The State Water Project (SWP) is a major component of California’s water supply system, delivering water from Northern California to communities across the state via canals, pipelines, and tunnels. Desert Water Agency (DWA) is one of 29 State Water Project contractors and holds a long-term contract with the California Department of Water Resources for a portion of this supply.  

The amount of water available each year varies based on hydrologic conditions, including precipitation and snowpack in Northern California. DWA has a maximum annual 

 entitlement of 55,750 acre-feet of SWP water, with actual deliveries dependent on the annual allocation. 

Due to the surrounding mountains, the Coachella Valley does not have a direct connection to SWP facilities. Instead, DWA accesses this supply through an exchange with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). Through this arrangement, DWA receives an equal amount of Colorado River water from MWD, in place of its SWP allocation. 

This imported water is delivered via the Colorado River Aqueduct to the Whitewater and Mission Creek areas. As it enters the Coachella Valley, the water helps generate hydropower at the Whitewater Hydroelectric Plant, offsetting State Water Project costs. It is then used for groundwater recharge at the Whitewater River Groundwater Replenishment Facility, supporting long-term water supply reliability in the Coachella Valley. 

Imported water from the SWP plays an important role in DWA’s overall water management strategy by supplementing local groundwater supplies and providing flexibility during dry periods. Since 1973, DWA and Coachella Valley Water District have replenished the Whitewater River (Indio) basin with more than a trillion gallons of water.  

Learn more about related statewide efforts, including the Delta Conveyance Project and Sites Reservoir.