A majority of the water delivered to Sweetwater Authority customers is obtained from the Sweetwater River. It is influenced by the land uses in its 230-square mile watershed, a land stretching from the Cleveland National Forest to the San Diego Bay.
Rainfall and melting snow from the surrounding mountains is trapped by the Authority's 2 dams on the Sweetwater River. Together, Loveland and Sweetwater Reservoirs can store 17 billion gallons of water, enough to supply the customers of Sweetwater Authority for about 24 months.
To assure that the water entering its reservoirs and treatment facilities can be made safe to drink, Sweetwater Authority has worked with surrounding communities to identify priorities and concerns in the watershed, and to promote wise land use.