EID is committed to meeting state and federal standards for water quality and environmental protection in all District operations. The Environmental Compliance and Water Policy Department is responsible for keeping projects in compliance with both the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and its federal counterpart, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for standards related to drinking water quality, recycled water, and Project 184’s hydroelectric relicensing requirements. In addition, the department provides information on environmental regulations to other EID staff and the District’s Board of Directors to assist in their decision-making processes.

Employees in the Environmental Review Division of the department are highly trained in CEQA issues, fisheries, and biology. They conduct in-house studies, manage the District's environmental consultants, and train other EID staff in CEQA and additional environmental requirements. Their work entails close cooperation with the District’s engineering and operations staff to ensure that projects are cost effective and have the least possible effect on the environment.

Environmental Compliance Division personnel oversee and audit operations in the field conducted by EID employees and private contractors working on District-related projects. They ensure compliance in the recycled water, water quality sampling, and industrial pretreatment programs and for Project 184 hydroelectric relicensing requirements.

The Water Policy Division of the department works on issues related to water rights, drought preparedness planning, intergovernmental coordination, legislative advocacy, federal water contracts, integrated regional water management planning, and administration of the District’s water efficiency programs. Legislative advocacy efforts by the department have helped secure more than $15 million in federal and state grant funding for District infrastructure improvements, water supply enhancement studies, environmental protection, and water efficiency projects.

EID’s water efficiency programs provide incentives such as home and commercial water audits and low-flow toilet replacements. In addition, for qualifying agricultural customers the Irrigation Management Services program has helped growers improve their efficient use of water by more than 90 percent in some cases.