Water Resources Master Plan Update

Planning for the Future of Our Water Resources

Public Draft Water Resources Master Plan Now Available for Review

 Alameda County Water District is pleased to announce the release of the Public Draft Water Resources Master Plan (WRMP or Plan).

 The WRMP is a critical long‑term planning document that will guide the District’s water supply strategy, infrastructure investments, and resilience planning for decades to come. Developed through extensive technical analysis and robust community engagement, the Plan reflects the priorities, values, and insights shared by interested parties and other community members throughout the planning process.

 The public comment period will be open until Sunday, March 22, 2026. We encourage all interested parties to review the Draft Plan and share feedback.

 Comments may be submitted in one of the following ways:

  • By adding comments directly through our online engagement platform (see below)
  • By submitting a written comment letter via email at WaterPlanning@acwd.com

 Your input is an essential part of this process and will help inform the final version of the WRMP.

 Following the closure of the public comment period, the District’s Board of Directors will hold a meeting on March 26, 2026 to review public comments on the Draft Plan and discuss the Final Plan. After this meeting, the WRMP will be finalized.

 Thank you for your continued participation and commitment to helping shape a reliable, sustainable, and resilient water future for Alameda County Water District.

 To comment on the WRMP Public Draft via our online engagement platform, click here. Create a log in or sign in to your existing account. Once you are signed in, click the Plan or Appendices image to view the document. The document will open in a screen reader. If you would like to make a comment, click within the document and a popup screen will open where you can write your comment. If you see another comment and would like to read it, click the bubble on the Plan page. You may also respond to others' comments this way.

 A PDF version of the WRMP Public Draft can be downloaded directly here:

Planning for a Resilient Water Future

The Alameda County Water District (ACWD) is advancing Phase 2 of its Water Resources Master Plan (WRMP), a comprehensive effort to secure reliable, affordable, and sustainable water supplies for our community through 2050 and beyond. The WRMP will serve as long-range planning document that will outline the District’s water supply strategy and inform many aspects of District planning, including our Capital Improvement Plan, compliance with the Urban Water Management Planning Act and Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, the 5-Year Engineering Report, and the 5-Year Strategic Plan. With a 25-year planning horizon, the 2025 WRMP will inform critical decision making on infrastructure, water supply investments, and water resource policies.

What’s New?

ACWD reviewed and evaluated a range of water supply portfolios using robust criteria, including reliability, local control, cost efficiency, regulatory risk, equity, environmental stewardship, adaptability, and more. Scenario modeling helped test each portfolio against future uncertainties, such as climate change. 

Portfolio Evaluation & Selection

After extensive analysis, staff recommended a portfolio with a three-phased approach:

  • Phase 1: Optimizes groundwater and surface water management at existing facilities, adds groundwater treatment for PFAS and hardness, and investigates a new imported water supply in tandem with adding a groundwater storage bank. This portfolio delivers high reliability at a relatively low cost, with zero projected shortages.
  • Phase 2: Builds on Phase 1 by adding a new groundwater facility in the southern end of ACWD’s service area, further strengthening supply resilience.
  • Phase 3: Adds purified water for recharge, maximizing reliability even under severe climate scenarios. 

Each phase is designed to be adaptive, allowing ACWD to respond to changing conditions and water demands while avoiding stranded investments.

Implementation Planning

ACWD’s approach prioritizes “low-regret” investments—actions that provide multiple benefits today and lay the groundwork for future enhancements. A monitoring and trigger framework will guide the timing of major investments, ensuring that costly steps are taken only when warranted by actual conditions. 

Our Goals for 2050

  • Build a sustainable, climate-adaptive water supply portfolio.
  • Ensure affordable and equitable water for all customers.
  • Maintain resilient infrastructure and optimized operations.
  • Protect and enhance healthy watersheds and aquifers.
  • Lead collaboratively in regional water management.

Presentations and Materials

Next Steps

ACWD is developing an implementation plan for the selected portfolio which involves  engaging stakeholders, identifying key decision points, and creating a monitoring and trigger framework. Upcoming workshops will focus on implementation, with a draft WRMP for public comment anticipated in March 2026.

Stay Informed 

Check back for updates as ACWD works to ensure a reliable water future for our community.