On Wednesday, March 18, 2020 the District filed application with San Diego County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to detach from San Diego County Water Authority (Water Authority). This is an enormous undertaking and unprecedented for the Water Authority and its member agencies.

Fallbrook Public Utility District (FPUD) also filed application with LAFCO. Due to their unique locations FPUD does not use the Water Authority's facilities or pipelines and Rainbow MWD already has four direct connections to Metropolitan Water District pipelines. The districts filed separate applications with the LAFCO to detach from the Water Authority, whose cost of water to Fallbrook and Rainbow MWD customers has risen on average more than 8% annually during the past 10 years. 

Fallbrook, Rainbow and Bonsall residents have been paying for decades to fund services and infrastructure to support other agencies further south in San Diego. Once RMWD and FPUD detach, these customers will be paying the true cost for their water services, as will RMWD and FPUD customers. 

LAFCO will review the districts’ applications, hold public hearings, and determine whether FPUD and/or RMWD can detach from the Water Authority. If the applications are approved by the commission, separate votes by customers of each district would then take place next year.

While the Water Authority has suggested the matter be voted on countywide, that provision is not called for by the Water Authority Act. The Act requires detachment be determined only by ratepayers in those districts seeking detachment.

To read the official press release download the PDF.

For more information about the impact the detachment may have on the District and its customers please stay informed by reading are monthly newsletters below.