MSWD 70th Anniversary Community Celebration

Mission Springs Water District is turning 70!

MSWD has one simple mission: provide, protect, and preserve our most valuable resource...

water. However, those eight words capture a complex and dynamic task.

While prospecting for water, early homesteaders in the desert discovered the hot springs that

made this area famous. It was not until 1940, however, that the first subdivisions were

established, and L. W. Coffee started the village he called Desert Hot Springs.

The critical need for fresh water led residents to form a mutual water company, which eventually

proved unsatisfactory. Later, a privately-owned utility, called the Desert Hot Springs Mutual

Water Company, acquired its assets. But this failed, and widespread dissatisfaction led local

citizens to form a publicly-owned water district.

By 1953, an election swept the new Desert Hot Springs County Water District into existence

with a vote of 246 to 9. The new District began with 100,000 feet of pipelines, five water wells,

and two reservoirs. It covered one square mile.

The District expanded rapidly. It absorbed parts of the Coachella Valley County Water District,

the West Palm Springs Village, and San Gorgonio Mutual Water Company systems. Today, it

boasts more than 1.25 million feet of pipelines, 14 water wells, and 24 reservoirs, serving an

area of 135 square miles.

For more information, please visit www.mswd.org/Turning70.