group waiting for tour at water facility

Tour Key Water Systems Facilities

The Water Authority’s four delegates to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board of Directors regularly host tours – also called inspection trips – of major water facilities statewide, including the State Water Project/Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta and the Colorado River Aqueduct. The tours help elected and appointed officials, business and environmental community leaders, civic leaders, educators and other stakeholders learn about current and historical water issues from statewide, regional and local perspectives.

The tours showcase the collaboration between the Water Authority and MWD on water reliability efforts and provide participants a first-hand look at the magnitude of the systems that supply water to Southern California.

MWD Tour Eligibility & Availability

Transportation, lodging and meals are provided by MWD. Participation is limited. Trip participants must be 18 years of age or older, and background checks may be required to visit secure federal, state and local facilities.

Request To Be Added to the Water Authority’s MWD Tour Interest List 

If you are interested in participating on an MWD tour, please fill out the interest form below. Please note due to the popularity of these tours, space is extremely limited. Thank you for your interest. 

State Water Project/Bay-Delta

Tours

These tours focus on the largest state-built water and power system in the nation, which runs hundreds of miles from Northern California to Southern California. Guests learn about the complex issues influencing how the system operates and the numerous challenges facing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta.

Trip participants may visit key State Water Project facilities, meet with legislative representatives, and receive detailed presentations and updates from Bay-Delta experts.

Colorado River Aqueduct

Tours

These tours focus on the Colorado River Aqueduct, the 242-mile-long system of pumping plants, pipes and canals that brings Colorado River water into Southern California. Tours span the Lower Colorado River region and may include visits to Hoover Dam, the All-American Canal, the Coachella Canal, and other critical components of the historic Colorado River Quantification Settlement Agreement.

Guests may also visit facilities in the San Diego County region, such as the Water Authority’s Olivenhain Dam and Reservoir and San Vicente Dam, as well as MWD’s Diamond Valley Lake and Robert A. Skinner Water Treatment Plant in Riverside County.