1. Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
Stormwater
Local Water Supply for a Resilient Future
Introduction
February 8, 2017

2. Mountains to the Sea
Mountains to the Sea

3. Swim, don’t. sink
Swim…Don’t Sink
Water is life.

4. LA County Water Supply Portfolio
Water Supply in LA County (including Antelope Valley)
1/3 local water supply from groundwater, which we have relied on in drought years
We increase conservation efforts.
Most recently, we have depended on the Colorado river, but it’s subject to the same drought conditions
We can’t rely on imported supplies to be consistent.
LA County Water Supply Portfolio

5. January 31, 2017 Drought Effects January 2016 Drought Effects
Prolonged drought
Northern California is benefitted from rain, but
So Cal and southwest (Colorado River) are still in severe drought
Can’t depend on imported water, must develop local, resilient supply
January 31, 2017
January 2016
Drought Effects

6. Fractured Water Management System
Fractured water management in LA County presents a challenge
Over 500 different agencies
wholesale, retail, groundwater basin administrators, recycled, etc
Each with own board
Silos
We have to address the fractured governance of water
County’s role, as a regional agency, is to take a look at the big picture of water supply
Fractured Water Management System

7. Improving Stormwater Capture
Stormwater is a largely untapped resource
Stormwater is cost effective.
However, between k AFY is lost.
We need to collaborate to capture more
Improving Stormwater Capture

8. Statewide Planning Efforts
There has been a statewide effort towards sustainable water management.
California Water Action Plan and California Water Plan have provided a roadmap to:
Increase regional self reliance
Increase drought preparedness
Find sustainable financing
We have also integrated planning efforts through IRWM
Statewide Planning Efforts

9. A Regional Effort Regional Leader
Here in Southern California, SCWC recognized the importance of stormwater
SCWC developed recommendation for utilizing stormwater as a new local water supply,
LA County is well positioned to take a further leadership role
We want to be a partner to cities and agencies looking for a local water supply.
We need to make large investments with these partners to increase stormwater capture and harvesting
A Regional Effort

10. Stormwater Capture for Local Supply
Successful Stormwater Capture Efforts
Longtime leader in regional stormwater capture efforts.
How the system works…
Capture Statistics
Annual Average Stormwater Captured at DPW facilities: 200,000 AF (65 billion gallons) Enough water for 1.6 million people for a year.
Annual Average Volumetric Rainfall across the County: 3,800,000 AF (1.2 trillion gallons) - not all groundwater recharge in the County occurs at our facilities.
Latest stormwater captured at our facilities since 10/1/16: 73,500 AF (24 billion gallons) Enough water for 588,000 people for a year. (We already hit the annual average rainfall this year
Total rainfall to date in downtown Los Angeles (Ducommun gauge) is 15.89”. This represents 103% of the annual average of inches per year.
Invest more in our backbone
$500M by 2025, of which $250 M is for big 3 reservoir cleanouts
Stormwater Capture for Local Supply

11. Diverse Portfolio Other Water Recycled Water Stormwater Desalination
Graywater
Basin Study
We are also looking to the future of local water supply.
Completed a study with the Bureau of Reclamation
What were the impacts of climate change and increased population on water supply?
Even with those factors, the water we need exists.
It will come from a diverse portfolio.
Recycled water
More stormwater
Capture dry weather flow
We need to invest in infrastructure and optimize our systems.
Basin Study: Future Water Supply

12. EWMP – Priority Projects
EWMP Projects
We’re looking at things differently,
We are partnering with cities to address stormwater quality
Planning projects that have multiple benefits.
This map shows priority EWMPprojects
Projects include:
onsite capture and reuse for irrigation
Green streets
Regional capture
EWMP – Priority Projects

13. Stormwater Capture Innovation
We have to be innovative.
Urban areas don’t have the space for traditional spreading grounds.
Going underground to capture and harvest stormwater wherever we can.
Stormwater Capture Innovation

14. Water Resilience Plan Water Resilience Plan
All of this leads to an exciting new effort.
Directed by our Board of Supervisors.
Working with area water managers
Will look at how we are doing, how we are governing, what more can be done.
How can we capture that k of runoff?
An important investment to provide a local, resilient supply of water.
Water Resilience Plan

15. Thank You Mark Pestrella, P. E. @LACoPublicWorks | dpw.lacounty.gov
Closing
The region needs to reduce dependency on imported water.
We can’t rely on the Bay Delta or Colorado River to provide it
We are making a commitment to the community at large, including water purveyors in the area, to be a regional leader to increase stormwater capture and harvesting.
Because it’s the public’s right to have access to clean, affordable water.

16. EXTRA PHOTOS

17. Basin Study: Future Water Supply
We are also looking to the future of local water supply.
Completed a study with the Bureau of Reclamation
What were the impacts of climate change and increased population on water supply?
Even with those factors, the water we need exists.
It will come from a diverse portfolio.
Recycled water
More stormwater
Capture dry weather flow
We need to invest in infrastructure and optimize our systems.
Basin Study: Future Water Supply

18. Stormwater to drinking water

19. EXTRA PHOTOS

20. Statewide Planning Efforts
There has been a statewide effort towards sustainable water management.
California Water Action Plan and California Water Plan have provided a roadmap to:
Increase regional self reliance
Increase drought preparedness
Find sustainable financing
We have also integrated planning efforts through IRWM
Statewide Planning Efforts

21. A Regional Effort Regional Leader
Here in Southern California, SCWC recognized the importance of stormwater
SCWC developed recommendation for utilizing stormwater as a new local water supply,
LA County is well positioned to take a further leadership role
We want to be a partner to cities and agencies looking for a local water supply.
We need to make large investments with these partners to increase stormwater capture and harvesting
A Regional Effort

22. A Regional Effort Regional Leader
Here in Southern California, SCWC recognized the importance of stormwater
SCWC developed recommendation for utilizing stormwater as a new local water supply,
LA County is well positioned to take a further leadership role
We want to be a partner to cities and agencies looking for a local water supply.
We need to make large investments with these partners to increase stormwater capture and harvesting
A Regional Effort

23. Basin Study: Future Water Supply
We are also looking to the future of local water supply.
Completed a study with the Bureau of Reclamation
What were the impacts of climate change and increased population on water supply?
Even with those factors, the water we need exists.
It will come from a diverse portfolio.
Recycled water
More stormwater
Capture dry weather flow
We need to invest in infrastructure and optimize our systems.
Basin Study: Future Water Supply