ETWD’s Commitment to Protecting the Communities We Serve
El Toro Water District (ETWD) extends our sincere appreciation to the brave firefighters and first responders who worked tirelessly to protect lives and property during the recent wildfire events.
The Board of Directors and Management continually invest in water, sewer and recycled water infrastructure so that the District is prepared to protect our communities during emergencies including wildfire emergency preparedness.
Here’s an overview of the measures the District takes to ensure a safe, reliable water supply for our customers and supporting firefighting efforts 24/7.
Reservoirs
- Our team of water professionals closely monitors weather conditions and takes proactive steps to protect critical infrastructure. This includes increasing reservoir levels to ensure an ample water supply is available to support firefighting efforts and meet community needs.
- ETWD operates six drinking water reservoirs with a combined capacity of 287 million gallons. Additionally, ETWD shares the 275-million-gallon El Toro Regional Reservoir with Santa Margarita Water District and Moulton Niguel Water District, with ETWD’s capacity totaling 125.5 million gallons.
Fire Hydrants
- All ETWD fire hydrants are fully operational and equipped with sufficient water supply, enabling local fire authorities to respond quickly and effectively during emergencies.
- Our staff inspects and maintains over 1,900 fire hydrants across the District’s service area. Regular water pressure and water flow checks ensure that each hydrant functions properly.
Emergency Water Connections
- ETWD has emergency water connections with six neighboring water districts, allowing the movement of water between agencies as needed during emergencies.
Backup Emergency Generators
- ETWD has invested in multiple backup generators to provide emergency power during outages or planned electrical shutdowns.
Fire-Hardened Landscaping at ETWD Facilities
- Regular brush control and weed abatement are maintained at all ETWD facilities to create safer buffer zones around critical infrastructure, reducing fire risks.
WEROC and CalWARN Partnerships
WEROC
ETWD partners with the Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County which assists the Orange County water and wastewater agencies prepare for and respond to natural disasters, infrastructure failures and domestic threats. WEROC coordinates response and recovery efforts between water and wastewater agencies, the County of Orange, and the California Governors Office of Emergency Services.
CalWARN
ETWD belongs to the California Water-Wastewater Agency Response Network (CalWARN) that is California’s statewide mutual aid/assistance network for the water and wastewater sector.
Learn More:
For more information about ETWD’s emergency preparedness, please contact us at 949-837-7050, District@etwd.com.
