Standing Prepared for the Unexpected

Emergencies don't come with a warning-but Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) is always preparing for them.

Whether it's a wildfire, earthquake, storm, drought, or unexpected power outage, SMWD has a robust emergency preparedness strategy in place to protect your water supply and support first responders. As your local water provider, we work year-round to ensure water is available every day of the year, especially when you need it most.

Here's where that emergency supply comes from:

• Upper Chiquita Reservoir (Las Flores): 244 million gallons
• R6 Reservoir (Mission Viejo): 275 million gallons

And when it comes to fire protection, we've secured even more:

• 1.6 billion gallons at Trampas Reservoir (Ortega Highway)
• 1.3 billion gallons at Upper Oso Reservoir (Los Alisos & 241 Toll Road)

That's 3 billion gallons of recycled water ready to support firefighting aircraft and protect our community during wildfires.

Powering Through Outages with Backup Systems
SMWD has installed backup generators at key facilities throughout its service area to ensure uninterrupted water operations during power outages. Facilities that don't have permanent generators are wired for quick connection to portable generators, and several sites in high-risk fire areas are now supported by battery backup systems.

HeloPods: Fast Water for Aerial Firefighting
During wildfires, every second counts.

SMWD partners with the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) to support a HeloPod-a high-capacity helicopter refill station-located at the Quest Diagnostics property in San Juan Capistrano.

This system:

• Holds 3,700 gallons of water and can pump 800 gallons per minute
• Allows helicopters to refill in minutes without landing
• Increases drop efficiency by up to 300%

With our infrastructure and support, aerial crews can drop more water in less time-buying valuable time in fast-moving fire conditions.

Fire Hydrants, Inspections & Preparedness
Fire hydrants are a vital part of emergency response. SMWD maintains nearly 9,000 hydrants across our service area, each inspected on a 1-2-year rotating schedule to ensure it's ready to go when first responders need it.

Emergency Response in Action: The Airport Fire
In early 2025, when the Airport Fire broke out in Southern California, SMWD sprang into action:

• 640,000 gallons of water were drawn from Upper Oso Reservoir
• 87,000 gallons were pulled from nearby fire hydrants
• 727,000 gallons total supported firefighting efforts

These numbers reflect SMWD's hands-on approach-ensuring infrastructure, equipment, and resources are in place before the fire starts.

Coordinating with Regional Partners
Preparedness isn't a solo mission. SMWD works closely with:

• Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA)
• Local emergency responders
• Neighboring water districts and agencies

Together, we ensure water and emergency systems are aligned, responsive, and ready.

How Will We Reach You in an Emergency?
Stay connected! In the event of an emergency, we'll use your contact information to keep you updated. Make sure your email and phone number are current by contacting us at (949) 459-6420 or [email protected].

Your Water. Your Safety. Our Priority.
At Santa Margarita Water District, emergency preparedness is more than a plan-it's a promise. We're investing today to protect tomorrow, because when the unexpected strikes, you're water shouldn't be one more thing to worry about.

Let's stay ready-together.