The current water cycle is broken. Our only source of water enters as precipitation, then flows into the lake or soaks into the ground to become groundwater. After our community uses groundwater for our potable water needs, the wastewater is treated at the Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency's treatment plant and pumped out of the Big Bear Valley to irrigate crops in Lucerne Valley. Replenish Big Bear captures and purifies our lost water, and uses it to enhance water levels throughout the Big Bear Valley.
BBARWA is working with legal counsel and project beneficiaries to develop preliminary terms associated with the distribution of project water and future monetary contributions to the project. A Funding Letter of Intent with DWP and CSD will be considered by BBARWA's Governing Board on August 24, 2022. The Project has been recommended for $8,267,112 in funding under the 2022 Title XVI grant program.
Are there any other options for new water supplies?
Big Bear Valley’s remote location limits access to new water resources. Our only source of water enters as precipitation, then flows into the lake or soaks into the ground to become groundwater. Capturing this water after it is used and producing high-quality, advanced treated recycled water is the only reliable, cost-effective source for additional water supplies.
Many southern California communities rely on imported water from northern California through the State Water Project as a supplemental supply. However, imported water is not readily available in Big Bear due to the Valley’s high elevation and isolated location. The nearest imported water pipeline is in the Lucerne Valley and the water would have to be pumped nearly 4,000 feet vertically up to Big Bear. Previous evaluations showed that the cost of obtaining imported water would be approximately 2.5 times higher than the cost of producing recycled water through Replenish Big Bear. Also, imported water is not a local, reliable, drought-proof supply and supplies can be greatly reduced in times of drought when we need water most.
