District Profile

Empty headiIntakes

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water is diverted from four intakes: the Rock Slough Intake near Oakley has a pumping capacity of 350 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 230 million gallons per day; the Old River Intake near Discovery Bay and the Middle River Intake on Victoria Canal each have a capacity of 250 cfs or 160 million gallons per day, and the Mallard Slough Intake in Bay Point has a capacity of 39 cfs or 25 million gallons per day. Depending on the intake and where water is needed, the water is diverted into the Contra Costa Canal and conveyed to treatment plants and reservoirs located throughout eastern and central Contra Costa County or to Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Contra Loma Reservoir for storage and future use.

Los Vaqueros Conveyance System

Several large diameter buried pipelines transport water from the Middle River and Old River intakes to a Transfer Station outside of Brentwood, where water is then pumped south to the Los Vaqueros Reservoir or sent north by gravity to the Contra Costa Canal in Antioch where a hydroelectric turbine generates nearly one megawatt of electricity.
Empty headinLos Vaqueros Conveyance System: Several large diameter buried pipelines transport water from the Middle River and Old River intakes to a Transfer Station outside of Brentwood, where water is then pumped south to the Los Vaqueros Reservoir or travels north to the Contra Costa Canal by gravity.g

Contra Costa Canal System

Part of the Central Valley Project, the Contra Costa Canal system comprises the Contra Costa Canal (canal), Martinez Reservoir and Contra Loma Reservoir, Rock Slough Intake, and the Shortcut Pipeline. The 48-mile canal is the backbone of the Contra Costa Water District, delivering water from the Delta to the District’s treatment facilities, as well as major municipal and industrial customers.

After passing through a fish protection barrier and flood protection facility at Rock Slough, the canal travels through a short unlined channel before entering a 2½-mile 10-foot diameter pipeline on its way to the concrete-lined section of the canal in Oakley. From Oakley, four pump stations lift water in the canal 124 feet above sea level to the Canal’s Antioch summit, after which gravity propels water to its terminus in Martinez.

The District operates the canal in two distinct sections. The Main Canal is the 26-mile segment from Rock Slough to Clyde. Major deliveries to municipal and industrial customers are made within this section of the canal, which has a capacity of 350-204 cfs. The 22-mile Loop Canal, with a much smaller capacity of 190-22 cfs, is relied upon during Shortcut Pipeline shutdowns for facility improvements and in the event of an emergency. In addition, approximately 200 irrigation customers have connections along the Loop Canal.

Shortcut Pipeline

Part of the Contra Costa Canal system, the Shortcut Pipeline extends from the canal near Clyde directly to the Martinez Reservoir, serving the City of Martinez and several large industrial customers. The Shortcut Pipeline bypasses the Loop Canal.

Dams and Levees

We oversee four dams and two levees within our water system. Learn more about these facilities and our Dam Safety Program.din