Lake surrounded by green grass, forest with the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background

Currently, 70% of water used in
the Tri-Valley is imported from
outside our region. How in the
world does it get to the Tri-Valley?
Follow along with us on our
water’s journey as it travels from
the snow packed peaks of the
Northern Sierra Nevada to the
homes and businesses of the
Tri-Valley area.

Follow along Tri-Valley’s water journey
Lake surrounded by green grass, forest with the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background

The journey begins at one of the
highest points in California at the
Sierra Nevada. The rainfall and
snow collected on these mountain
tops each winter melts in the
spring which is how our water’s
journey begins.

Feather Falls Waterfall

The freshly melted water pours
over the beautiful Feather Falls.

Lake Oroville surrounded by trees and rocks

The water then flows into Lake
Oroville, a precious reservoir for
our state water system.

Aerial of Dam at Lake Oroville

When it is needed, the California
Department of Water Resources
will release water through the
Oroville Dam into the Feather River.

Mountain View of Feather Falls

Water will then travel along
the Feather River for 127 miles
until it reaches the Sacramento
San Joaquin Delta. Quite the
journey already! And we are
only halfway there!

Aerial of Delta surrounded by green landscape

You will often hear the Sacramento
San Joaquin Delta referred to as
the California Delta, the San
Francisco Bay Delta or simply the
Delta. The Delta is important as it
creates a “fork in the road” as water
begins to diverge into different
directions. One important
divergence for the Tri-Valley is here,
where water is pumped from the
Delta into the California Aqueduct.

California Aqueduct surrounded by brown hills

Water from the California Aqueduct
flows into Bethany Reservoir where it
makes another important divergence.
Here water is pumped into the South
Bay Aqueduct, a series of man-made
channels and pipes that bring most of
our water into the Tri-Valley. Situated
northwest of the Altamont Hills, it
moves water in the channel into
eastern Alameda County.

Aerial of South Bay Aqueduct

The water will continue to one of
two reservoirs in the Tri-Valley,
Lake Del Valle, or Patterson Pass
Reservoir, which store or hold the
majority of our surface water.

Three white liquid oxygen tanks and Ozone Generator Building

Water can be pumped from the
reservoirs when needed to be
treated at one of the Zone 7
water treatment facilities.

City of Pleasanton Town sign with buildings and cars below

After treatment, it continues its
journey to our homes and
businesses through our network of
Tri-Valley water partners.

Learn more about the partners on
our partner page.

A person filling their Tri-Valley water bottle with water from the sink.

What a journey that was!

Our water must travel over 200
miles before beginning the
treatment process that makes it
safe for our everyday use!

Lake surrounded by green grass, forest with the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background

Currently, 70% of water used in
the Tri-Valley is imported from
outside our region. How in the
world does it get to the Tri-Valley?
Follow along with us on our
water’s journey as it travels from
the snow packed peaks of the
Northern Sierra Nevada to the
homes and businesses of the
Tri-Valley area.

Follow along Tri-Valley’s water journey
Lake surrounded by green grass, forest with the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background

The journey begins at one of the
highest points in California at the
Sierra Nevada. The rainfall and
snow collected on these mountain
tops each winter melts in the
spring which is how our water’s
journey begins.

Feather Falls Waterfall

The freshly melted water pours over the beautiful Feather Falls.

Lake Oroville surrounded by trees and rocks

The water then flows into Lake Oroville, a precious reservoir for our state water system.

Aerial of Dam at Lake Oroville

When it is needed, the California
Department of Water Resources
will release water through the
Oroville Dam into the Feather River.

Mountain View of Feather Falls

Water will then travel along the Feather River for 127 miles until it reaches the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta. Quite the journey already! And we are only halfway there!

Aerial of Delta surrounded by green landscape

You will often hear the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta referred to as the California Delta, the San Francisco Bay Delta or simply the Delta. The Delta is important as it creates a “fork in the road” as water begins to diverge into different directions. One important divergence for the Tri-Valley is here, where water is pumped from the Delta into the California Aqueduct.

California Aqueduct surrounded by brown hills

Water from the California Aqueduct flows into Bethany Reservoir where it makes another important divergence. Here water is pumped into the South Bay Aqueduct, a series of man-made channels and pipes that bring most of our water into the Tri-Valley. Situated northwest of the Altamont Hills, it moves water in the channel into eastern Alameda County.

Aerial of South Bay Aqueduct

The water will continue to one of
two reservoirs in the Tri-Valley,
Lake Del Valle, or Patterson Pass
Reservoir, which store or hold the
majority of our surface water.

Three white liquid oxygen tanks and Ozone Generator Building

Water can be pumped from the
reservoirs when needed to be
treated at one of the Zone 7
water treatment facilities.

City of Pleasanton Town sign with buildings and cars below

After treatment, it continues its journey to our homes and businesses through our network of Tri-Valley water partners.

Learn more about the partners on our partner page.

A person filling their Tri-Valley water bottle with water from the sink.

What a journey that was!

Our water must travel over 200 miles before beginning the treatment process that makes it safe for our everyday use!