Posted on: January 22, 2023
The recent storms dropped an average of over 5” of rain on the Santa Margarita Water District service area. Between January 12 and 16 alone, we received between 2 and 4.5 inches of rain across the region. SMWD’s Talega weather station ...
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Posted on: November 14, 2022
November marks one year of service in San Juan Capistrano! Santa Margarita Water District is honored to provide drinking water, recycled water, and wastewater services to the residents, businesses, and visitors to the city.
Since Novem...
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Posted on: October 4, 2022
Unprecedented DroughtWhile we hope we are entering the rainy season, we fear we may be entering year four of one of the worst droughts we’ve ever faced. The Colorado River, which is one of our two major sources of drinking water, is at...
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Posted on: September 17, 2022
Santa Margarita Water District hosted its first annual Coastal Clean Up on Saturday, September 17, 2022, in partnership with West Yost Associates and 100 community volunteers.
Roughly 1,000 pounds of trash was collected in just one hou...
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Posted on: September 17, 2022
Santa Margarita Water District was named “Recycled Water Agency of the Year,” from WateReuse California for building Orange County’s largest recycled water reservoir, Trampas. The award was presented at the annual WateReuse C...
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Posted on: September 17, 2022
Santa Margarita Water District was awarded a Rose Award by the Orange County Taxpayers Association (OC Tax) for the San Juan Capistrano water utility annexation and the benefits it will provide to the citizens of San Juan. The city was also hono...
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Posted on: July 13, 2022
The people of California are in the grip of a historic drought that may become the most severe in state history. Conditions are especially bad in areas dependent on water from Northern California and the Colorado River.
A recent survey of Santa M...
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Posted on: March 4, 2022
The Oso Creek Water Reclamation Plant is undergoing a multi-phase improvement project beginning March 7. The plant is located near La Paz Road and Oso Creek, tucked in behind the retail/automotive center on La Paz.
The plant was built in 1975. No...
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Posted on: December 12, 2021
The Santa Margarita Water District ("SMWD") has announced plans to demolish the existing 3.0 million gallon/day ("MGD") Oso Creek Water Reclamation Plant ("WRP"), existing office and warehousing buildings to make wa...
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Posted on: November 10, 2021
It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Nick Salb. He was a father, husband, son, friend, veteran, and talented treatment plant operator here at Santa Margarita Water District. Nick and his wife Mia have a 1.5-year-old son named Hunter. ...
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Posted on: November 10, 2021
On Halloween-eve, SMWD customers on a quiet cul-de-sac in Coto de Caza got an untimely "trick"—a broken wastewater pipeline. SMWD responded quickly to stave off damage to the neighborhood and surrounding creeks. An a...
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Posted on: November 10, 2021
On November 15, Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) will begin providing water and wastewater services to all residents and businesses in San Juan Capistrano. SMWD had a long-standing partnership with the City for years providing services from...
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Posted on: November 10, 2021
The Santa Margarita Water District Board of Directors voted on October 22, 2021, to continue the effort to bring recycled water to the City of Rancho Santa Margarita (RSM) for the irrigation of parks, sports fields, community spaces, and to possibly fill ...
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Posted on: November 3, 2021
Nine years ago, Rainy met her cousin, Aunt Jody, and Jody's co-worker at Santa Margarita Water District, Kenny for dinner after a mountain bike ride.
Rainy was excited to see her visiting cousin. She put on a cute outfit and four-inch-hi...
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Posted on: October 4, 2021
Thanks to investments in facilities, storage, and water use-efficiencies including recycled water, people in Southern California can be confident that their water supply will be reliable even during a multi-year period of drought. More recently, Northern ...
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Posted on: August 19, 2021
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA – Today the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission (OC LAFCO) voted unanimously to approve the Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) annexation of the San Juan Capistrano water and wastewater faciliti...
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Posted on: June 30, 2021
SMWD crews jumped in to rescue ducklings from a storm drain after receiving calls from concerned residents in Coto de Caza and OC Animal Care. Our talented team sizzled off the bolts and climbed in to save three little ducklings.Thank you, Sam & Kenny...
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Posted on: June 29, 2021
As summer heats up, the news is focused on the severe drought gripping the state and much of the western United States.
While some northern and central California communities already face stringent water restrictions, the impact on our south Oran...
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Posted on: June 29, 2021
When Josh Puckett was in middle school, he remembers riding his bike to his dad’s workplace at Santa Margarita Water District to visit.
“Josh liked to sit at my desk,” said Don Puckett, who worked as an underground l...
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Posted on: June 25, 2021
Santa Margarita is always seeking out classes that will help homeowners access the DIY tools that they need to make their gardens sustainable. During Smart Irrigation Month we will be hosting 3 new virtual offerings for our customers to help them to water...
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smwd.com/classes
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Posted on: April 1, 2021
Meet Ron Johnson: A Problem Solver
Last year, Ron Johnson marked a quarter century working for Santa Margarita Water District. The milestone nearly matches another significant achievement in his life—his sobriety.Those two achievements coupled with a well-...
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Posted on: October 14, 2020
The dedication of Santa Margarita Water District's Trampas Canyon Dam and Reservoir on Friday, October 9, 2020 marked an important step in securing water supply resiliency for the south Orange County community. Local elected, regional, and state ...
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Posted on: October 14, 2020
Typically, engineers use tools like AutoCAD software and geographic information systems (GIS) to bring their ideas for future projects to life. But sometimes they break out a brush, paint and easels to depict their visions.Santa Margarita Water District’s...
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Posted on: September 10, 2020
On Friday, August 21, 2020, the Santa Margarita Water District ("SMWD") Board of Directors unanimously approved new, lower tax rates for 2021. Customers in Rancho Santa Margarita, Las Flores, Ladera Ranch, Esencia, and Sendero will see lower pr...
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Posted on: October 9, 2019
In the event of a Public Safety Power Shutoff initiated by local power providers, Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) is prepared to continue providing high-quality drinking water and wastewater services.
SMWD has worked hard over the last several years ...
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Posted on: September 5, 2019
For Immediate Release: September 5, 2019Contact: Nicole Stanfield, nicoless@smwd.com or (949) 459-6548
FRANK URY APPOINTED TO SANTA MARGARITA WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA – The Board of Directors...
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Posted on: August 23, 2019
The Capistrano DispatchAugust 23, 2019By Shawn Raymundo
The city’s plans to annex its utilities department took another step forward Tuesday, Aug. 20, as councilmembers approved a framework that will be the basis for a potential agreement to have Santa Mar...
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Posted on: June 24, 2019
For Immediate Release: June 24, 2019Contact: Nicole Stanfield, nicoless@smwd.com or (949) 459-6548
DISTRICT APPROVES SAN JUAN WATERSHED PROJECT EIR & TWO OCEAN DESALINATION&nbs...
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Posted on: August 1, 2019
As we celebrate Director Charley Wilson’s career and service, it is clear that he is regarded as a dynamic leader not only on the Santa Margarita Water District Board of Directors but throughout the water industry. During his nearly two decades ...
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Posted on: April 25, 2019
San Clemente TimesBy Fred Swegles
Santa Margarita Water District invites South County residents to its annual Water Awareness Festival, a free, family-friendly event that this year will also offer public tours of the 177-acre construction site fo...
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Posted on: April 10, 2019
April 10, 2019 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Nicole Stanfield(949) 459-6548 / nicoless@smwd.com
SANTA MARGARITA WATER DISTRICT DIRECTOR RESIGNS FROM ORANGE COUNTY LAFCO
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA (April 10, 2019) – Santa Margarita Water District Director,...
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Posted on: February 24, 2019
Santa Margarita Water District Selected by San Juan Capistrano as Preferred Water ProviderWater supply reliability, infrastructure investment and interagency collaboration noted as key factors that set Santa Margarita Water District apart
On Tuesday, Febru...
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Posted on: February 20, 2019
The city of San Juan Capistrano will begin negotiating the transfer of its water utilities with Santa Margarita Water District.
During its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 19, the City C...
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Posted on: February 20, 2019
The Valentine's Day storm brought 4.25" of rain in just 24 hours and water levels at the Upper Oso Recycled Water Reservoir increased by 43 million gallons water.
Santa Margarita Water District owns two open air reservoirs that capture rain ...
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Posted on: January 28, 2019
We know that life can get complicated sometimes. If you’re facing financial difficulties, please contact us to discuss payment options. You may reach us Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling (949) 459-6420 or emailing customerca...
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Posted on: January 9, 2019
The Orange County Register published an opinion editorial stating that the Santa Margarita Water District is the best fit for taking over the City of San Juan Capistrano's water utility. The District has a long-standing, positive relationship wi...
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Posted on: November 19, 2018
When nature calls…we need a toilet. But an estimated 4.5 billion people worldwide live without a toilet or sewer system. This means human feces are not being captured or treated – contaminating the water and soil. On World Toilet Day,...
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Posted on: November 1, 2018
Santa Margarita Water District's On Tap newsletter is now available. The bi-monthly newsletter keeps customers informed of the latest happenings, projects, programs, and money saving rebates. The newsletter may be viewed by clicking here or as an insert t...
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Posted on: October 10, 2018
Imagine: No water to drink, or even to make coffee with. No water to shower, flush the toilet, or do laundry. Hospitals would close without water. Firefighters couldn't put out fires and farmers couldn't water their crops.
Some communities in America alrea...
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Posted on: October 6, 2018
Over the next several months, the Santa Margarita Water District will introduce followers on social media to its complex water system and cadre of water professionals, each bringing specialized education, training and skills to deliver safe drinking water...
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Posted on: September 13, 2018
One of the Santa Margarita Water District’s primary responsibilities is to deliver safe drinking water to its 165,000 residents each day of the year. With 100% of the area’s drinking water being imported from hundreds of miles away, extra precautions are ...
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Posted on: July 8, 2018
Santa Margarita Water District has launched a new website and customer portal to better serve its customers. The new customer portal provides a more secure gateway to your account, including bill payment, easy autopay setup, water usage and service call h...
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Posted on: June 26, 2018
Delivering safe drinking water is at the heart of the Santa Margarita Water District’s mission; it’s drinking water continues to meet or exceed all standards set by the state and federal governments. 100% of the District’s dr...
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Posted on: March 28, 2018
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – The Santa Margarita Water District is honored to receive the “District Transparency Certificate of Excellence” by the Special District Leadership Foundation of California in recognition o...
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Posted on: July 10, 2018
Santa Margarita Water District Partners with American Red Cross to Host Community Blood DriveWednesday, July 18 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The District will host a community blood drive with the American Red Cross on Wednesday, July 18 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.&...
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Posted on: April 18, 2018
First Lake in California to Use Advanced Treated Water for Lake Refill
The Lake Mission Viejo Advanced Treatment Water Project received another recognition this year; this time from Green Technology, for its innovative public-private partnership ...
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Posted on: April 22, 2018
SANTA MARGARITA WATER DISTRICT BREAKS GROUND ONNEW RECYCLED WATER RESERVOIR
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CALIF. (February 22, 2017) – The Santa Margarita Water District (“SMWD”) hosted a groundbreaking for its new 5,000 acre foot ...
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Posted on: August 24, 2017
Santa Margarita Water District is refunding its 2007 Community Facilities District (CFD 99-1) bond for the Talega area of San Clemente. The refunding will save the District and its Talega customers $9 million in debt payments over the next 13 years, resul...
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