Desert Water Agency was founded as a groundwater management agency in the western Coachella Valley in 1961 and started providing water service to customers in Palm Springs and Cathedral City in 1968. DWA is one of only 29 State Water Project contractors in California. This gives the Agency the ability to import water, which is used to recharge the local groundwater basin (the main source of water in our desert). DWA currently has about 24,000 domestic water connections that serve approximately 75,000 people (including seasonal population). 

When you turn the tap, we're there.

DWA is a not-for-profit government agency. The Agency is not a city department, but we do work closely with our counterparts at the City of Palm Springs and Cathedral City. 

Our team of 95 employees is led by a publicly elected, five-member Board of Directors. Board meetings are on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 8 a.m. at 1200 S. Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs. All members of the public are welcome to attend in person or virtually. Click here for more details about the Board.

Desert Water Agency provides:

• Groundwater management
• Drinking water
• Sewer service (in parts of Cathedral City)
• Recycled water
• Conservation resources and rebates