The Laguna Beach County Water District (LBCWD), the City of Newport Beach, and the City of Fountain Valley have been named winners of the 2026 Association of California Cities, Orange County (ACC-OC) Golden Hub of Innovation Award in the Environmental Sustainability and Energy Efficiency category for their collaborative Groundwater Well Site Project.

The award was announced during the Golden Hub of Innovation Awards dinner on June 24, in Yorba Linda. The project was recognized for its innovative regional approach to strengthening local water reliability, reducing reliance on imported water, maximizing existing infrastructure, and delivering long-term value to ratepayers.

The annual Golden Hub of Innovation Awards recognize projects that demonstrate exceptional leadership, creativity, innovation, and measurable community impact. This year’s awards included more than 60 highly competitive nominations submitted by organizations throughout Orange County.

“This award reflects the strength of partnership and the importance of thinking regionally when it comes to water reliability,” said Keith Van Der Maaten, LBCWD General Manager. “The Fountain Valley Well Project is a practical, forward-looking investment that will help reduce imported water costs, improve local control, and support a more reliable water future for Laguna Beach and our regional partners.”

The Groundwater Well Site Project brings together three public agencies with a shared goal: developing a new drinking water production well in Fountain Valley that will help secure a more reliable and cost-effective local water supply. Rather than each agency pursuing separate infrastructure, the partnership allows sharing resources, expertise, costs, and benefits.

The well will draw water from the Santa Ana Groundwater Basin, one of the most sustainably managed groundwater basins in the world. For LBCWD, the project is expected to provide up to two-thirds of the District’s total water supply while allowing the District to fully utilize its 2,025-acre-foot annual groundwater entitlement. By replacing more expensive imported water supplies, the project is projected to save the District between $500,000 and $1 million annually, with even greater savings possible as imported water costs continue to rise.

A key innovation of the project is its use of existing regional infrastructure. Groundwater produced from the well will be conveyed through Newport Beach’s existing transmission system, eliminating the need for costly new pipelines and reducing overall project expenses.

Beyond cost savings, the project will strengthen water supply reliability, reduce reliance on imported water from Northern California and the Colorado River, lower the energy and emissions associated with transporting water across hundreds of miles, and improve regional resilience to drought and climate change.

The project also provides operational and water quality benefits for Newport Beach by enhancing its already robust groundwater program with a new well.

As California communities continue to look for cost-effective and sustainable water solutions, the Fountain Valley Well Site Project demonstrates how public agencies can work together to leverage existing assets, reduce costs, strengthen reliability, and deliver lasting value to ratepayers and taxpayers.

Representatives from the Laguna Beach County Water District, the City of Newport Beach, and the City of Fountain Valley are recognized for the Groundwater Well Site Project, a regional partnership to develop a new drinking water production well in Fountain Valley. The project will help strengthen local water reliability, reduce dependence on imported water, make use of existing infrastructure, and provide long-term cost savings for ratepayers.