Santa Margarita Water District (Calif.).

The Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD), Orange County's second largest water district, is located in southern Orange County, California.

It was formed in 1964, prior to the construction of the first residential neighborhood in the area, when the region was dominated by the 52,000-acre Rancho Mission Viejo. As of 2007, it serves the communities of Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Las Flores, Ladera Ranch, Talega, and the remaining 23,000-acres of Rancho Mission Viejo. The SMWD is governed by a five-member board of directors that is elected by residents within the district's boundaries.

From the description of Santa Margarita Water District records 1970-1982, bulk 1978-1981. (University of California, Irvine). WorldCat record id: 216935361

Historical Background

Biography

The Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD), Orange County's second largest water district, is located in southern Orange County, California. It was formed in 1964, prior to the construction of the first residential neighborhood in the area, when the region was dominated by the 52,000-acre Rancho Mission Viejo. As of 2007, it serves the communities of Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Las Flores, Ladera Ranch, Talega, and the remaining 23,000-acres of Rancho Mission Viejo. The SMWD is governed by a five-member board of directors that is elected by residents within the district's boundaries.

• 1964: SMWD established by a group of local landowners to supply water to their ranches.
• 1965: First SMWD Board of Directors meeting held.
• 1970: Began strategic planning to supply water to future communities scheduled to be built within the district.
• 1974: Established more than 800 connections, including to the newly constructed communities of Mission Viejo and Coto de Caza.
• 1981: Constructed the O'Neill Reservoir, the district's largest water storage facility.
• 1985: Began construction on Chiquita Water Reclamation Plant to provide sewage treatment for the neighborhoods of Coto de Caza, Rancho Santa Margarita, and part of the Trabuco Canyon Water District.
• 1990: Spearheaded construction of the South County Pipeline from Lake Forest to San Clemente.
• 1993: Completed South County Pipeline, the district's primary source of water.
• 2001: Expanded Chiquita Water Reclamation Plant.
• 2005: Began construction on two subterranean reservoirs intended to serve Ladera Ranch.

From the guide to the Santa Margarita Water District records, 1970-1982, bulk 1978-1981, (University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.)