South Coast Water District

Name

South Coast Water District

Legal name

South Coast Water District

Website

https://scwd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Utility Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB), Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

Keywords

• Water utility services
• Wastewater collection treatment
• Recycled water programs
• Ocean desalination infrastructure
• Municipal water distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Laguna Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Water Rates and Charges: Rates and charges for potable water service to residential, commercial, and industrial customers based on consumption tiers and connection types.
2. Sewer/Wastewater Rates: Charges for wastewater collection and treatment services, including residential and commercial sewer rates.
3. Recycled Water Rates: Lower-cost recycled water for irrigation and non-potable uses.
4. Connection Fees: One-time fees for new water and sewer connections under Ordinance 225 and subsequent amendments.
5. JRWSS Contract Operations: SCWD operates the Joint Regional Water Supply System under contract for nine member agencies, providing operational revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

South Coast Water District is a California special district that provides potable water distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and recycled water services to approximately 40,000 residents and 1,000 businesses in Dana Point, South Laguna Beach, and parts of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. The district also operates the Joint Regional Water Supply System (JRWSS) under contract for nine member agencies and is developing the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project (5-15 MGD) and Groundwater Recovery Facility to provide local water supply.

Product overview

South Coast Water District operates as a multi-service water utility providing an integrated portfolio of water, wastewater, and recycled water services. The District's core offerings include potable water distribution (sourced 85% from imported supplies and 15% from local groundwater desalination), the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project (planned to provide 5-15 MGD of local seawater desalination), the Groundwater Recovery Facility (brackish water desalination producing approximately 15% of water supply), the Joint Regional Water Supply System (regional transmission infrastructure operated under contract), and wastewater collection/treatment services. Supporting modules include EyeOnWater (customer usage monitoring via AMI), Direct Potable Reuse (emerging water recycling technology), and Water Conservation Programs. The District serves Dana Point, South Laguna Beach, and areas of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano in south Orange County, California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EyeOnWater: Advanced metering infrastructure application that helps customers monitor their water usage and detect leaks in real-time.

Products and services

• Potable Water Service Drinking water supply and distribution services to approximately 40,000 residents, 1,000 businesses, and two million visitors annually in Dana Point, South Laguna Beach, and areas of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, sourced from imported supplies and local groundwater desalination.
• Wastewater Collection and Treatment Wastewater collection system including gravity-flow tunnel infrastructure and connection to regional treatment facilities, serving the District's service area. Operates under a Zero Sewer Spill Policy.
• Recycled Water Water recycling program providing treated wastewater for irrigation and non-potable uses, part of the District's strategy to reduce dependence on imported water supplies.
• Groundwater Recovery Facility A brackish water desalination plant producing approximately 15% of the District's drinking water from the San Juan Groundwater Basin. Currently produces over 293,000 gallons per day, with plans to increase to 988,000 gallons per day with a second well.
• Joint Regional Water Supply System (JRWSS) Operations Regional water transmission system operated by SCWD under contract to nine member agencies. The 38-mile pipeline conveys potable water from Metropolitan Water District's Diemer Filtration Plant in Yorba Linda to water agencies serving communities from Irvine to San Clemente.
• Doheny Ocean Desalination Project A major seawater desalination initiative designed to convert ocean water into drinking water, creating a new sustainable local water supply. Initially planned at 5 million gallons per day (MGD) capacity with potential to scale to 15 MGD with regional partnerships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% reliance on imported water reduced through desalination
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Orange County Board of SupervisorscoreOthers · 4 November 2025Approved MOU to explore supplying renewable landfill energy to SCWD's Doheny Ocean Desalination Project for sustainable power supply.
• Moulton Niguel Water DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 January 2025Mutual aid partnership during January 2025 sewage spill emergency at Laguna Niguel Regional Park. SCWD and other south Orange County wastewater agencies united to provide aid to MNWD.
• Joint Regional Water Supply System Member AgenciesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000SCWD has been contract operator since 2000 for JRWSS operations and maintenance on behalf of member agencies including: South Coast Water District, City of San Clemente, El Toro Water District, Irvine Ranch Water District, Moulton Niguel Water District, Santa Margarita Water District, California State Parks, Camp Pendleton, and Southern California Edison.
• Laguna Beach County Water DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership on Doheny Ocean Desalination Project where Laguna Beach County Water District participates in the project to share costs and benefits of local water supply development.
• Eastern Municipal Water DistrictflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrecedent-setting 'paper transfer' arrangement where Eastern Municipal Water District (located over 50 miles inland) receives SCWD's allocation of imported Metropolitan water equivalent to the desalinated water produced, reducing burden of imported water to South Orange County while helping all parties manage costs.
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniacoreOthersWholesale water supplier providing imported water from Colorado River and State Water Project to SCWD through MWDOC. Provides $250 per acre-foot operating subsidy for local water production at Groundwater Recovery Facility.
• Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC)coreOthersWholesale water supplier and resource planning agency that purchases water from Metropolitan Water District and resells to SCWD and other Orange County retail water agencies.
• SOCWA (South Orange County Wastewater Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for sewage diversion to Coastal Wastewater Treatment Plant during January 2025 emergency response. SOCWA operates the ocean outfall for SCWD's Groundwater Recovery Facility brine discharge.
• City of Laguna BeachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMutual aid partner during January 2025 sewage spill emergency, facilitating diversion of sewage to Coastal Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• Emerald Bay Service DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMutual aid partner during January 2025 sewage spill emergency, participating in diversion efforts.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• San Diego County Water Authority: Regional wholesale water supplier serving San Diego County with analogous imported-water-dependence profile to SCWD. Provides comparison for rate structures, supply diversification strategies, and regional desalination initiatives (e.g., Carlsbad).
• Eastern Municipal Water District: Flagship partner in SCWD's precedent-setting paper-transfer arrangement for desalinated water; a larger Riverside County water district whose operating model and innovative water transfers are directly relevant to SCWD's strategic positioning.
• Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC): Wholesale water supplier purchasing from Metropolitan Water District and reselling to SCWD and other Orange County retail agencies. Operates as a broader regional administrative and resource-planning umbrella over retail agencies like SCWD.

Direct peers

• Irvine Ranch Water District: Larger but comparable Orange County water district and JRWSS member known for leadership in recycled water and potable reuse — directly relevant as SCWD explores its own Direct Potable Reuse initiative.
• Laguna Beach County Water District: Direct co-development partner on the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project; serves an overlapping coastal community with similar water-supply challenges and customer demographics.
• Moulton Niguel Water District: Neighboring South Orange County water district serving similar coastal communities; both are JRWSS member agencies and mutual aid partners, with comparable scale, customer mix, and reliance on imported water supplies.
• El Toro Water District: JRWSS member agency in South Orange County providing water and recycled water services. Operates with similar scale and regulatory framework to SCWD as a California special district.
• Santa Margarita Water District: Adjacent South Orange County water and wastewater district and JRWSS member agency. Comparable customer base, infrastructure profile, and exposure to imported water cost dynamics.

Emerging players

• Poseidon Water (Huntington Beach Desalination): Private-sector developer of large-scale California ocean desalination plants. Most relevant peer for the Doheny project in terms of technology, regulatory pathway, and project economics — directly comparable to SCWD's flagship initiative.

Regional players

• South Orange County Wastewater Authority (SOCWA): Joint powers authority operating regional wastewater treatment and ocean outfall infrastructure for SCWD and other South Orange County agencies. Directly relevant as SCWD's treatment/disposal partner and mutual aid counterpart.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/southcoastwater
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFVSOFRkwuVWCNu8Wwbk7GQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/SouthCoastWD
• Instagraminstagram.com/southcoastwater

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Coast Water District