San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District

Why does SGVMWD Exist?
Our History
Services
Supplemental Water
Energy
Map of Service Area
Maps of Water in California

Azusa - looking west at Foothill & Azusa in the 1950's

Our History

The San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District was formed in 1959 after winning approval from the voters of Alhambra, Azusa, Monterey Park, and Sierra Madre. In anticipation of its long-term water needs, SGVMWD entered into a contract with the State of California Department of Water Resources in 1962 for the delivery of 25,000 acre-feet of water per year from the State Water Project. In 1964, the contract was amended to allow for 28,800 acre-feet. Today the District is one of 29 State Water Contractors who participate in the vast State Water Project.

In 1969, SGVMWD constructed the Devil Canyon-Azusa Pipeline to deliver water from the State Water Project to the Main San Gabriel Basin. Starting in 1975 and continuing today, SGVMWD has been importing water from Northern California for replenishment of the San Gabriel Basin. In 1981, an additional outlet was added to the pipeline at San Dimas Wash. In 1985, SGVMWD installed a 1.05 megawatt hydroelectric power plant at the San Dimas turnout to generate electricity in conjunction with its supplemental water deliveries. In 1995, SGVMWD completed an extension of the Devil Canyon-Azusa Pipeline from Azusa to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works' San Gabriel Canyon Spreading Grounds. The extension provides SGVMWD more flexibility in delivering water to the Main San Gabriel Basin. In 1998, another outlet was constructed at Big Dalton Wash to utilize LACDPW's Citrus Spreading Grounds.