Hesperia Water District adopts pioneering regional 2025 Urban Water Management Plan

Hesperia Water District adopts pioneering regional 2025 Urban Water Management PlanThe district unanimously approved its 2025 UWMP as part of a collaborative Mojave region plan, outlining strategies to meet future population growth through managed groundwater and a significant expansion of recycled water.

The Board of Directors voted 5-0 to adopt the plan, which is integrated into a 702-page regional document encompassing the Mojave Water Agency and 10 retail providers.

Hesperia's population is projected to grow by 30,000 over the next 30 years, driving water demand from 13,481 acre-feet in 2025 to approximately 16,000 acre-feet by 2050.

The district will rely on a native groundwater Free Production Allowance of roughly 10,700 acre-feet, supplemented by imported replacement water and recycled water.

Recycled water deliveries are projected to expand from under 400 acre-feet currently to as much as 3,000 acre-feet over the next 25 years.

Regional pre-stored groundwater reserves of 200,000 acre-feet will ensure zero supply deficiencies during single- and multi-year droughts.

The Hesperia Water District Board of Directors unanimously approved its 2025 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) on June 2, marking a milestone in regional water planning for the California high desert. Rather than a standalone document, Hesperia's plan serves as a dedicated chapter within the broader Mojave Regional Urban Water Management Plan. According to Greg Young, a principal at the consulting firm Zanjero, this collaborative 702-page document is the first regional plan in California to integrate a wholesale supplier—the Mojave Water Agency—with 10 retail water entities. The regional approach was designed to provide financial savings and establish a common characterization of the shared Mojave River Groundwater Basin. The UWMP outlines Hesperia's strategy to accommodate significant anticipated growth. The district's population, currently around 120,000, is projected to expand by 30,000 residents over the next 20 to 30 years. Consequently, annual water demand is forecast to increase from the 13,481 acre-feet delivered in 2025 to approximately 16,000 acre-feet by 2050. To meet this 3,000 acre-foot increase, the district will continue to rely on a managed groundwater strategy. Hesperia's native water supply is governed by the Mojave Basin Area Adjudication, which currently provides a Free Production Allowance of approximately 10,700 acre-feet per year. The balance of the district's demand will be met through imported replacement water delivered by the Mojave Water Agency and a significant scale-up of local recycled water. Young noted that the district expects to expand its recycled water deliveries from just under 400 acre-feet currently to as much as 3,000 acre-feet over the next 25 years. Despite the projected population boom, overall demand growth is being tempered by increasing water use efficiency. Young explained to the Board that while current water use sits just over 100 gallons per capita per day (GPCD), new regulations and plumbing codes will drive future residential use into the 70s. When blended with existing housing and non-residential uses, the district's overall average is projected to stabilize around 95 GPCD. The UWMP affirms Hesperia's long-term supply reliability under normal, single-dry, and five-year drought conditions. Because the district relies entirely on groundwater, its demand effectively dictates its supply pumping. During dry years when imported State Water Project deliveries to the Mojave Water Agency are curtailed, the region will draw upon approximately 200,000 acre-feet of pre-stored groundwater to meet shortfalls, ensuring zero deficiencies for Hesperia customers through 2050.