Private Well Owners (PWOs) are individuals or businesses that have a groundwater well that they operate independently of any water agency, and that supplies water for domestic use, livestock, irrigation, and/or commercial/industrial use. Any well serving up to four connections is considered an Individual Water System. To help ensure that the concerns and interests of PWOs are heard, two PWO representatives from within the basin serve on the SMGWA Board. Remember, sustainable groundwater levels benefit all users in the basin.

The Agency will be seeking a volunteer to fill one opening for the Well Owner Representative Alternate Director on the Agency Board. The application window is expected to open June 1, 2026.

We encourage every PWO in the Santa Margarita Basin to take the following actions:

• Sign up for the SMGWA email list
• Attend monthly Board meetings to learn more and share your ideas
• Utilize the Well Sounding Program and track the water levels in your well
• Read the PWO Frequently Asked Questions
• Read more about the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and the GSA Formation on the California Department of Water Resources SGMA Portal
• Still have questions? Contact us! 
  • Staff,
  • PWO Representatives (This mailbox is monitored by the current Well Owner Directors)

Well Management

• Consider installing a meter on your well so you know how much water you are using and track the progress of conservation efforts. 
• Check for and repair water leaks to avoid water waste and to extend the life of your well pump and equipment (installing a meter can help you quickly detect leaks). 
• Perform basic well maintenance.

Well Owner Representative Meeting (December, 2020)

• Recording: Well Owner Representative meeting held December 6, 2020
• Presentation: Groundwater in Your Well
• Presentation: How do Private Wells and Small Water Systems Impact the Basin
• Presentation: The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and the Role of Private Well Owners
• Presentation: Ways to be a Good Citizen of the Aquifer