Securing LA’s Water Future
While dry seasons and the toll of climate change continue to threaten Los Angeles’ future water supply, population growth is expected to drive up water demand in Los Angeles by 15 percent by 2030.
Developed by the Mayor’s Office and LADWP, the “Securing LA’s Water Future” plan calls for an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to meet this increase in demand, combining short-term steps to conserve water with long-term investment in water-efficient technology, water recycling, and improvements in the groundwater supply.
SHORT-TERM CONSERVATION STEPS:
• Enforce Water Restrictions in LA: For the first time since the early 1990s, the City will enforce of the “Prohibited Uses” section of the City's Emergency Water Conservation Plan Ordinance.
Among other restrictions, the ordinance currently prohibits watering of lawns between 9 AM and 4 PM; and forbids restaurants from serving water to customers unless requested.
Failure to comply would be subject to penalties, which can range from a written warning for a first violation to monetary fines and water service shutoff for continued non-compliance.
• Expand Water Restrictions: New restrictions may cover:
• Watering lawns on certain days of the week or periods of time
• Washing vehicles with or running water through hoses without self-closing nozzles
• Public Outreach: LADWP will launch an aggressive, $2.3 million conservation education campaign that will include: radio, TV and newspaper advertisements; billboards; outreach to Neighborhood Councils; and marketing of City rebates for water-efficiency.
• Encourage Regional Conservation: LADWP will continue to work with the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) to encourage all water agencies in the region to adopt water conservation ordinances.
LONG-TERM CONSERVATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY:
• ‘Smart Sprinklers’ in Every Home: LADWP will distribute to LA residents free “smart sprinklers” that adjust their watering based on weather conditions. Slated to launch in early 2009, the program is modeled on LADWP’s successful low-flush toilet program, which has saved LA more than 14 billion gallons per year – enough to fill the Rose Bowl 56 times.
• Rebates for Families: LADWP will offer new $250 instant rebates for water-efficient washing machines purchased in LA and will continue distributing free water-saving faucet taps and showerheads.
• Rebates for Businesses: In addition to ongoing rebates for installing smart sprinklers and low-flush toilets and urinals, LADWP will offer $400 rebates for companies to retrofit urinals with waterless urinals.
• Target City Parks: LADWP will retrofit three City parks per year over five years with smart sprinklers and upgraded distribution systems; and install new sprinkler systems at other City parks under a grant-funded program.
• Retrofit City Departments: LADWP and City Departments will work together to reduce Departments’ indoor and outdoor water use by 10 percent – retrofitting inefficient sprinkler systems at City facilities; and upgrading plumbing to use high-efficiency fixtures.
• Key Part of Green Building and Environmental Reviews: DWP will work with the City’s Green Building Team to ensure specifications for the Los Angeles Green Building program include water efficiency measures.
BOOSTING LA’S WATER-RECYCLING BY SIX-FOLD:
• Develop Recycled Water Master Plan: LADWP will prepare a detailed Recycled Water Master Plan that will outline the steps and costs of boosting the City’s recycled water level from 1 to 6 percent of total demand.
Meeting 50 percent of the City’s expected growth in water demand, the water-recycling program will expand the existing “purple pipe” system (distributing recycled water for irrigation and industrial uses) and explore a “groundwater replenishment” water-recycling program.
• Upgrade Tillman Wastewater Treatment Plant: Recycling water for potable uses will require upgrading the Tillman Water Plant with state-of-the- art, advanced treatment capability; similar to the Orange County Water District’s recent water-recycling system. Advanced treatment would be constructed at the Tillman Plant, and the highly treated wastewater would be piped to spreading basins for groundwater recharge.
• Upgrade Hansen, Tujunga and Pacoima Spreading Grounds
• Extensive Public Outreach: LADWP will conduct an extensive community and stakeholder outreach process to educate and engage the public about the City’s plans for moving forward with recycled water.
INCREASING LOCAL GROUNDWATER SUPPLY
The San Fernando Groundwater Basin is the City’s primary local water source, providing 11 percent of the total water supply. However, the Basin is experiencing a decline in groundwater levels that threaten its long-term sustainability.
Part of the water plan is to increase groundwater recharge by working on large-scale projects affecting the Basin with County partners.
• Retrofit and Expand Big Tujunga Dam: By December 2010, DWP will complete the seismic retrofitting, clean-up and water-storage expansion of the Big Tujunga Dam, quadrupling its current capacity.
• Accelerate Clean-Up of Groundwater Basin: LADWP will engage in a comprehensive clean-up effort to maximize the Basin’s use.
• Expand Groundwater Storage: LADWP is investigating opportunities for increased storage of groundwater. Opportunities for increased storage will be examined along the Los Angeles Aqueduct and Central Coast Basin. Groundwater storage can be a cost-effective, environmentally friendly option to supply water for use during dry conditions or emergencies.