Facilities Description
 Approximately six miles south of the Riverside-San Diego County line, the
Water Authority takes delivery of imported water that the Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California (MWD) has conveyed from Lake Skinner in
Riverside County. Through five large-diameter pipelines that traverse the
county north to south, the Water Authority delivers this water to its member
agencies. The pipelines are 48 to 108 inches in diameter, and carry either
filtered or unfiltered water. They have a combined capacity to carry 900
million gallons a day. That's enough water to fill more than 3,000 bathtubs
per minute, every minute of the day.
Most of the pipelines in the aqueduct system have been constructed to
deliver water by gravity. However, pipeline sections constructed after 1993
are strong enough to withstand pumping pressure that could send water in the
opposite direction in case of an emergency.
The pipelines are divided into two alignments, or routes, known as the First
Aqueduct and the Second Aqueduct. The First Aqueduct includes Pipelines 1
and 2. The Second Aqueduct includes Pipelines 3, 4 and 5. The newer
sections of these pipelines also have names reflecting the communities where
they are located.
Four additional, shorter pipelines run east and west connecting the two
aqueducts.
In addition to the major pipelines, many other aqueduct system components
are needed to keep the water flowing. Flow control facilities, pump
stations and other facilities all along the pipelines must be operated
around the clock. These facilities ensure that the right amount of water is
flowing to meet the needs of the member agencies and their customers."
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