Securing A Water Resilient OC: Rain Ready California
May 6, 2026
Orange County residents deserve a water-secure future. Protecting our water resources and ensuring a resilient water supply, or being “Rain Ready,” is how we can get there.
Rain is a scarce but valuable source of water that is too often lost during storm events. Being Rain Ready means preventing pollution before it rains and collecting rainwater whenever it falls. H2OC is a partner in a statewide initiative called Rain Ready California, which advocates for smart modernization of stormwater infrastructure and practices that keep rainwater clean and safe.
Here’s why taking Rain Ready actions is crucial for Orange County to continue flourishing.
Why is Rain Ready Important?
Clean water is the key to our survival, but it is slipping through our fingers. Our rainwater is an underutilized resource that will be lost to the ocean if we don’t take steps to collect it for our later use.
It takes all of us, whether we live on the coast or inland, to make Orange County Rain Ready. Continue reading to learn about Rain Ready projects throughout OC and what you can do to help secure a resilient water future for generations to come.
Orange County Rain Ready Projects
H2OC is a cooperative stormwater program that is comprised of the County of Orange, Orange County Flood Control District, and the 34 Cities in the County. Together, we’re working on green stormwater infrastructure projects designed to increase OC’s collection and reuse capabilities. Three wonderful projects that showcase this are Ed Caruthers Park, La Artista Artesia Pilar Park, and Crown Valley Park.
Ed Caruthers Park
Bioretention basins at Ed Caruthers Park
Ed Caruthers Park is a community gem in the City of Santa Ana! It features a skatepark, playground, and exercise equipment for all to enjoy. It also has 3,300 sq-ft of water storage and an underground stormwater filtration system which collect and allow 5.3 acre-feet of runoff (equal to 86 swimming pools) to go into the Orange County Groundwater Basin and increase our water supply.
La Artista Artesia Pilar Park
La Artista Artesia Pilar Park Project
The City of Santa Ana transformed a previously unused corridor into a vibrant community space with the La Artista Artesia Pilar Park Project. They built an underground system to hold rainwater and allow it to seep into the ground, collecting the equivalent of 6 swimming pools during every rainstorm.
Crown Valley Park
Modular Wetland at Crown Valley Park
Crown Valley Park also has green stormwater infrastructure to hold rainwater, as well as an in-stream trash boom to prevent trash from flowing downstream, and bioswales that naturally filter rainwater. Niguel Botanical Preserve, inside the park, even uses recycled rainwater to irrigate their plants!
How to Be Rain Ready
Across Orange County, H2OC partners are working on Rain Ready green stormwater infrastructure projects. However, our residents play a critical role in being Rain Ready, too. Here are some ways you can make an impact to protect our water resources:
- Support Rain Ready projects. Send an email or letter of support to your local officials, attend a community meeting to learn more, and stay engaged and aware of other opportunities to lend your support to projects that collect and protect our rainwater.
Native plant-filled large landscape.
2. Apply for our RainSmart Rebates. The RainSmart Rebates Pilot Program, available to residents in South Orange County cities, offers incentives and assistance to making watershed-wide upgrades to landscaping for both residential and large landscapes through the installation of rain containers and rainwater treatment features. The project pictured above included nearly 1,200 square feet of removed turf grass, a 141 ft rock garden, and rain collection containers that are expected to reduce wet weather runoff by an estimated 10,000 gallons (size of a small swimming pool) per year. Whether you have a residential or large landscape, we are stacking rebates on top of those already offered through the Municipal Water District of Orange County, including substantial additional incentives for landscape features to collect rainwater, manage runoff, and help local waterways flourish.
3. Implement the Good, the Bad, and the Bugly Actions. Pesticides are often toxic to aquatic life and, if improperly applied, can find their way to OC’s creeks, rivers, and ocean via the storm drain system. To prevent this, keep ants and spiders away by using ant bait stations and decluttering your outdoor spaces. Learn more here.
4. Install a rain barrel. Collect rainwater from your roof with a rain barrel! This water can then be used for your irrigation needs to save money and water. Also, it prevents untreated runoff from flowing into our storm drain system. Commit to installing a rain barrel here.
5. Leave no trace. While you’re enjoying OC’s beautiful parks and beaches, take everything you brought with you and place all trash in a closed bin.
6. Pick up after your pets. Place all dog waste in a bag, tie it shut, and put it in a closed bin.
To learn more about Rain Ready California, visit https://www.rainreadyca.org/.