Mayor Garcetti hosts state leaders to highlight local and state action to strengthen water resilience

 
08/21/2019



The Mayor advocated for key reforms needed to help Los Angeles boost its water supply and advance Governor Newsom’s water agenda

LOS ANGELES — Mayor Eric Garcetti hosted California’s Secretary of Natural Resources, Wade Crowfoot, and Secretary of Environmental Protection, Jared Blumenfeld, to highlight Los Angeles’ leadership in water resilience.

The discussion with City and County leaders, as well as environmental experts, focused on a set of regulatory reforms, funding needs, and partnerships that will help the City increase its local water supply and support Governor Newsom’s vision for a statewide water-system.

“We are proud to work hand-in-hand with our state leaders to advance an agenda that protects ratepayers, preserves our environment, diversifies our water portfolio, and protects our natural resources in the face of intense droughts and the rising tide of climate change,” said Mayor Garcetti. “I commend our state partners for prioritizing strategies that reward local investments in water infrastructure, lift up our communities, and strengthen our long-term resilience to the impacts of the climate crisis.”

Mayor Garcetti, along with local and regional leaders, used the discussion to advocate for a set of key statewide reforms and funding opportunities needed to help Los Angeles realize its local water goals, as well as showcase a growing portfolio of projects to reduce the city’s dependence on imported water.

Along with Secretaries Crowfoot and Blumenfeld, he was joined by senior leadership from the California Department of Natural Resources, Los Angeles Metropolitan Water District, L.A. County Department of Public Works, L.A. Regional Water Quality Control Board, L.A. Department of Water and Power, L.A. Sanitation and Environment, and representatives of City and County elected officials.

Earlier this spring, Governor Newsom directed his Administration to develop a Water Resilience Portfolio for California — a comprehensive strategy to reimagine California’s water infrastructure to ensure long-term resilience and environmental protection.

“We need an all-of-the-above approach on water to address the daunting challenges we face,” said Secretary Blumenfeld. “The Governor’s water portfolio strategy challenges us to think broadly and act boldly to ensure that our communities, our environment and our economy thrive over the long term even as our climate grows more variable.”

To ensure that Angelenos can count on access to clean water for generations to come, Mayor Garcetti announced earlier this year that Los Angeles will source 70% of its water locally by 2035. To meet this ambitious goal, Mayor Garcetti has spearheaded a wide range of local water solutions, including:  

  • Increasing recycling capabilities at L.A.’s four water treatment facilities to recycle 100% of Los Angeles’ wastewater by 2035 — a major step to expand water recycling and reduce reliance on imported water;
  • Four planned projects to remediate the San Fernando Valley Groundwater Basin by 2023 — an aquifer that can provide enough drinking water for more than 800,000 Angelenos;
  • The passage of Measure W, a $300 million measure approved by L.A. County voters in 2018 to fund infrastructure projects and programs to capture, treat, and recycle rainwater.

“Mayor Garcetti and the greater Los Angeles region have been a leader in the portfolio approach to water resilience,” said Secretary Crowfoot. “Regional investments in water recycling, cleanup, and stormwater capture will go a long way toward creating the resilient water system Governor Newsom envisioned in his Executive Order earlier this year.”

Following the roundtable discussion, L.A. City staff took the state officials on a tour of local water projects, including stormwater capture developments, a groundwater remediation site, and a water recycling facility.

SOURCE: https://www.lamayor.org/mayor-garcetti-hosts-state-leaders-highlight-local-and-state-action-strengthen-water-resilience



Back To News



SBE Northeast
 


Louisiana Business JournalArchive