What Mojave Water Agency does

Mojave Water Agency (MWA) is a public water agency organized under the California Water Code, headquartered in Apple Valley, California, that functions as a wholesale water provider and groundwater manager for a 4,900-square-mile service area in the High Desert portion of San Bernardino County. The agency's principal customers are local water purveyors — cities (Barstow, Victorville), community services districts (Phelan Pinon Hills, Helendale, Hesperia Recreation and Park District), private utilities such as Golden State Water Company, and approximately 450 adjudicated groundwater-producing parties — to whom it delivers imported State Water Project water and provides court-administered Watermaster oversight of roughly 1,700 wells.

MWA's core assets are 89,800 acre-feet per year of State Water Project Table A entitlements (an initial 50,800 AF secured at founding in 1960, plus 25,000 AF purchased in 1998 and 14,000 AF purchased in 2009), the 71-mile Morongo Basin Pipeline serving ~60,000 people across 455 square miles, and the 72-mile Mojave River Pipeline delivering up to 45,000 acre-feet per year of imported water to recharge basins. Operational technology consists of scientific-grade weather stations, hydraulic and groundwater-basin modeling software, asset management systems, and a public real-time water data web platform built with data partnerships (notably USGS). The agency also operates recharge facilities, a hydro-electric facility on existing infrastructure, and the Small Water Systems Assistance Program for disadvantaged communities.

MWA's revenue model blends two property tax assessments (MWA Debt-1 permanently set at 11.25 cents per $100 of land-only assessed value to fund SWP capital costs, and MWA Debt-2 at 5.5 cents per $100 of land-and-improvements value to fund debt service and administration), usage-based wholesale water sales and construction-water rates, assessments on producers who exceed adjudicated pumping rights, fees for recording water transfers, and federal/state grants. The agency is governed by a seven-member elected Board of Directors, with Adnan Anabtawi serving as General Manager since April 2023.

Name

Mojave Water Agency

Legal name

Mojave Water Agency

Website

https://mojavewater.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mojave Water Agency is a California special district that wholesales State Water Project water and manages adjudicated groundwater rights across a 4,900-square-mile High Desert service area. It serves roughly 450 water-producing parties through pipelines and court-appointed Watermaster services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Utility Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

Keywords

• Wholesale water supply
• Groundwater management
• Watermaster services
• State water project
• Water infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Apple Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue (MWA Debt-1): Property taxes assessed on all property within MWA boundaries to fund State Water Project capital costs. MWA Debt-1 is permanently set at 11.25 cents per $100 of assessed value of land only. The rate cannot rise but the amount can increase with property value increases.
2. Property Tax Revenue (MWA Debt-2): Supplement to MWA Debt-1, levied to pay Agency debt service and fund administration. Currently set at 5.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation on land and improvements. Used for additional SWP costs, water purchases, and facility construction.
3. Water Sales and Assessments: Revenue from water sales to purveyors, assessment fees on producers who exceed their Free Production Allowance, and charges for water transfers. Producers who need more water than assigned must pay for excess or purchase transfer rights.
4. Grant Funding: Federal and state grant funding for infrastructure projects, drought resiliency, and research initiatives. Examples include $1.75 million EPA Community Project Grant for MPR Traveling Screen and $12 million grant for water banking study.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mojave Water Agency is a wholesale water provider and basin manager serving a 4,900 square mile area of California's High Desert. The agency delivers imported State Water Project water through the 71-mile Morongo Basin Pipeline and 72-mile Mojave River Pipeline, operates as the court-appointed Watermaster for the adjudicated Mojave Basin Area overseeing approximately 1,700 wells and 450 parties, and manages groundwater recharge and water banking facilities.

Product overview

Mojave Water Agency is a regional water wholesaler and manager (not a technology product company) providing water supply management, groundwater basin stewardship, and infrastructure services across 4,900 square miles of the High Desert in California. The agency's core offerings include imported water delivery via the State Water Project through the Morongo Basin Pipeline and Mojave River Pipeline, watermaster services for the adjudicated Mojave Basin Area, real-time water data monitoring tools, and conservation programs including Water University educational workshops and the Alliance for Water Awareness and Conservation (AWAC) coalition. The agency serves as one of 29 State Water Project contractors with entitlements to 89,800 acre-feet of water annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Supply Management Groundwater and imported water supply management for the Mojave region, including State Water Project entitlements and local source monitoring, provided to water purveyors and districts.
• Mojave Basin Area Watermaster Court-appointed groundwater rights monitoring service that tracks water production for approximately 450 parties and 1,700 wells, collects assessments, and manages water transfers within the adjudicated Mojave Basin Area.
• Morongo Basin Pipeline 71-mile underground pipeline delivering water from the California Aqueduct to the Morongo Basin, serving nearly 60,000 people across 455 square miles including Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, Landers, and Johnson Valley.
• Mojave River Pipeline 72-mile gravity-flow pipeline delivering up to 45,000 acre-feet of imported water annually from the California Aqueduct to Victorville and Newberry Springs recharge basins.
• Real-Time Water Data Tools Interactive web-based platform providing real-time water data including discharge rates, weather station information, water levels, and water quality monitoring for the public and water professionals.
• Water University Educational workshop series including Wonders of Water, Water Summit, Water Symposium, and instructional videos teaching water conservation practices to community members and professionals.
• Small Water Systems Assistance Program Program providing technical and operational support to small water systems and disadvantaged communities, helping them meet water resource needs and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Alliance for Water Awareness and Conservation (AWAC) Voluntary coalition of public and private organizations promoting water conservation throughout the High Desert region, focusing on education and community engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45,000 acre-feet per year capacity for imported water delivery via Mojave River Pipeline
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Nicholas Construction, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023Construction company awarded contract for MWA's Mojave River Pipeline Traveling Screen Project (2025).
• State Water Contractors (SWC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1960MWA is one of 29 State Water Contractors with rights to take delivery of State Water Project water from the California Aqueduct. MWA collaborates with other SWP contractors on water supply planning, cost management, regulatory advocacy, and infrastructure projects including the Delta Conveyance Project.
• California Department of Water Resources (DWR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1960DWR owns and operates the State Water Project infrastructure. MWA has a contract with DWR for water delivery and pays capital costs, operations, and maintenance costs as a SWP contractor.
• Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization of water agencies that MWA works with on legislative advocacy, regulatory matters, and policy development affecting California's water supply.
• California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation representing municipal utilities that MWA collaborates with on legislative and regulatory matters affecting water utilities.
• California Groundwater CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition working on groundwater management issues that MWA partners with on state and federal legislation affecting groundwater.
• Alliance for Water Awareness and Conservation (AWAC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoluntary coalition of public and private organizations promoting water conservation throughout the High Desert. MWA provides leadership and support to AWAC and collaborates on conservation programs and education.
• San Bernardino CountymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal county government that MWA works with on land use planning, special districts, and regional water management issues.
• United States Geological Survey (USGS)majorTechnology or IntegrationOngoing partnership to maintain highest quality water and geological data. MWA collaborates with USGS on monitoring networks and data collection.
• Mojave Desert Resource Conservation District (MDRCD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal conservation district that MWA partners with on water use efficiency and conservation efforts, with annual scope of work updates.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Inland Empire Utilities Agency: Regional wholesale water agency in adjacent Southern California territory providing imported water, groundwater management, and recycled water services comparable to MWA's portfolio.
• Kern County Water Agency: Major SWP contractor serving agricultural and municipal water users in California's Central Valley; directly comparable as an SWP entitlement holder operating groundwater banking and wholesale conveyance.
• San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District: Regional wholesale water agency in San Bernardino County with overlapping territory and shared SWP-related infrastructure needs; directly comparable geography and customer base to MWA.
• Santa Clara Valley Water: California wholesale water agency managing imported supply, groundwater, and water utility operations across a defined service area - highly comparable in mission and operations to Mojave Water Agency.
• San Diego County Water Authority: Large SWP-aligned wholesale water authority serving Southern California; comparable in scale, governance structure, and reliance on imported supply with MWA.
• Coachella Valley Water District: Desert-region California water district managing groundwater recharge, imported supply, and irrigation in a similarly arid basin; directly comparable customer mix (agriculture, municipalities, small systems).
• Antelope Valley East Kern Water Agency: Neighboring California SWP contractor in the western Mojave/Antelope Valley, delivering wholesale imported water to purveyors - directly comparable service area, infrastructure model, and SWP entitlement structure to Mojave Water Agency.

Emerging players

• Sites Project Joint Powers Authority: Emerging off-stream reservoir project formed by northern California SWP contractors; relevant as a peer scaling new groundwater banking/water storage infrastructure similar to MWA's West Victorville pilot.

Regional players

• Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company: Private retail water utility serving the same Apple Valley footprint as MWA's headquarters - directly comparable on customer geography though operating as a retail IOUs vs. wholesale distributor.

Broad incumbents

• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: Large regional wholesaler that is MWA's upstream SWP counterparty - a broader incumbent that supplies imported water across Southern California and overlaps on policy advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mojavewater
• Instagraminstagram.com/mojavewater

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Mojave Water Agency