Mojave Water Agency

The Mojave Water Agency (MWA), along with San Bernardino County, manages groundwater wells within the MWA’s service area. MWA’s service area covers a large portion, about 4,900 square miles, within San Bernardino County. *See the map below showing the MWA service area.*

The County provides MWA with copies of well permit information for the purpose of maintaining basin health and managing water supplies. MWA requires that a notice of intent to extract or divert water be filed with the Mojave Water Agency at least 15 days before water well construction. Failure to file the Notice of Intent to Extract or Divert Water shall be punishable by a civil fine of not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500). Both the person owning the land or an interest therein and the person constructing the well or diversion facility shall be assessed under this subdivision. (Section 97-39, Mojave Water Agency Law).

MWA and the County have collaborated to simplify and make this process accessible to all those wishing to drill groundwater wells within the MWA service area. MWA’s “New Well Construction Acknowledgement Form” is provided on the County’s website to comply with MWA’s rules related to new wells (https://ehs.sbcounty.gov/applications-forms-and-fees/). This form is also provided below. The completed form should be returned to the County and MWA when submitting the well permit application.

Some wells will be subject to MWA’s Ordinance No. 14 (see related content).

New Well Construction Acknowledgement Form (Notice of Intent to Extract or Divert Water)

Mojave Water Agency Service Area