Ontario Wins Round One in the Chino Basin Water Fight

A San Bernardino court sides with Ontario in its challenge to a $985 million Inland Empire Utilities Agency project — but the region’s water war is far from over.

Ontario has claimed a significant victory in its ongoing dispute with the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), following a San Bernardino County Superior Court ruling that sided with the city’s legal challenge against the Chino Basin Program, a nearly $1 billion water infrastructure initiative intended to modernize the region’s water supply.

Last month, Judge Donald Alvarez ruled that the IEUA violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in several ways when it approved the basin program in 2022 — a decision that Ontario city leaders are calling both a legal and moral win for local control of water.

A Courtroom Clash Over Water and Power

Ontario’s lawsuit, filed in May, accused the IEUA of conducting a “piecemeal” environmental review of the Chino Basin Program and failing to evaluate its potential effects on the Feather River Exchange, a complex system that allows water transfers between Northern and Southern California agencies.

The Feather River, a major tributary of the Sacramento River, plays a central role in the California State Water Project — the backbone of the state’s water distribution system. Ontario argued that the IEUA’s analysis overlooked how the Chino Basin Program might disrupt this exchange, potentially affecting the distribution of imported water statewide.

The city also alleged that the IEUA ignored feasible local alternatives that could have kept Chino Basin water within the cities that rely on it — including Chino, Chino Hills, Montclair, Upland, Fontana, and Rancho Cucamonga. None of those neighboring municipalities joined Ontario in the lawsuit, but city officials say the outcome benefits the entire basin.

“They Didn’t Tell the Full Story”

According to Courtney Jones, Ontario’s assistant general manager for utilities, the IEUA evaluated the program’s environmental impact over a 25-year period but projected its water benefits over 50 years — an inconsistency the court found significant.

“They didn’t evaluate the environmental impacts over the 50-year period in which they’re claiming benefits,” Jones said.

Councilwoman Debra Porada framed the ruling as a defense of local resources:

“This is a major victory for Ontario and every community in the Chino Basin that depends on a secure, local water supply,” she said. “The IEUA didn’t tell the full story of the environmental and water supply effects of this program. We fought back because our future depends on protecting the resources our residents already paid for and rely on.”

The Chino Basin, one of Southern California’s largest groundwater basins, contains an estimated 5,000 acre-feet of groundwater and capacity for an additional 1,000 acre-feet. It is a vital component of both regional and statewide water systems.

A Battle Over Who Controls the Basin

At the heart of Ontario’s challenge is the issue of who controls the basin’s water — and where it goes. The city objects to an element of the Chino Basin Program that would allow for an “in-lieu” transfer of local water to the state system.

Under that plan, Ontario would agree to accept less imported water in exchange for transferring basin water to Northern California through the State Water Project. IEUA argues that such a transfer would create a more balanced statewide distribution; Ontario contends it would sacrifice local growth for statewide equity.

Scott Burton, Ontario’s general manager for utilities, described it plainly:

“It would be trading two dimes and a nickel for a quarter,” he said. “We won’t lose anything, but we won’t gain anything either.”

The court agreed with Ontario’s assessment that the IEUA failed to adequately evaluate the environmental and logistical impacts of transferring 375,000 acre-feet of water to Northern California.

IEUA Pushes Back, Plans Appeal

In a statement, the IEUA maintained that the ruling does not invalidate the Chino Basin Program, claiming that “the major technical aspects” of the project were upheld. The agency also confirmed it has filed an appeal and intends to move forward.

“The benefits of the program are far-reaching,” the agency said. “It is our responsibility to ensure safe and adequate water supplies to support the economic growth of our region.”

Despite that confidence, Ontario officials say the decision vindicates years of objections that were ignored in letters, public meetings, and outreach.

Both sides are scheduled to return to Judge Alvarez’s courtroom on October 30, where they will present revised proposals for the basin’s future. The judge may adopt one plan, merge the two, or order a new review process altogether.

“It’s difficult to say how long this will go on,” Jones said. “Whatever happens during the Oct. 30 meeting will probably help decide that. It could go on for a long time.”

A Water War Still Brewing

For now, Ontario has secured a legal win — one that underscores a growing tension between local control and regional water governance in Southern California. But with the IEUA pressing forward and an appeal pending, the fight for the Chino Basin’s future is far from settled.

And as population growth continues to surge across the Inland Empire, every drop — and every legal ruling — matters more than ever.