Santa Margarita Water District

Upper Chiquita Reservoir

A Safe and Sensible Solution to Regional Water Planning

The Santa Margarita Water District imports its domestic water supply and is committed to its customers to plan and develop water infrastructure facilities to protect and enhance local supply reliability.

In response to this commitment, SMWD has constructed the Upper Chiquita Reservoir to provide the region with substantial new water reserves to meet customer demand during disruptions of water deliveries to the District. These interruptions can be unanticipated, like the break of the District’s primary supply pipeline in 1999, or planned, like the recent shutdown of the Diemer Filtration plant in Yorba Linda.

The Upper Chiquita Reservoir is located on the western slope of Chiquita Canyon, just north of Oso Parkway in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita. Completed in October 2011, the 244-million gallon Upper Chiquita Reservoir is the largest domestic water reservoir built in south Orange County in nearly 45 years.

Weekly Panorama View

Loading...

Image updated 09/06/2011

Construction on the Upper Chiquita Reservoir continues to move forward since its groundbreaking in June 2009. The photo, which views the UCR project looking north towards the Saddleback Mountains, shows the actual cut of the reservoir from end to end. View Full Image

Reservoir Facts & Figures

Storage capacity of approximately 244 million gallons of domestic water (750 acre-feet)
Surface area of approximately 17.8 acres
The first, large-scale emergency potable water reservoir built in decades in Orange County
A regional partnership between SMWD (lead agency), Moulton Niguel Water District, City of San Juan Capistrano, City of San Clemente and South Coast Water District

Reservoir Benefits

Regional emergency water supply during planned or unplanned service disruptions
Capable of providing upwards of 168,000 families with approximately 200 gallons of fresh water a day for one week
Included in the South Orange County Natural Community Conservation Plan, which designates habitat conservation and species protection measures to ensure an environmentally sensitive design
Reservoir will not be visible from homes in local neighborhoods, including Las Flores and Wagon Wheel
Earthen embankment will significantly reduce any visual impacts while traveling west along Oso Parkway near Highway 241

Safety

Reservoir design conforms to the rigorous standards set forth by the State of California
Safety features, including piezometers (moisture sensors), will continually monitor water levels and test for irregularities

Reservoir Timing

June 2009: Groundbreaking
October 2011: Construction completed, reservoir operational

In the News

Securing the Water Supply

San Clemente Times - July 7, 2011

Whether it comes from the Colorado River or Northern California, the last leg of the journey for San Clemente’s drinking water begins in Yorba Linda, at the Robert B. Diemer Treatment Plant. From Diemer—a massive plant that puts out enough water daily to fill the Rose Bowl every hour—the water travels nearly 50 miles through a series of pipes buried beneath toll roads and city streets to supply virtually all of South Orange County’s drinking-water needs. Read More...

May 2011 - Installation of the reservoir's inner lining

July 20, 2011 Aerial view of the reservoir with inner lining installed

Your Questions Answered

Is the reservoir safe to build?

Yes. The reservoir will include many safety features, including moisture sensors and an impermeable cover and liner which both preserves the water quality and reduces the risks of catastrophic failure by virtually eliminating seepage. Additionally, the reservoir will be constructed to the rigorous standards set forth by the State of California, and the State inspectors will be present during construction to ensure that the facility is built to current standards.

Will the reservoir be viewable from my home?

No. The Upper Chiquita Reservoir is not viewable from local neighborhoods, including Las Flores and Wagon Wheel. The scenic view shed along Oso Parkway will also be protected as a result of the reservoir’s earthen embankment design.

Are there any other locations where the reservoir could be built?

SMWD has studied numerous locations for the construction of emergency storage reservoirs. However, the Upper Chiquita Reservoir site’s geography, geology and proximity to regional pipelines make it the safest and most viable location. And because its construction was anticipated in the South Orange County Natural Community Conservation Plan and coordinated with the Upper Chiquita Conservation Easement, it is environmentally sensitive.

Is the reservoir intended to serve future residential or commercial development?

The Upper Chiquita Reservoir is planned as an emergency supply storage facility, which means that it’s not intended to serve any particular residential community or business area. Rather, it will be available to provide emergency water wherever it is needed within the District, or the other districts participating in its construction.

Is SMWD responsible for financing the entire reservoir?

No. SMWD has partnered with other south Orange County water agencies to fund the design, construction and maintenance of the Upper Chiquita Reservoir.