Our local water project is now complete, as of fall 2021. After more than six decades of legal hurdles, water-rights litigation, environmental permitting and some bureaucratic red tape, the final settlement agreement with Camp Pendleton on the Santa Margarita River Conjunctive Use Project was approved by the FPUD board in May 2019.

Bulldozers and heavy machinery begaan moving earth in 2019  to build a pipeline and water treatment plant. The entire process took two years to complete. And in late 2021,  Fallbrook customers began getting local water in their homes and businesses.

Today, the local river project is our cheapest water source and it provides approximately half of our water supply.

A pipeline to transport the water from the treatment plant through part of town, ending at McDonald Road, is also under construction.

Approval of the landmark settement is monumental for FPUD. It allows us to move forward with securing our own, local water supply. It also provides a buffer from escalating imported water costs and an additional shield against drought. Once built, it will provide about 50 percent of our total water supply. That’s important because it will allow us to reduce water purchases from our wholesaler and over the long term, help us reduce the cost of water.

Before construction could begin, financing of the project needed to be secured by staff and then approved by the board.

FPUD secured a State Revolving Fund loan for 20 years at approximately 1.9 percent interest. The State Revolving Fund is a federal low-interest loan program, overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is the backbone of infrastructure funding for water agencies.

The final design phase for the infrastructure was completed in February 2019. This water project does not impact the 1,300 acres of Santa Margarita River property, where horseback riders and hikers enjoy the miles of natural trails year-round.