UWM Plan - Municipal Water District of Orange County

2. Water Demand
2.1. Overview
MWDOC is the wholesale provider of imported water to 28 retail water suppliers in
Orange County. Water demand in the MWDOC service area has increased approximately
70 percent since 1970. Water demand increased from 285,200 acre-feet per year (AFY)
in 1970 to 467,900 AFY in 1990 due to significant population growth within the service
area. Demand began to decline in 1990, and by 1992 demand was 406,500 AFY. From
that point on, demand began to increase again. By 2000, demand in the MWDOC service
area was 524,000 AFY.
In 2010, the total water demand for MWDOC member agencies is approximately 485,311
AFY consisting of 220,132 acre-feet of imported water (treated and untreated), 220,052
acre-feet of local groundwater, 5,485 acre-feet of local surface water, and 39,642 acrefeet
of recycled water. Overall, MWDOC’s water demands will continue to increase,
although not as rapidly as in the past. Future demand growth will average just under 0.5%
per year, as compared to historical demand growth of about 1.54% per year. This is due
to more limitations on new land development (e.g. cost, available space and
environmental restrictions) and the continued commitment to water use efficiency in the
region.
Figure 2-1 shows historical demands with service area population to further illustrate the
growth in MWDOC’s service area.
Municipal Water District of Orange County
2010 Urban Water Management Plan
Final
2-1