What Are the Sources of Drinking Water for Inland Empire Residents?

The Southern California region known as the Inland Empire encompasses both Riverside and San Bernadino counties and lies due east of Los Angeles. This sprawling suburban area is home to many natural features including deserts, mountains and lush river valleys. Instead of just one source of drinking water, the Inland Empire relies on its natural features to provide its fresh water from a diverse array of sources. Much of this fresh water is stored in the Bunker Hill Basin.

Rivers

• The Santa Ana River is the major watershed of the Inland Empire area and is a source of water for human consumption by residents of the area. The river begins in the San Bernadino mountains and is fed by a complex network of streams and creeks is it grows. In fact, the Santa Ana River is the largest stream system in Southern California. The Santa Ana River and many of its tributaries, including Mill Creek and Little Creek, feed directly into the Bunker Hill Basin water reserve.

Snow and Rain

• The San Bernadino mountains reach up to over 11,000 feet, more than high enough to receive a thick blanket of snow every winter. This snow-melt and the infrequent rains that pepper the area throughout the year are major sources of fresh water that replenishes Bunker Hill Basin.

Imported Water

• A portion of the water used by Inland Empire residents is imported from Northern California via the California aqueduct. This 700 mile waterway brings fresh water from the Sacramento and other northern rivers, beginning in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, down to drier Southern California communities. The exact amount of water used each year from the aqueduct changes based on the needs of the Inland Empire area.

About Bunker Hill

• As the major supplier of drinking water for the Inland Empire, including the cities of San Bernadino, Riverside and the Redlands, Bunker Hill stores 5 million acre-feet of water. One acre-foot of water is enough to provide for a whole family for up to two years. Currently, Bunker Hill is the source of drinking water for over 650,000 people in the Inland Empire area.