Coachella Valley Water District, a publicly owned entity headquartered in the US, was founded in 1918 and employs approximately 280 individuals. Functioning as an independent special district, its initial mandate was to protect and conserve local water sources in the Coachella Valley. The district has expanded its operations to deliver irrigation and domestic (drinking) water, collect and recycle wastewater, provide regional storm water protection, replenish the groundwater basin, and promote water conservation.