

future needs that the agency must meet in order to continue its track record of providing reliable, 

clean, and sustainable water to the region. 

The CBP is designed to address the critical needs identified by these planning efforts, including 

developing local supplies to reduce dependency on uncertain imported water supplies; 

strengthening the region’s water supply portfolio to be more resilient to the impacts of climate 

change on water reliability; implementing needed advanced water treatment to help meet TDS 

regulatory limitations into the future; and provide environmental benefits to natural populations 

and habitats. 

As previously discussed in Criterion 3, IEUA neared their NPDES permit limit for TDS in 2015 

and subsequently performed an evaluation that demonstrated that TDS concentrations in recycled 

water were steadily increasing, as drought conditions and water conserving activities were 

exacerbating TDS concentrations. IEUA considering these findings as it was completing its 2015 

IRP. IEUA identified that an AWPF would be needed as part of its long-term IRP 

implementation, and along with local partners, developed long-term plans to implement the 

AWPF with various new infrastructure to increase resiliency and sustainability of regional water 

to help meet future needs. Furthermore, the new infrastructure was packaged into the CBP and 

are addressed in IEUA’s ten-year forecast (TYF) Capital Improvements Plan. The CBP provides 

an opportunity to implement critical long-term project components of these plans, addressing 

local, regional, and potentially statewide and federal water resources management issues. 

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The CBP helps mitigate future water shortages by providing a local alternative to imported water 

supplies from the SWP and provides a subsurface reserve of groundwater for local use. This 

enhances the current reliability of local groundwater supplies for a rapidly growing population 

and is an integral part of local water supply planning. 

2. Will the Proposed Project Help Meet the Water Supply Needs of a Large Geographic Area, 

Region, or Watershed? Explain. 

IEUA has developed a diverse portfolio of water supplies within IEUA’s service area. As 

previously noted, the region relies on groundwater from the Chino Basin and other basins 

(Cucamonga, Rialto, Lytle Creek, Colton, and the Six Basins groundwater basins), local surface 

water from creeks originating in the San Gabriel Mountains, recycled water produced locally, 

and imported water from the State Water Project via Metropolitan. 

Recycled water is an increasingly essential resource for the region particularly with the uncertain 

future of imported water supplies due to climate change and environmental factors. Recycled 

water is the region’s most climate resilient water supply because the amount of water available is 

not affected by dry years. Today, recycled water makes up approximately 20 percent of IEUA’s 

water supply portfolio and hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested into the regional 

recycled water program. 

The CBP is designed to help the region move beyond traditional water management practices 

and into a new era of water use optimization. The project is widely viewed as a progressive 

project that provides a reliable and resilient water supply to southern California while also 

providing much needed environmental benefits to northern California. The CBP promotes 

proactive investment in managing the water quality of the Chino Basin and in meeting regional 

water supply reliability needs in the face of climate change, while leveraging California’s 

interregional plumbing system and the Chino Basin’s future potential for water recycling to 

produce benefits to local, State, and federal interest. 

The CBP provides 15 TAFY in local supplies which can be used to augment the region’s water 

supply portfolio. The CBP would enhance the use of recycled water at a local level through new 

regional pipelines enabling greater access to recycled water. The CBP expands groundwater 

storage and provides a new source of water (advanced treated recycled water) that increases 

operational flexibility, local and state-wide benefits, and reduces impacts to the local 

groundwater basin. Local groundwater supplies are enhanced through the installation of injection 

wells for storing the recycled water, and additional extraction wells through the installation of 

new wells and wellhead treatment systems that would bring existing out-of-service wells back 

online. The recycled water that is banked in the groundwater system can be used to augment the 

water supply portfolio during unplanned or catastrophic events. The CBP will be developed to 

provide flexibility to regional and local water operations, particularly during future extended 

droughts expected as climate change continues to impact California. 

3. Will the Proposed Project Promote Collaborative Partnerships to Address Water-Related 

Issues? Explain. Describe Stakeholder Involvement in the Project Planning Process. 

The development of the CBP, from the original IRP planning documents, has been driven by 

stakeholder meetings with local retail and wastewater agencies to identify regional priorities and 

needs. By increasing additional available groundwater supplies in the adjudicated Chino Basin 

through increased water recycling and storage, and then dedicating a like amount of water for 

environmental flow purposes, the CBP provides a compelling example of a collaborative, 

conjunctive use storage project. 

Page 19 of 23 
The CBP will strengthen partnerships among local agencies that participate in the project and 

offer an opportunity for local agencies to coalesce around the future of the Chino Basin. Today, 

the CBP partners include CVWD, FWC, Metropolitan, City of Rialto, and JCSD. Stakeholder 

engagement continues with the larger region and CBP supporters (see response to prompt 

below). The proposed CBP is also uniquely designed to deliver public benefits including a highly 

reliable, dedicated environmental water supply to benefit Bay Delta instream flows, as well as 

enhance water supply reliability and improve water quality for water users in Southern 

California. Partnerships between local agencies, Metropolitan, DWR, CDFW, and the U.S. 

Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) will also be essential to the success of the project and 

offer a framework for future improved collaboration. 

Consistent with Governor Newsom’s Water Resilience Portfolio Initiative, responsible public 

water agencies across California, like IEUA and its CBP Program, are adding resiliency to meet 

their future water needs by diversifying their water management portfolios through investment in 

a variety of water use efficiency and supplemental local supply programs and projects. 

4. Will the Proposed Project Include Public Outreach and Opportunities for the Public to Learn 

About the Project? Explain. 

The CBP is meant to address the rising demand for urban water and the increasing drought 

conditions that are projected to drive unmet water demands up to 21 percent higher by 2040. 

IEUA has developed the CBP in collaboration and participation with 6 partner agencies and 15 

supporters including regional agencies, cities, non-profits organizations, and community service 

organizations. IEUA understands the need for effective communication and intends to continue 

its robust multi-year outreach program, which includes the following: 

• Actively engaging with interested parties and CBP partners through one-on-one meetings, 

presentations to special committees and boards, workshops, correspondence letters, news 

briefs, and web postings. 

• Joint outreach to provide policy-related leadership and to develop broad regional coalitions, 

statewide and national partnerships, and help secure needed policy changes and agreements. 

For instance, an Ad Hoc Committee was formed to develop regional perspectives on the 

California’s Governor’s executive order to develop a resilient water portfolio for California. 

The Ad Hoc Committee discussed their findings with local and state leaders. 

• Participation in and support of annual conferences, such as the Association of California 

Water Agencies (ACWA) conferences. 

• Regular engagement with trade groups, such as the Building & Construction Trades Council 

of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties and the Southwest Mountain States Regional 

Council of Carpenters. 

• Engagement with local businesses, council, environmental, and community groups through a 

“road show” presentations, website, and monitored questions and answers hotline. 

Project Budget 

Funding Plan 

In 2018, IEUA was conditionally awarded $206,900,000 for the CBP by the California Water 

Commission (CWC) through the Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP). This award was 

increased for inflation in 2022 to $215,265,405. Requests for “early” funding were to be made in 

the application process. However, in July 2020, the CWC approved emergency regulations to 

allow a second round of early funding applications for those projects that had not received early 

funding previously. Emergency regulations were approved and IEUA made an early funding 

Page 20 of 23 
 

 

 

 

request to the CWC in April 2021 in the amount of $8,919,000, or 4 percent of their conditional 

award. A funding agreement was subsequently executed between IEUA and CWC in the amount 

of $8,919,000 in March 2022. This early funding serves as the non-Federal cost share for this 

grant application. The early funding agreement between the CWC and IEUA is provided in lieu 

of a letter of funding commitment. 

Letters of Commitment 

As described above, the early funding agreement between the CWC and IEUA is provided in lieu 

of a letter of funding commitment. 

Budget Proposal 

The summary of non-federal and federal funding sources is provided in Table 3 and the total 

projects costs are summarized in Table 4. The total estimated cost for the planning and predesign activities included over the October 31, 2023, to October 31, 2025 planning period is 

$11,373,412, of which IEUA is committed to providing $8,530,059 as a non-federal match. 

Project funding will be provided by IEUA as described under the funding plan. Funding from 

other sources other than Reclamation will not be requested. 

Table 3: Summary of Non-Federal and Federal Funding Sources 

Funding Sources Amount 

Non-Federal Entities 

1. IEUA $8,530,059 

Non-Federal Subtotal $8,530,059 

REQUESTED Reclamation funding $2,843,353 

Table 4: Total Project Costs 

Source Amount 

Costs to be reimbursed with the requested 

Federal funding $2,843,353 

Costs to be paid by the applicant $8,530,059 

TOTAL Project Cost $11,373,412 

Budget Narrative 

The budget narrative can be found in the Budget Detail and Narrative spreadsheet attached to 

this application. 

Required Permits or Approvals 

IEUA has extensive experience working with agencies that have jurisdiction over individual 

projects constructed in the region. Agencies that IEUA anticipates will have jurisdiction over the 

CBP and the associated permits/approvals are provided below: 

• Title 22 engineering reports for recycled water use (for the City of Rialto, WRCRWA, 

and IEUA) 

Page 21 of 23 
 

Summary 

6. Budget Object Category Total Cost 

Federal 

Estimated 

Amount 

Non-Federal 

Estimated 

Amount 

a. Personnel $886,195 

b. Fringe Benefits $459,839 

c. Travel $0 

d. Equipment $0 

e. Supplies $0 

f. Contractual $7,681,200 

g. Construction $0 

h. Other Direct Costs $0 

i. Total Direct Costs $9,027,234 

i. Indirect Charges $2,346,178 

Total Costs $11,373,412 $2,843,353 $8,530,059 

Cost Share Percentage 25% 75% 
 

 

 

• An update to IEUA's, the City of Rialto's, and WRCRWA's waste discharge 

requirements 

• Section 1707 water rights changes (DWR, Metropolitan, IEUA) 

• SWRCB Division of Drinking Water groundwater replenishment reuse project permit 

(IEUA) 

• Section 408 permit with U.S. Army Corps of Engineer 

• Permits to construct and operate with the South Coast Air Quality Management District 

• Service agreements with Southern California Edison 

• Permits with Los Angeles County Sanitation District for brine discharge 

• Petroleum line cross permits and railroad crossing licenses 

• Encroachment and traffic control permits with cities, counties, and Caltrans 

IEUA is in the process of developing a permitting plan and regulatory strategy for the CBP and 

its components. This permitting plan and regulatory strategy will further refine the major 

required permits/approvals for the CBP along with the associated timing and schedule 

requirements. 

Official Resolution 

See Attachment 1 for a signed, certified copy of Resolution No. 2023-2-1. 

Letters of Support 

IEUA has included five letters of support with this application, shown in Attachment 2: 

• City of Rialto 

• Cucamonga Valley Water District 

• Fontana Water Company 

• Jurupa Community Services District 

• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California 

Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement (recommended) 

There is not any overlap between the proposed project and any other active or anticipated 

proposals or projects in terms of activities, costs, or commitment of key personnel. The proposal 

submitted for consideration under this program is not in any way duplicative of any proposal or 

project that has been or will be submitted for funding consideration to any other potential 

funding source—whether it be Federal or non-Federal. 

Uniform Audit Reporting Statement (recommended) 

IEUA was required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year. The 

Employer Identification Number associated with that report is 95-6004609. The Single Audit 

report is available through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse website. 

Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement (recommended) 

No actual or potential conflict of interest exists at the time of submission. IEUA will continue to 

take appropriate steps to avoid conflicts of interest in its responsibilities under or with respect to 

Federal financial assistance agreements. IEUA will continue to establish and enforce internal 

controls that include procedures to identify, disclose, and mitigate or eliminate identified 

conflicts of interest. IEUA will notify the Financial Assistance Officer in writing of any conflicts 

of interest that may arise during the life of the award, including those that have been reported by 

subrecipients. 

Page 22 of 23 
Attachment No. 1: Resolution
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-2-1 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE INLAND EMPIRE 

UTILITIES AGENCY*, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, 

CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZ.ING THE INLAND EMPIRE 

UTILITIES AGENCY TO PASS A RESOLUTION 

AUTHORIZING ENTERING INTO A FUNDING AGREEMENT 

UNDER THE WATERSMART: WATER RECYCLING AND 

DESALINATION PLANNING PROGRAM WITH THE U.S. 

D.EPARTMENT OF INTERIOR - BUREAU OF RECLAMATION 

AND DESIGNATING A REPRESENTATIVE TO EXECUTE 

THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT, AND ANY 

AMENDMENTS THERETO 

WHEREAS, the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation under 

the WaterSMART \1/ater Recycling and Desalination Planning Grant Program will make funding 

available to qualifying applicants; and 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency has identified 

projects that exemplify the o~jectives ofthe Water Recycling and Desalination Planning Program; 

and 

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Inland Empire Utilities Agency is hereby authorized to enter 

into a financial assistance agreement under the Water Recycling and Desalination Planning 

Program; and 

BE IT RESOLVED, the General Manager has reviewed and supports the application 

being submitted; and 

BE IT RESOLVED, that the General Manager, or his designee(s), is hereby authorized 

and designated to sign, for and on behalf of the Agency, the funding agreement for the Water 

Recycling and Desalination Planning Program and any amendments thereto; and 

BE IT RESOLVED, that the General Manager, or his designee(s), is hereby authorized 

and designated to represent the Agency in carrying out the Agency's responsibilities wider the 

funding agreement, including cettifying invoices and disbursement requests for Project costs on 

behalf of the Agency and compliance with applicable state and federal laws. 

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Inland Empire Utilities Agency is capable of providing the 

amount of funding and/or in-kind contributions specified in the grant application funding plan; 

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Inland Empire Utilities Agency will work with the Bureau 

of Reclamation to meet established deadlines for entering into a cooperative agreement, and; 
<..-' t,,-

Marco Tule 

President of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency* 

and the 

Board ofDirectors thereof 

ATTEST: 

,~lfu!-1 

Secretaryffreasurer ofthe Inland Empire 

Utilities Agency* and of the Board of 

Directors Thereof 
CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution No. 2023-2-1 was adopted at a regular meeting on 

February 15, 2023, ofsaid Board by the following vote: 

A YES: Camacho, Elie, Hall, Hofer, Tule 

NOES: None 

ABSTAIN: None 

ABSENT: None 

Secretary/Treasurer ofthe Inland Empire 

Utilities Agency* and ofthe Board of 

Directors thereof 

(SEAL) 

* A Municipal Water District 

The undersigned ,;ortifies that this is a true 

copy as on file in t:ia pormanen,t re~ords 

of the Agency. This stamp mus, be ,n 

purple 

Inland E

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City of Rialto 

California 

150 South Palm Avenue • Rialto, California 92376 

February 21, 2023 

United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) 

Financial Assistance Operations Section 

Attn: NOFO Team 

P.O. Box 25007, MS 84-27133 

Denver, CO 80225 

Re: Letter of Support for Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA)

 Water Recycling and Desalination Planning Grant 

Dear Bureau of Reclamation: 

The City of Rialto is pleased to support the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA)’s application 

for the USBR Water Recycling and Desalination Planning Grant. The Grant provides critical 

funding for the Chino Basin Advanced Treated Recycled Water, Storage, and Production Project 

for the development of the Chino Basin Program (CBP). 

The CBP is a water exchange banking program that treats and stores currently inaccessible, unused 

local recycled water supplies in the regional groundwater basin to increase water reliability for 

CBP participating agencies and their partners. This program is receiving partial funding from the 

California Water Commission in recognition of the public benefits that will accrue by 

implementing the CBP, including ecosystem improvement, water quality improvement, and 

emergency response. The CBP will develop local infrastructure, including a 15 million gallon per 

day Advanced Water Purification Facility for indirect potable reuse injection wells to store 15,000 

acre-feet of water each year, extraction wells, and conveyance facilities. Together, this new 

infrastructure will support the region’s long-term local resiliency by increasing operational 

flexibility and reliability. 

The City of Rialto looks forward to continuing our long history of cooperation and collaboration 

as we seek to bring the CBP to fruition. 

Thank you for your consideration, should you have any questions regarding my support, please 

feel free to contact me at (909) 820-2689. 
 

150 South Palm Avenue • Rialto, California 92376 

Deborah Robertson 

Mayor 

Respectfully, 

cc: Shivaji Deshmukh, General Manager, IEUA 

Elizabeth Hurst, Chino Basin Program Manager, IEUA 
~ -

.£. .£, Cucamonga Valley® 

~ ater District --------I-0-44_0_ A-sh_fo_r_d_S_t_re_e_t,-R-a-nc_h_o_C_u_c_a_m_o_ng_a_, _C_A_9_1_7_3-0-2-79_9___ 

P.O. Box 638, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729-0638 

Se,vice Beyond Expectation (909) 987-2591 Fax (909) 476-8032 

John Bosler 

Secretary/General Manager/CEO 

February 15, 2023 

Bureau of Reclamation 

Financial Assistance Operations Section 

Attn: NOFO Team 

P.O. Box 25007, MS 84-27133 

Denver, CO 80225 

To Whom it May Concern: 

Cucamonga Valley Water District is pleased to support the Chino Basin Advanced Treated Recycled Water, 

Storage, and Production Project for the development of the Chino Basin Program (CBP). Collaborating on 

projects and agreements to develop regional water supplies and benefits for the Chino Groundwater Basin is 

essential, and we continue to seek new opportunities to help maximize the availability and beneficial use of 

limited water supplies. 

The CBP is a water exchange banking program that treats and stores currently inaccessible, unused local 

recycled water supplies in the regional groundwater basin to increase water reliability for CBP participating 

agencies and their partners. This program is receiving partial funding from the California Water Commission in 

recognition of the public benefits that will accrue by implementing the CBP, including ecosystem improvement, 

water quality improvement, and emergency response. The CBP includes developing local infrastructure, 

including a 15 million gallon per day Advanced Water Purification Facility for indirect potable re-use, injection 

wells to store 15,000 acre-feet ofwater each year, extraction wells, and conveyance facilities.Together, this new 

infrastructure will support the region's long-term local resiliency by increasing operational flexibility and 

reliability. 

We support IEUA's application for the USBR Water Recycling and Desalination Planning Grant as this will 

provide critical funding in support ofthe on-going planning and design ofthe CBP. The CBP will help to support 

the region's resiliency and growth through the development of a new, local water supplies. We look forward to 

continuing our long history of cooperation and collaboration as we seek to bring the CBP to fruition. 

Sincerely, 

~~ John Bosler 

Secretary/ General Manager/CEO 

Randall James Reed 

President 

Mark Gibboney 

Vice President 

James V . Curatalo, Jr. 

Director 

Kevin Kenley 

Director 

Jimmie Moffatt 

Director 
PONT.AN1A WATJ![R COM PAN'Y A DIVISION OF $AN GABRIEL VAllEY WA T ER COMP A NY 

15966 ARROW ROUTE • P.O . BOX 987. FONTANA. CALIFORNIA 92334 • (909) 822-2201 

February 16, 2023 

Bureau of Reclamation 

Financial Assistance Operations Section 

Attn: NOFO Team 

P.O. Box 25007, MS 84-27133 

Denver, Colo rado 80225 

Subject: Letter ofSupport 

IEUA Application for USBR Water Recycling and Desalination 

Planning Grant 

To Whom It May Concern: 

Fontana Water Company is pleased to suppo rt the Chino Basin Advanced Treated 

Recycled Water, Storage, and Production Project for the development of the Chino Basin 

Program (CBP). Collaborating on projects and agreements to develop regional water supplies 

and benefits for the Chino Groundwater Basin is essential, and ,ve continue to seek new 

opportunities to help max.imize the availability and beneficial use oflimited water supplies. 

The CBP is a water exchange-banking program that treats and stores cmrcntly 

inaccessible, wmsed local recycled water supplies in tl1c regional groundwater basin to increase 

water reliability for CBP participating agencies and their partners. Th.is progr:im is receiving 

partial funding from the CaJiforni:i Water Commission in recognition of the public benefits 

tlut will accrue by implementing the CBP, including ecosystem improvement, water gu:ility 

improvement, and emergency response. The CBP includes developing local infrastructure, 

including :i 15 miJlion g:illon per d:iy Advanced Water Purificatio n Facility for indirect pot:ible 

re-use, injection wells to store 15,000 acre-feet of w:iter each ye:ir, extr:iction wells, and 

conveyance facilities. TogetJ1er, this new infr:istructure will support the region's long-term 

local resiliency by incre:ising oper:itional flexibility and reliability. 

Font:ina Water Company supports IEUA's application for tJ1e USBR Water Recycling 

:ind Desali.n:ition Planning Grant as t11is will provide critic:il fu.ndi.ng in support ofthe on-going 

planning and design of the CBP. The CBP will help to support the region's resiliency and 

growth through tl1e development of:i new, local water supply. We look forw:ird to continuing 

om coopcr:ition and collaboration :is we seek to bring tJ1e CBP to fruition. 

Vice President - Operations 

JMS:bf 
 

Board of Directors 

Lupe R. Nava, President 

Bart Moreno, Vice President 

Betty Folsom, Director 

Anthony Herda, Director 

Kenneth J. McLaughlin, Director 

~•,. Jurupa 

COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT 

Proudly serving Jurupa Valley and Eastvale 

11201 Harrel St. Jurupa Valley, CA 91752 www.JCSD.us (951) 727-3524 

February 15, 2023 

Bureau of Reclamation 

Financial Assistance Operations Section 

Attn: NOFO Team 

P.O. Box 25007, MS 84-27133 

Denver, CO 80225 

Re: Support for Inland Empire Utilities Agency’s (IEUA) Chino Basin Advanced 

Treated Recycled Water, Storage, and Production Project 

To Whom It May Concern, 

On behalf of Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD), I am pleased to support the 

Inland Empire Utilities Agency’s (IEUA) Chino Basin Advanced Treated Recycled Water, 

Storage, and Production Project for the development of the Chino Basin Program (CBP). 

JCSD is a public agency providing services to over 130,000 people within the cities of 

Eastvale and Jurupa Valley. Established in 1956, JCSD’s services include water, 

wastewater, streetlights, graffiti abatement, and parks and recreation. 

Partnering on projects and agreements to develop new regional water supplies while 

optimizing benefits for the Chino Groundwater Basin is essential. Furthermore, these 

types of projects align with JCSD’s vision of seeking new opportunities and evolving to 

maximize the availability and beneficial use of limited water supplies. 

The CBP is a water exchange banking program that treats and stores currently unused 

local recycled water supplies in the regional groundwater basin to increase water 

reliability for agencies participating in CBP and their partners. This program is receiving 

partial funding from the California Water Commission in recognition of the public benefits 

that will be realized through its implementation. These benefits include, but are not 

limited to, ecosystem improvement, Chino Basin water quality improvement, and 

emergency response. The CBP will develop local infrastructure, including a 15 million 

gallon per day Advanced Water Purification Facility for indirect potable reuse, injection 

wells to store 15,000 acre-feet of water each year, extraction wells, and conveyance 

facilities. Together, this new infrastructure will support the region’s long-term local 

resiliency and growth by developing a new local water supply recovery program that will 

increase operational flexibility and reliability. 

JCSD strongly supports IEUA’s application for the USBR Water Recycling and 

Desalination Planning Grant, as this will provide critical funding in support of the ongoing 
Chris Berch, P.E. 

General Manager 

11201 Harrel St. Jurupa Valley, CA 91752 

A. Jurupa COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT 

Pl'oudty ~1'19 Juru!),11 Vtillay Md ~1"1 

www.JCSD.us (951) 727-3524 

planning and design of the CBP. We look forward to continuing our long history of 

partnership as we seek to bring the CBP to fruition. 

Thank you for considering JCSD’s support of IEUA’s application. If you need any 

additional information, please contact Jesse Pompa, Director of Engineering and Water 

Resources, at JPompa@JCSD.us. 

Sincerely, 
 

 

 

 

 

THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT 

OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Office of the General Manager 

February 16, 2023 

Bureau of Reclamation 

Financial Assistance Operations Section 

Attn: NOFO Team 

P.O. Box 25007, MS 84-27133 

Denver, CO 80225 

To Whom it May Concern: 

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) is pleased to support the Chino Basin 

Advanced Treated Recycled Water, Storage, and Production Project for the development of the Chino Basin 

Program (CBP) as submitted by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), a member agency of 

Metropolitan. Collaborating on projects and agreements to develop regional water supplies and benefits for 

the Chino Groundwater Basin is essential, and we continue to seek new opportunities to help maximize the 

availability and beneficial use of limited water supplies. 

The CBP is a water exchange banking program that treats and stores currently inaccessible, unused local 

recycled water supplies in the regional groundwater basin to increase water reliability for CBP participating 

agencies and their partners. This program is receiving partial funding from the California Water Commission 

in recognition of the public benefits that will accrue by implementing the CBP, including ecosystem 

improvement, water quality improvement, and emergency response. The CBP includes developing local 

infrastructure, including a 15 million gallon per day Advanced Water Purification Facility for indirect potable 

re-use, injection wells to store 15,000 acre-feet of water each year, extraction wells, and conveyance facilities. 

Together, this new infrastructure will support the region’s long-term local resiliency by increasing operational 

flexibility and reliability. 

Metropolitan is supportive of IEUA’s application for the USBR Water Recycling and Desalination Planning 

Grant as this will provide critical funding in support of the on-going planning and design of the CBP. The 

CBP will help to support the region’s resiliency and growth through the development of a new, local water 

supplies. We look forward to continuing our long history of cooperation and collaboration as we seek to bring 

the CBP to fruition. 

Sincerely, 

Brad Coffey 

Manager, Water Resource Management 

AS:sff 

700 N. Alameda Street, Los Angeles, California 90012 • Mailing Address: Box 54153, Los Angeles, California 90054-0153 • Telephone (213) 217-6000 
Congressional Districts for IEUA Service Area 

US Congressional Districts 28, 33, 35, 40 
 

 

Applicant Name: Inland Empire Utilities Agency 

Areas affected by Project: 

1. State of California

2. County of San Bernardino 

3. City of Chino 

4. City of Upland 

5. City of Ontario 

6. City of Montclair 

7. City of Rancho Cucamonga 

8. City of Fontana