Tours & Speakers Bureau

As a leader in water reuse and groundwater management, Orange County Water District (OCWD) receives hundreds of requests annually to provide tours and briefings for visitors from local colleges, water agencies, the surrounding community and international organizations. Through its active speakers bureau program, OCWD also receives requests for representatives to go out into the community to speak to numerous organizations and schools, as well as to speak at local, national and international conferences.

OCWD is committed to proactive public outreach and education. It will make every effort to accommodate requests for speakers and tours. Going out to educate the public about advanced wastewater purification is important to garnering support for future GWRS-like projects that are being planned around the world.

Public tours of the Groundwater Replenishment System are offered at 10 a.m. on the first Friday of every month; reservations are required. Tours may be scheduled for other days of the week, depending on staff availability. Tour groups consisting of 40 or more people cannot be accommodated on the first and second Wednesday of each month. Please note that construction is in progress for the initial expansion of the GWRS and will conclude in Fall 2014.  During this time tours are subject to postponement or may be limited. 

Safety protocol dictates that a dress code and age requirement be enforced. Visitors must be high school age or older. Closed toe shoes are required and high heels are not permitted. Tour guests are required to wear hard hats and safety vests. Failure to comply with protocol will prohibit one's participation in the tour. 

Please read the OCWD Facilities Tour/Visit Protocol for further rules and regulations prior to submitting a Tour Request Form. Note that the tour may include climbing stairs, walking and standing for periods of up to 45 minutes. Upon request tours may include Orange County Water District's state-of-the-art Advanced Water Quality Assurance Laboratory. Special arrangements may also be made to tour the District’s recharge operations in Anaheim and wetlands located above Prado Dam in Riverside County. To schedule a tour, please complete and submit the Online Tour Reservation Form below or contact Becky Mudd, Tour Coordinator, at (714) 378-3362 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . To schedule a speaker, please complete and submit the Book a Speaker form below or contact Rose Wilke at (714) 378-3206 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Orange County Sanitation District offers an extensive tour of its wastewater treatment facility.  To schedule a tour, please contact Cheryl Scott at (714) 593-7135 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Although OCWD tour guests must be high school age or older, students in grades third, fourth and fifth are encouraged to register to attend OCWD's nationally recognized Children's Water Education Festival. For more information on this important event please visit www.childrenwaterfestival.com.