History

Desert Water Agency was formed as a special district in 1961 to ensure an adequate water suppply for the western part of the Coachella Valley.

For a look at DWA through the years, check out our gallery and timeline below.

The image shows workers installing a large pipe in a sandy area, with vehicles and a bridge in the background, captured in black and white.
Pipeline installation near Whitewater
A large circular concrete structure sits in a rocky desert landscape, surrounded by mountains and sparse vegetation.
DWA reservoir circa 1961
A historical scene featuring people walking along a rocky path, mountains in the background, and a wooden structure nearby.
Construction of the Chino Canyon Reservoir
A historic photo of the Desert Water Agency staff with several trucks parked outside their building, set against a mountainous backdrop.
DWA employees
A construction site with cranes and workers laying large pipes in a trench, surrounded by mountainous terrain.
Pipeline installation near Indian Canyons around 1975
Two men kneel by a water spring in a desolate area, with mountains in the background and vintage cars visible. Black and white photo.
Harold Hicks (left) and Ted Griffith at Well 5 in 1948
A desolate landscape featuring several tents in a rocky mountainous area, surrounded by sparse vegetation. Black and white photo.
Settlers
The image shows a group of men working on a construction site, possibly involved in digging or building with large circular elements.
Whitewater
A black-and-white photo of Palm Springs Water Co. employees lined up with their vehicles in front of a building and mountains.
Operations Center yard in 1928
A black-and-white photo showing a dusty landscape with a tent, horse-drawn cart, and people resting.
1886
A black-and-white image showing construction work in a sandy area with machinery and workers present.
Pipeline installation in 1962
A black-and-white image of a construction site with trucks, a sign that says "Water for Progress," and excavation activity.
1976
Two men pose in front of the Desert Water Agency Operations Center, captured in a black-and-white photograph.
Opening of Operations Center in 1978
A construction site with two vintage trucks and a worker digging, surrounded by piles of dirt and rocks.
Pipeline installation
A vintage photo of a man beside a classic truck labeled "Palm Springs Water Company," in front of a building.
Jay Morrison with a meter reading truck in 1954
A black-and-white photo of the Desert Water Agency building, featuring a rock fountain and palm trees, with mountains in the background.
Original Desert Water Agency building
The image features a narrow, water-filled irrigation canal lined with stones, surrounded by bare earth and sparse vegetation.
Rock-lined canal that carried water from Whitewater to Palm Springs in the late 1880s
A black-and-white photo of a building with palm trees in front, set against a mountainous backdrop.
Palm Springs Water Co. building
A black-and-white image of a drilling rig with workers, a truck, and street signs, set in an outdoor area with trees.
Well 8 drilling in 1963
The image shows two women and a child by a stream, one pouring water while another sits nearby, all in a natural setting.
Two men stand by a pipe spewing water, with a sign for Palm Springs nearby, set against a clear sky and power lines.
A black-and-white photo of a mountainous landscape with several tents set up in a sparse, open area.
Workers are seen constructing infrastructure in a barren landscape with mountains in the background, possibly involving irrigation or railroads.
The image shows workers installing a large pipe in a sandy area, with vehicles and a bridge in the background, captured in black and white.
A large circular concrete structure sits in a rocky desert landscape, surrounded by mountains and sparse vegetation.
A historical scene featuring people walking along a rocky path, mountains in the background, and a wooden structure nearby.
A historic photo of the Desert Water Agency staff with several trucks parked outside their building, set against a mountainous backdrop.
A construction site with cranes and workers laying large pipes in a trench, surrounded by mountainous terrain.
Two men kneel by a water spring in a desolate area, with mountains in the background and vintage cars visible. Black and white photo.
A desolate landscape featuring several tents in a rocky mountainous area, surrounded by sparse vegetation. Black and white photo.
The image shows a group of men working on a construction site, possibly involved in digging or building with large circular elements.
A black-and-white photo of Palm Springs Water Co. employees lined up with their vehicles in front of a building and mountains.
A black-and-white photo showing a dusty landscape with a tent, horse-drawn cart, and people resting.
A black-and-white image showing construction work in a sandy area with machinery and workers present.
A black-and-white image of a construction site with trucks, a sign that says "Water for Progress," and excavation activity.
Two men pose in front of the Desert Water Agency Operations Center, captured in a black-and-white photograph.
A construction site with two vintage trucks and a worker digging, surrounded by piles of dirt and rocks.
A vintage photo of a man beside a classic truck labeled "Palm Springs Water Company," in front of a building.
A black-and-white photo of the Desert Water Agency building, featuring a rock fountain and palm trees, with mountains in the background.
The image features a narrow, water-filled irrigation canal lined with stones, surrounded by bare earth and sparse vegetation.
A black-and-white photo of a building with palm trees in front, set against a mountainous backdrop.
A black-and-white image of a drilling rig with workers, a truck, and street signs, set in an outdoor area with trees.
The image shows two women and a child by a stream, one pouring water while another sits nearby, all in a natural setting.
Two men stand by a pipe spewing water, with a sign for Palm Springs nearby, set against a clear sky and power lines.
A black-and-white photo of a mountainous landscape with several tents set up in a sparse, open area.
Workers are seen constructing infrastructure in a barren landscape with mountains in the background, possibly involving irrigation or railroads.
2025 
  • DWA Board adopts Ordinance 80 regarding non-functional turf that was required by AB 1572 (2023).  
  • Desert Water Agency, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and Coachella Valley Water District come to an agreement to settle two long-standing water rights lawsuits. The settlement addresses all the claims, including disputes over groundwater rights, storage space beneath the Tribe’s Reservation, and groundwater quality. 
2024 
  • The State Water Resources Control Board adopts the “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” regulation, adopting water use budgets statewide for public water systems.  
2023 
  • In March, Governor Gavin Newsom rescinds the emergency drought declaration.
  • In the fall, the Governor signs Assembly Bill 1572 (Friedman, 2023) which prohibits the irrigation of non-functional turf with potable water for various property types, excluding single family homes.  
2022 
  • In November, DWA elects board members for divisions 1, 2, and 3. This completes DWA’s transition from at-large elections to elections by division.  
2021 
  • Governor Gavin Newsom declares a state of emergency drought declaration calling for statewide conservation.
2020 
  • In November, Desert Water Agency transitions from at-large to election by division for its Board of Directors and elects two board members for newly formed divisions 4 and 5. The next division elections would be in November 2022, which would complete the transition to elections by division.  
  • In October construction of the Snow Creek Filtration Plant is completed. The plant filters water for distribution to Snow Creek Village.
A small building with wooden fencing, set against mountainous terrain and clear blue skies. Gravel surrounds the structure.
The image shows large blue industrial tanks with pipes and valves, likely part of a water treatment or processing facility.

 

2019 
  • Construction on the Snow Creek Filtration Plant begins. 
Two workers in safety gear are installing steel beams on a building structure, with mountains in the background.
2017 
  • In April, Gov. Jerry Brown lifts the drought state of emergency. The drought is officially over, but DWA still promotes and implements water conservation measures for long-term sustainability. 
2015 
  • Sustainable Groundwater Management Act becomes law.
  • DWA becomes Groundwater Sustainability Agency within its boundaries.
  • Water restrictions are implemented as a result of the drought. 
2014 
  • MSWD, DWA, CVWD and other agencies work to update Regional Water Management Plan.
2013 
  • Regional Water Management Plan adopted by MSWD, DWA and CVWD.
2011 
  • Start of one of the worst droughts in the region on record. Gov. Jerry Brown calls for a “drought state of emergency” across the state. 
2010 
  • MSWD, DWA, CVWD and other agencies work to develop Regional Water Management Plan.
  • DWA completes 1/2-million-gallon reservoir, expanding the influent storage capacity at the recycling facility.  
A construction site at night with workers, a concrete pump, and a foundation being poured into a form structure.
2007 
  • DWA re-landscapes the Operations Center with water efficient desert landscaping to serve as a conservation garden. 
2005 
  • DWA installs a solar field at its operations center.
2002 
  • DWA completes construction of the Mission Creek Groundwater Replenishment ponds to recharge the subbasins in the area north of Palm Springs with imported water. 
2001 
  • Desert Water Agency requests MSWD support to commence groundwater replenishment program.
  • MSWD passes Resolution 2001-15 to support DWA's groundwater replenishment program.
1981 
  • MSWD General Manager sends letter to DWA acknowledging DWA and CVWD as the entities responsible for managing and replenishing the Mission Creek Groundwater Subbasin.
1973 
  • DWA and CVWD begin replenishing groundwater supply through exchange with Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
1968 
  • DWA purchased the Palm Springs and Cathedral City Water Company to provide domestic and municipal water service to the area.
1967 
  • DWA and CVWD enter into separate exchange agreements with Metropolitan Water District for Colorado River Supplies.
1962 
The image is a newspaper front page featuring headlines about a water agency merger, economic moves, and other news.
  • DWA enters into contract with the Department of Water Resources for imported water.
  • Property owners in Desert Hot Springs area petition DWA to be brought into the DWA boundary.
  • DWA passes ordinance to annex Desert Hot Springs area only if Desert Hot Springs County Water District (now named Mission Springs Water District) consents.
  • Desert Hot Springs County Water District (now MSWD) passes resolution to be annexed into DWA.
  • Desert Hot Springs community votes to be annexed into DWA service area.
  • DWA expands boundaries.
1961 
  • On Sept. 15, Senate Bill 1082 becomes effective, establishing DWA as a special district. 
  • On Sept. 18, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors appoints the first DWA directors: Francis Crocker, Edgar McCoubrey, George Ripley and Herbert Samson, all of Palm Springs, and Ivan Sharp of Cathedral City.