18:30 ET COURT STRIKES DOWN INLAND EMPIRE WATER DEAL AFTER CITY OF ONTARIO LAWSUIT REVEALS ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS AND RISKS TO LOCAL WATER SUPPLY

A California court ruled in favor of the City of Ontario against the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), finding that IEUA's approval of the Chino Basin Program violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The court determined that IEUA failed to adequately evaluate the environmental impacts of transferring water to Northern California and adopted biased project objectives. This ruling is seen as a significant victory for Ontario and surrounding communities, emphasizing the need for transparent water resource planning.