Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority

What Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority does

Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) is a Joint Powers Authority established in 1975 under California law, headquartered at 11615 Sterling Avenue in Riverside, California. It coordinates regional water management across the 2,650-square-mile Santa Ana River Watershed, spanning San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and portions of Los Angeles counties, and serving approximately 6 million people. Its governance is anchored by five member agencies — Eastern Municipal Water District, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, Orange County Water District, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, and Western Municipal Water District — which collectively commission and benefit from SAWPA's shared infrastructure and planning services.

SAWPA's core infrastructure asset is the Inland Empire Brine Line, a dedicated pipeline that provides industrial brine disposal services to manufacturers and water-treatment facilities (including named customers Mission Linen Supply, Inland Empire Energy Center, and International Rectifier) on a usage-based, negotiated fee structure. Beyond the Brine Line, the organization delivers a portfolio of programs: the OWOW (One Water One Watershed) collaborative planning process, a Cloud Seeding / Weather Modification Pilot Program using ground-based silver iodide dispersal units (operated November 2023–April 2024, targeting up to 15% precipitation enhancement, with resumption planned for November 15, 2025), the Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CARP), Water Use Efficiency tools and aerial mapping, the DCI Program (Disadvantaged Community Involvement) offering translation services and a community water internship, GIS Tools, and regional roundtables and task forces.

SAWPA's business model combines recurring usage-based Brine Line service fees from industrial customers with member-agency contributions and project-specific grant funding from state sources, including the California Department of Water Resources and the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, as well as funding under Propositions 1, 13, 50, and 84. Pricing for Brine Line services and member-agency membership terms is negotiated and not publicly disclosed. The authority operates with a small staff of 11–50 employees, was led by incoming General Manager Karen Williams as of August 2025, celebrated its 50th anniversary in February 2026, and received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award in April 2026.

Name

Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority

Legal name

Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority

Website

https://sawpa.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) is a California Joint Powers Authority coordinating regional water management across the 2,650-square-mile Santa Ana River Watershed for five member water agencies serving six million people in Southern California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Utility and Watershed Management Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG), Stakeholder Engagement, Indigenous/Tribal Consultation & Social Impact (SIA) (EUAHAAAH)

Keywords

• Watershed water management
• Regional water infrastructure
• Brine line services
• Joint powers authority
• Water supply planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Riverside

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Inland Empire Brine Line Service Fees: SAWPA charges usage fees to industrial customers (manufacturers, water treatment facilities) for disposing of salty wastewater through the Inland Empire Brine Line pipeline. This is a recurring service-based revenue stream from commercial and industrial customers including Mission Linen Supply, Inland Empire Energy Center, and International Rectifier.
2. Grant Funding: SAWPA receives grant funding from state agencies, including the California Department of Water Resources (which partially funded the cloud seeding pilot program). Propositions 1, 13, 50, and 84 allowed SAWPA to secure grant funding for multi-benefit, regionally significant water infrastructure projects. Grant funding is intermittent and project-specific.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SAWPA is a Joint Powers Authority that delivers regional water management services across the 2,650-square-mile Santa Ana River Watershed to its five member water agencies and industrial customers. Its core offerings include the Inland Empire Brine Line for industrial brine disposal, the OWOW (One Water One Watershed) integrated regional planning process, a cloud seeding / weather modification pilot program, a Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CARP), Water Use Efficiency programs, a Disadvantaged Community Involvement (DCI) Program, and GIS tools.

Product overview

SAWPA is a Joint Powers Authority that operates as a regional water management organization, not a traditional software product company. The organization offers a portfolio of water infrastructure and management services including the Inland Empire Brine Line (a wastewater disposal facility), the OWOW (One Water One Watershed) strategic planning process, a Cloud Seeding/Weather Modification Pilot Program, a Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CARP), Water Use Efficiency programs, a Disadvantaged Community Involvement (DCI) Program, GIS Tools, and various roundtables and task forces. These services work together to deliver regional water solutions, increase water supply, protect water quality, provide recreation opportunities, and restore the environment of the Santa Ana River Watershed across its five member agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OWOW (One Water One Watershed): A strategic water management process addressing regional water challenges in a comprehensive and collaborative way
• Inland Empire Brine Line
• Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CARP)
• DCI Program

Products and services

• Inland Empire Brine Line A dedicated brine disposal pipeline facility providing an economical solution for industry to dispose of salty wastewater produced through manufacturing and water treatment processes. Customers include Mission Linen Supply, Inland Empire Energy Center, and International Rectifier.
• OWOW (One Water One Watershed) A strategic water management process that addresses regional water challenges in a comprehensive and collaborative way, supporting the Santa Ana River Watershed.
• Cloud Seeding / Weather Modification Pilot Program A weather modification pilot program utilizing ground-based silver iodide dispersal units to target precipitation enhancement in the Santa Ana River Watershed, operated from November 2023 to April 2024 and aiming to produce up to 15% more precipitation.
• Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CARP) A plan to identify climate risks and create a roadmap to reduce vulnerabilities in the Santa Ana River Watershed, supported by the Regional Resilience Grant Program at the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation.
• Water Use Efficiency Tools, legislation resources, aerial mapping, and water efficiency budget assistance to promote efficient water use across the watershed.
• DCI Program (Disadvantaged Community Involvement) Program providing translation services, the Trust the Tap campaign, community water internship, technical assistance, strengths and needs assessment, and mapping services to support disadvantaged communities.
• GIS Tools Geographic information system tools for mapping and spatial analysis of watershed data.
• Roundtables and Task Forces Regional planning efforts ensuring a range of voices in creating and implementing efforts to protect the river watershed, respect the environment, and provide cleaner water supplies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cloud seeding program aimed to produce up to 15% more precipitation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1975Eastern Municipal Water District is one of SAWPA's five founding member agencies. As a member of the Joint Powers Authority, EMWD participates in regional water planning, OWOW governance, and benefits from shared water infrastructure including the Inland Empire Brine Line. EMWD is a water utility serving Riverside County.
• Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1975Inland Empire Utilities Agency is one of SAWPA's five founding member agencies. IEUA participates in SAWPA Commission Board meetings and OWOW Committee activities, contributing to regional water supply and quality management in the Santa Ana River Watershed.
• Orange County Water District (OCWD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1975Orange County Water District is one of SAWPA's five member agencies and is responsible for managing the Orange County Groundwater Basin, which provides water to 2.5 million residents. OCWD collaborates with SAWPA on watershed planning, the Santa Ana River Judgment watermaster, and regional water supply initiatives.
• San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (SBVMWD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1975San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District is one of SAWPA's five member agencies. SBVMWD participates in SAWPA's State Water Project coordination, watershed planning, and hosts events such as Trails Day at Sunrise Ranch for watershed education.
• Western Municipal Water District (WMWD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1975Western Municipal Water District is one of SAWPA's five member agencies, contributing to regional water management and infrastructure planning in the western portion of the Santa Ana River Watershed in Riverside County.
• Lake Elsinore and San Jacinto Watersheds Authority (LESJWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLESJWA is a watershed authority comprised of five member agencies including City of Canyon Lake, City of Lake Elsinore, County of Riverside, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, and SAWPA. SAWPA participates in the LESJWA Water Summit and collaborative efforts to protect Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, and the surrounding watershed.
• California Department of Water ResourcesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe California Department of Water Resources provided partial funding for SAWPA's $1.2 million cloud seeding pilot program. This grant-funded partnership enables weather modification technology deployment in the Santa Ana River Watershed.
• Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAWPA's Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CARP) is supported by the Regional Resilience Grant Program at the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI). LCI provides grant funding and programmatic support for watershed resilience planning.
• Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAWPA participated in WRCOG's 35th Annual General Assembly in Temecula. WRCOG is governed by a General Assembly of elected representatives from its member agencies. The partnership facilitates regional coordination on water and land use planning.
• Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSAWPA staff attended MWDOC's Water Policy Forum & Dinner in Costa Mesa, which focused on California water management and the Sites Reservoir Project. SAWPA and MWDOC co-promote water policy events and webinars on Santa Ana River water supply.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Valley Water (Santa Clara Valley Water District): California's largest water district, providing wholesale water, flood protection, and stewardship for Santa Clara County. Comparable to SAWPA in statutory structure as a multi-purpose water agency delivering regional water supply, groundwater management, and watershed protection programs.
• Mojave Water Agency: A California water agency serving the Mojave Desert region with a focus on groundwater management, water supply reliability, and regional planning. Comparable as a regional-scale California water authority with similar state regulatory framing and member-agency structure.
• Southern Nevada Water Authority: A multi-agency regional water authority serving Las Vegas and surrounding communities. Comparable to SAWPA as a regional authority coordinating water supply, treatment, and reuse across multiple member agencies in a drought-prone Western US region.
• Central Arizona Project: A regional water delivery system delivering Colorado River water across central and southern Arizona via member-agency contracts. Comparable to SAWPA in inter-agency governance, large-scale water infrastructure, and reliance on recurring member/contractor revenue.
• Lake Elsinore and San Jacinto Watersheds Authority (LESJWA): A California watershed Joint Powers Authority protecting Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, and surrounding watersheds across five member agencies. Already an active partner of SAWPA, it operates the same JPA governance model and regional roundtables/task-force structure, making it the closest peer in form and function.
• San Diego County Water Authority: A regional wholesale water authority serving San Diego County through member agencies, comparable in statutory role and multi-agency governance to SAWPA. Both entities coordinate water supply reliability, infrastructure planning, and inter-agency agreements across Southern California.

Regional players

• Tampa Bay Water: A regional water supply authority serving the Tampa Bay area through member governments. Comparable as a multi-agency regional water authority model, though operating in Florida rather than California and primarily focused on water supply rather than watershed-scale coordination.

Broad incumbents

• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: The largest wholesale water supplier in Southern California, serving 26 member agencies including some SAWPA member districts. Functions as an upstream incumbent whose operational decisions materially affect SAWPA's planning and supply reliability, but it operates at much larger scale and across a broader portfolio.
• California Department of Water Resources: The state agency that grants funds SAWPA programs (including the $1.2M cloud seeding grant) and operates the State Water Project. Operates at the state level across all California watersheds rather than at the regional JPA scale.
• DC Water (D.C. Water and Sewer Authority): A regional water and wastewater utility serving the District of Columbia and surrounding jurisdictions. Comparable as a regional water/wastewater operator with both supply and treatment functions, but at much larger scale and under different statutory structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sawpa_water
• Xx.com/sawpa_water
• Facebookfacebook.com/sawpawater

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority