2022-2023 Engineer’s Report on the Groundwater Conditions, Water Supply and Basin Utilization in the Orange County Water District

Total water demands within Orange County Water District (OCWD) were 351,719 acre feet (AF) for the 2022-23 water year (beginning on July 1, 2022 and ending on June 30, 2023). Groundwater production for the water year totaled 245,210 AF including any available In-Lieu Program water. The use of supplemental water in OCWD’s service area during the 2022-23 water year totaled 107,723 AF of which 88,441 AF resulted from the direct use by water agencies and districts and 19,282 AF were used for the purpose of groundwater basin replenishment and maintenance of seawater intrusion control barriers. For the water year which ended on June 30, 2023, the “annual overdraft” (annual basin storage decrease without supplemental replenishment water) was 52,250 AF. The accumulated overdraft decreased from 258,000 AF on June 30, 2022 to 189,000 AF on June 30, 2023. Precipitation within the groundwater basin was one hundred fifty eight percent of the long-term average during this water year, totaling 21.12 inches. Based on the groundwater basin conditions for the water year ending on June 30, 2023, OCWD may purchase up to 123,000 AF of water for groundwater replenishment during the ensuing water year, beginning on July 1, 2024, pursuant to the District Act.