Your Water Provider

Founded in 1953, Rainbow Water treats and delivers water to over 8,800 customers and 3,260 sewer customers within an 82-square mile service area. One hundred precent of Rainbow Water District's water demand is supplied by imported water from Metropolitan Water District's Robert A. Skinner Water Treatment Plant in Temecula, Riverside County (pictured above). Water is sourced from the Northern Sierra Mountains through the State Water Project, and the Rocky Mountains through the Colorado River Aqueduct.

Where We Get Our Water:

The Rainbow Municipal Water District is at the end of a vast and expensive water delivery system that stretches hundreds of miles.  This system takes water from where it is more plentiful in the Rocky Mountains and Northern California, and brings that water to Southern California through a series of aqueducts, serving over 8200 meters to Rainbow and Bonsall and portions of Fallbrook, Vista, Pala, and Oceanside.

Water from the Rocky Mountains is diverted from the Colorado River and transported 241 miles to San Diego County through the Colorado River Aqueduct.  On an average, approximately 75% of the water imported into San Diego County arrives from the Colorado River.  Water from Northern California is diverted from the Sacramento River Delta and brought 444 miles to San Diego County through the California Aqueduct.

Both sources of water end up in the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's treatment facility where they are blended and treated at the Robert A. Skinner Filtration Plant located south of Hemet in Riverside County.  The water is then available for purchase by Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) and is distributed to its member agencies including Rainbow Water.

How We Keep It Clean:

The water contains a mixture of chlorine and ammonia, which creates a strong disinfectant known as chloramines.  Chlorine residual is constantly monitored, and when applicable,, Rainbow Water injects small amounts of chlorine into the water.  Should a water quality problem ever occur, Rainbow Water is prepared to take remedial action as set forth in an Operational Plan approved by the Department of Health Services.

Rainbow Water outinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to federal and state laws.  Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants.  The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.  More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 or look for it on the EPA's website.

The Functions Of This Water District:

Source of Supply - The District purchases water for distribution within the District from Eastern Municipal Water District in Perris, Riverside County.  Approximately 20,000 acre-feet of water are needed to serve the District customers each year.

Pumping - Pipelines that bring water to the District from EMWD are often located below the areas needed to be served.  This necessitates that some water be pumped uphill to tanks located high enough to allow the water to be stored until Rainbow Water customers need the water.

Operations and Distribution - In order to keep the water flowing through the system, Rainbow Water uses water mains, storage reservoirs, and pumps.  Continued reliability of the system requires monitoring, repair, installation, and maintenance of Rainbow Water's facilities.

Meter Services - All water delivered to customers is measured through individual meters.  Meter Services install, read, test, and maintain these meters.

For additional water quality or operational clarification, please contact Rainbow Water at (760) 728-1178.  For more up to date information on Rainbow Water, customers are invited to attend Board of Directors and Committee meetings online or in person.  The meetings are held with Open Session discussions and take place at the Rainbow Water office located at 3707 Old Highway 395, Fallbrook, CA 92028.