Santa Fe Irrigation District (SFID) was formed January 26, 1923 under the California Irrigation District Act to deliver water to Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe and Fairbanks Ranch. SFID provides potable water service for agricultural irrigation, commercial and residential water customers; and recycled water for irrigation of common areas, golf courses, schools, businesses and Caltrans.
Service Area
SFID's service area of approximately 16 square miles is characterized by low-density urban development, including a large number of estates covering more than three acres. Approximately 82 percent of the District's water demand is residential.
Management
A five-member Board of Directors elected for four-year terms governs the District. It has a staff of 47 full-time employees under the direction of the General Manager.
Facilities
SFID has 100% ownership of 155 miles of pipelines and a 6 million gallon filtered water reservoir in Solana Beach.
SFID has partial ownership of approximately 7.78 miles of pipelines and aqueducts, one pumping station, a generator, water storage facilities and a 40 mgd water filtration plant. SFID's shared facilities include the 1,100 af unfiltered water San Dieguito Reservoir, the pumping station and certain pipelines and connections shared with San Dieguito Water District. In addition, SFID has 55% ownership of and operates the R. E. Badger Treatment Plant. The remaining 45% of the plant is owned by San Dieguito Water District.
Water Sources
SFID is one of twenty-three member agencies of the San Diego County Water Authority. Member agency status entitles the District to directly purchase water from the Water Authority on a wholesale basis. All imported water currently distributed by the Water Authority is purchased from the Metropolitan Water District and is delivered to the Water Authority from MWD facilities at Lake Skinner in southern Riverside County.
Planning
To ensure adequate system capacity and conditions to meet existing and future service area demands, the District prepares a water master plan on a 5-year planning cycle. The most recent plan was prepared by Powell/PBS&J. A copy of the master plan is available at the main office.
