The groundwater supplies are sufficient to meet their needs, but the tribe wants more diverse water resources, said Alvarez, noting that the Barona tribe reached out to the water district to inquire about the possible water purchase agreement.Īn additional source of water is the Barona Water Reclamation Plant, which began recycling water in 1999 and was later expanded, Alvarez said.

Water storage tanks are distributed throughout the reservation and the resort has water retention ponds that look like lakes, Alvarez said. The Barona reservation, a community of 590 tribal members across 7,800 acres, currently relies on groundwater for its water supplies, said Sheilla Alvarez, director of government affairs for the tribe.

The water district uses 17 percent of its potable drinking water capacity, according to a 2021 report by the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). The Ramona water district has more than enough existing capacity to sell water to the neighboring Barona community and still be able to ensure long-term reliability, safety and availability of water to Ramona customers, Schmollinger said. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Ramona Sentinel. “Our good neighbors and friends in Ramona are in a fortunate position to have the capacity to sell water to us and we are prepared to purchase some of the available water for the stability and safety of our families and the residents of Ramona.” “We cannot rely on one single source of water,” he said. The extra water will serve critical fire protection needs and support existing homes and future home construction for the growing community, Welch said. Total sales to Barona have not yet been determined, said the water district’s Interim General Manager Craig Schmollinger.īarona Band of Mission Indians Tribal Chairman Raymond Welch said the tribe is taking the initiative to diversify its water sources in the face of a prolonged drought. In addition to selling drinking water to the reservation, which includes the Barona Resort & Casino, the water district aims to sell recycled water for the tribe’s golf course and other non-potable uses. Tuesday, April 12 at the Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane. The water district’s board of directors will consider the proposal at their meeting at 6 p.m.

The Ramona Municipal Water District and the Barona Band of Mission Indians are considering a water sales agreement that would serve a growing reservation population and help the community be better prepared for wildfires, officials said.

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