Photographs courtesy of
Sally Leonard Photography
Recharge Water
The Hi-Desert Water District pumps approximately 3,000 acre feet per year of groundwater to supply its customers. The main groundwater source is from a basin known as the Warren Valley Groundwater Basin, which underlies the Yucca Valley area. The District also has pumping rights to an adjacent groundwater basin known as the Ames Valley Basin for 800 acre feet of water per year.
In January 1995, the District started importing State Water Project water via the Morongo Basin Pipeline. The 71 mile pipeline runs from the State Project canal located in Hesperia to Yucca Valley. Water received via the pipeline is recharged into the Warren Valley Basin through two percolation ponds. By recharging the water, this prevents the need to construct a treatment plant since percolation acts as a natural filter.
Currently, the District’s allotment of State Water Project water is 4,270 acre feet per year through the Morongo Basin Pipeline.