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SCROLL THROUGH TO DISCOVER THE SYSTEM STAKEHOLDERS

1. EMPLOYEES

GENERAL MANAGER

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

DEPARTMENT AND DIVISION HEADS

The Metropolitan Water District's internal structure is vast, encompassing 1,800 employees, most of whom are technical and operational staff working in the field. The general manager directs the agency mission and norms, working with the board to decide on policy that aligns with the agency's goals. Below them are various department heads or directors overseeing specific functions such as water operations, engineering, finance, legal affairs, and public affairs. These departments further consist of managers, supervisors, and staff members responsible for day-to-day operations, project execution, maintenance, customer service, and administrative tasks.

TECHNICAL STAFF

Engineers

Environmental Scientists

OPERATIONS STAFF

Employees

2. GOVERNMENT REGULATORS

FEDERAL COMPLIANCE: EPA

STATE COMPLIANCE:
CALIFORNIA GOVERNER'S OFFICE

There are two divisions of governance compliance for water in California, federal compliance under the EPA and state compliance under the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the State Water Resources Control Board. The CPUC controls both water and power, regulating private entities like Golden State Water Company and  Pacific Gas and Electric). The State Water Resources Control Board controls water quality, water rights, and permits for all water in the state. California's waters cannot be owned soley by individuals, groups, businesses, or governmental agencies, and legally belong to all Californians. Agencies like the Metropolitan Water District take out permits, licenses, to control the right to use state controlled amounts of water.

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The MWD interacts most primarily with the State Water Resources Control Board, whose Division of Drinking Water regulates public drinking water systems.

Ventura County

Los Angeles County

Orange County

San Bernadino County

San Diego County

Government Regulators

3. WATER DISTRICT SYSTEM ORGANIZATIONS

MWD WATER TREATMENT PLANTS

EMERGENCY SERVICES AND DISASTER RESPONSE TEAMS

MWD WATER SOURCES

  1. Robert B. Diemer Water Treatment Plant

  2. F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant - La Verne

  3. Joseph Jensen Water Treatment Plant - Granada Hills

  4. Henry J Mills treatment plant - Riverside

  5. Robert A Skinner Treatment Plant - Winchester

STATE WATER PROJECT

COLORADO RIVER AQUEDUCT

MWD recieves untreated water from its sources, and has 26 member agencies (smaller water distributors and managers)

who pay for untreated water directly from the source or treated delivered water from a MWD treatment plants. Some member agencies have their own treatment facillities and thus prefer to pay less for untreated water. Funding for the Metropolitan Water District comes from several sources. One major source is revenue generated from water sales to member agencies and other customers. Additionally, the MWD obtains funding through bond issuances to finance infrastructure projects such as water treatment plants, pipelines, and storage facilities. State and federal grants may also contribute to specific projects aimed at enhancing water supply reliability and promoting conservation initiatives. The MWD carefully manages its finances to ensure sustainable operations and the long-term viability of its water supply system.

System Organizations

4. COMMUNITY GROUPS

LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS

  • LA water keeper

  • NRDC

  • Heal The Bay

  • Environmental Water Caucus

  • National Parks Conservation Association

  • Better World Group

  • Restore the Delta

  • Shingle Springs Band of Miwalk Indians

  • Nature Conservancy

  • Sierra Club

  • Sustainable Claremont

  • LAANE

  • We Tap

WATER ADVOCACY GROUPS

  • California Water Impact Network (C-WIN)
    Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL)
    Environmental Justice Coalition for Water (EJCW)
    Community Water Center (CWC)
    California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA)

LOCAL WATERSHED COUNCILS

  • Los Angeles County Watershed Management Groups - Los Angeles County, CA (Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Councils)

  • San Diego Watershed Council - San Diego, CA

  • Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) - Riverside, CA oversees Santa Ana River Watershed

  • Orange County Watersheds Program - Orange County, CA

  • San Gabriel Valley Watershed Council - San Gabriel Valley, CA

  • San Fernando Valley Watershed Council - San Fernando Valley, CA

  • Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission - Santa Monica, CA

  • Ventura County Watershed Protection District - Ventura County, CA

LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

  • ​Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce - Los Angeles, CA

  • Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce - Long Beach, CA

  • Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce - San Diego, CA

  • Orange County Chamber of Commerce - Orange County, CA

  • San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce - San Fernando Valley, CA

  • Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce - Riverside, CA

  • San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce - San Bernardino, CA

  • Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce - Santa Barbara, CA

  • Ventura Chamber of Commerce - Ventura, CA

5. CONSUMERS

RESIDENTIAL CONSUMERS

The consumers of the Metropolitan Water District are residents, businesses, and industries located within service area across Southern California. Residential consumers rely on MWD for household water supply, while commercial and industrial consumers use water for various purposes such as manufacturing, agriculture, and sanitation.

COMMERCIAL CONSUMERS

INDUSTRIAL CONSUMERS

LAND-USE DEVELOPERS

PRIVATE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS

  • California Farm Bureau Federation

  • California Avocado Commission

  • California Citrus Mutual

  • Western Growers Association

  • California Cattlemen's Association

  • California Dairy Campaign

Community Groups
Consumers

6. BOARD

FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND STRATEGY

REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

STRATEGIC PLANNING

The board of the Metropolitan Water District makes critical decisions related to water supply management, infrastructure development, and policy implementation within its service areas. These decisions involve setting water rates, allocating water resources among member agencies, approving major capital projects such as reservoirs and pipelines, negotiating water contracts with other agencies and the state of California, and developing conservation and sustainability plans to accommodate for climate change. The board's decisions directly impact water availability, quality, and affordability for millions of residents and businesses in Southern California, influencing the region's overall water security and environmental sustainability.

Board
“This system is a hard place to break into because of its size, and everything feels disconnected sometimes. But it's time to build trust between organizations, member agencies, and community members to give the MWD a name in the community.”

MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AT MWD

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