Leaders from the Laguna Beach County Water District (District), the City of Newport Beach, and the City of Fountain Valley gathered at Crystal Cove State Park on November 6 to officially sign a Water Well Agreement, marking a major step forward in regional collaboration to secure a more reliable, affordable, and sustainable water future for Orange County.
The agreement formalizes the agencies shared commitment to the Fountain Valley Well Site Project, a cooperative effort that will deliver locally sourced groundwater to the region while reducing reliance on imported supplies. The partnership is founded on collaboration, efficiency, and a shared goal of protecting ratepayers and the environment.
Under the agreement, the District and Newport Beach will share ownership, costs, and production from the new Fountain Valley well. Newport Beach is leading the entitlement and planning process using in-house expertise, saving both agencies significant time and expense. Once complete, groundwater will be conveyed through Newport Beach’s existing transmission system, eliminating the need for costly new pipelines.
“This project shows what can be achieved when agencies work together toward a common goal,” said Alex Rounaghi, City of Laguna Beach Mayor and Board President of the District. “It’s also a full-circle moment for our community. A century ago, a group of Laguna Beach residents, under the guise of forming a Duck Hunting Club, looked north to drill their own wells, securing Laguna Beach’s first reliable water supply and establishing the District. Now, 100 years later, we’re once again looking north to develop a well that will provide local, sustainable water for the future. It’s a modern chapter in the same story of collaboration, creativity, and self-reliance that built this community.”
For the District, the project will provide up to two-thirds of its total water supply and allow full use of its 2,025-acre-foot entitlement to the Santa Ana Groundwater Basin. For Newport Beach, the new well strengthens an already robust groundwater portfolio, enhances water quality flexibility, bolsters long-term resilience, and allows them to achieve 100 percent local supply. For Fountain Valley, the agreement provides an emergency water connection from the well to improve water reliability, authorizes construction of a pipeline within the city’s water system to enhance operations, and includes funding that may be used for future well rehabilitation or public safety needs.
“Since our formation in 1925, the District has worked to deliver reliable, high-quality water to our community,” said Keith Van Der Maaten, General Manager. “This project builds on that legacy, giving Laguna Beach a locally controlled supply that’s more reliable, more affordable, and less dependent on imported sources. It’s a forward-looking investment that honors our past and safeguards our water future.”
Beyond the financial and operational benefits, the partnership underscores a shared commitment to environmental stewardship, reducing reliance on imported water, lowering the carbon footprint of deliveries, and advancing sustainable groundwater management through the Orange County Water District’s Santa Ana Basin.
The Fountain Valley Well Site Project exemplifies the power of regional cooperation and forward-thinking leadership. Together, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Fountain Valley are building a foundation for a more resilient and sustainable water future for Orange County residents.
