Western Heights Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Pilot Project

The Western Heights Aquifer Storage and Recovery Pilot Project is a 24-month initiative led by the Yucaipa Valley Water District to test the feasibility of storing treated potable water in the local aquifer by modifying two existing groundwater wells for injection. Up to 700 acre-feet per year of water sourced from the Yucaipa Valley Water District will be injected during the pilot phase to evaluate optimal flow rates and annual storage volumes, laying the groundwork for a potential full-scale ASR system. The stored water will be recovered through existing production wells to bolster water supply resilience during droughts or infrastructure failures, with the reclaimed water available for use by both the Yucaipa Valley Water District and Western Heights Water Company. The project is situated in Yucaipa, California, and serves as a critical step toward enhancing regional water security through subsurface storage. All data gathered during the pilot will inform the design and operational parameters of any future expansion, ensuring the system meets reliability and efficiency standards. Jennifer Ares, Resource Manager at the Yucaipa Valley Water District, is the primary point of contact for the initiative, which was posted as a forecast on June 18, 2026, with no formal solicitation number or set-aside status assigned at this stage.