OCWD pivots recharge model from planning to real-time operations

OCWD pivots recharge model from planning to real-time operationsThe District has tapped Jacobs to modernize its 17-year-old GoldSim model, integrating electricity pricing and storm forecasting to guide daily operator decisions.

The Water Issues Committee recommended a $99,620 agreement with Jacobs to update the Recharge Facilities Model.

The update aims to convert a 17-year-old planning tool into a dashboard for daily operational decision-making.

New capabilities will include electricity cost optimization to balance pumping expenses against recharge goals.

The system will integrate short-term weather forecasts to manage the Prado Dam conservation pool more efficiently.

The project is scheduled for completion by late summer 2026, ahead of the winter storm season.

The Orange County Water District (OCWD) is set to overhaul its digital infrastructure for groundwater management, moving to transform its existing recharge model into a real-time decision support tool for operators. On February 11, 2026, the Water Issues Committee recommended the Board approve a $99,620 agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. to update and add operational capabilities to the District’s Recharge Facilities Model. Originally developed in 2009 by CH2M Hill (now Jacobs), the GoldSim-based model has served effectively as a long-term planning instrument for nearly 17 years. The update leverages Jacobs' broader expertise in integrated water resources management—backed by a portfolio of over 150 water sector projects worldwide—to address the system's growing complexity. However, Recharge Planning Manager Adam Hutchinson told the committee that the current system lacks the agility required for day-to-day operations. "The model we currently have is a great planning tool for long-term planning, but it lacks limited real-time decision-making capabilities," Hutchinson said. The update is driven by the complexity of the District’s recharge system, which manages flows from the Santa Ana River, imported water, and the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) across a network of basins in Anaheim and Orange. A critical function of the system is managing the water conservation pool behind the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Prado Dam. Hutchinson noted that operations at the dam are "critical and time-sensitive." The scope of work involves modernizing the software to eliminate dependencies on external Excel spreadsheets, which currently slow down runtimes. The new iteration will feature integrated dashboards designed for operators rather than planners. A key addition to the model will be financial optimization regarding energy consumption. "Pumping water is very expensive, so we're going to put the electrical cost into the model," Hutchinson explained. This feature will allow operators to run scenarios to determine how to maximize recharge while minimizing electrical expense. The upgraded model will also integrate forecasting capabilities. Operators will be able to input initial conditions—such as current basin levels and the pool elevation behind Prado Dam—and simulate multiple strategies to drain the conservation pool ahead of incoming storms. "If we see a forecast of additional water coming, we can put that into the model," Hutchinson said, allowing the system to suggest operational changes based on future storm flows. The District aims to complete the update by the end of summer 2026 to ensure the tool is available for the 2026-27 winter storm season. The urgency of optimized operations was underscored by current conditions reported at the meeting; the General Manager noted that facilities in Anaheim were "completely full" and the District was storing over 5,000 acre-feet behind Prado Dam, with significant rainfall forecast for the following week.