LA Basin Water

Local Sources

• Groundwater is the main source of water for the Central Basin.
• This area receives about 15 inches of rain per year on average.
• The area has experienced extreme over drafting so only Watermaster monitored pumping systems are now allowed.
• There are thus scheduled level and sanitation tests to ensure proper amounts and continued safety.
• Watermaster has sent limitations on amount of water to be taken out of wells to ensure no over usage.
• All these limitations comply with the Basin’s Water Management Plan.

Water Replenishment District

• As a further means of ensuring the Central Basin does not alter its groundwater supply is through the WRD.
• This department is in charge of replenishing wells and pumps with groundwater.
• It accomplishes this through water spreading, barrier operation, and in-lieu replenishment.
• Despite the amounts of water replenished through Whittier Narrows, the WRD accounts for the bulk of the groundwater replenishment.

Recycled Water

• In the 2006-2007 year, recycled water use amounted to 12,649 acre-feet.
• This shows an 8.6% increase in L.A.’s recycled water usage in the year 2007.
• Recycled water accounted for 43% of total water spread used in water replenishment.
• This recycled water came form 3 water reclamation plants in the surrounding areas.
• These plants include the Whittier Narrows Water Reclamation Plant, the San Jose Creek Water Reclamation Plant, and the Pomona Water Reclamation Plant.

Imported water

• During the 2006-2007 year, 183,076 acre-feet of water was imported to the Central Basin.
• This was a 3.4% increase from the previous year.
• Los Angeles receives their imported water from the:
  • Colorado River distributed through the State Water Project
  • This water arrives through the Metropolitan Water District via an extensive aqueduct system. This water is distributed to the entire grounds of the L.A. Central Basin.
  • Groundwater from the San Gabriel Basin which has a higher excess than other surrounding areas
  • And the Owens River-Mono Basin

Owens Valley

• The Owens Valley River and Lake has been a source of conflict for Los Angeles for many years.
• The water from this river arrives to L.A. via a 223-mile aqueduct

  District Water Supplies	2005	2030
  Groundwater	186,549	202,000
  Imported Water	61,033	82,535
  Recycled Water	5,217	17,900
  Total:	252,799	302,435
  Conservation	21,100	58,400
  Total:	273,899	360,835

Climate Change

• The L.A. Basin uses energy, which is known to aid to the continually increasing climate changes, in several water treatment and storage systems.
• These include pumping, treating, de-salting, discharging, and delivering to homes, businesses, and farms.

Population

• The population of L.A. is expected to increase form 9,519,388 in 2000 to 11,501,885 in 2020.
• This growth will increase the demand for water and energy.
• The ever-growing population has proven troublesome for the L.A. Basin in the past, and is expected to have similar effects in the future if not presently changed.

Combatting Changing Supply

• As a way of combating these increased water efficiency needs, the L.A. area is implementing new measures on water supply.
• The Department of Water Resources has proposed new measures to reduce its GHG emissions and adapt to the changing climate.
• Also, the Governor’s Climate Action team has proposed a new action plan which, among other things, involves restoring the Los Angeles River.
• These plans are means of managing the population increase and climate change effects on the Los Angeles Basin’s water supply.

Conservation

• The L.A. Basin is putting strong focus on conservation to ensure a lasting supply, as it notes this is the most probable method.
• Despite its growing population, extractions went down be 5928 acre-feet in the 2007 year.
• Also, the Basin is discussing a plan which limits water use and punishes water wasters.
• This involves financial benefits for businesses.
• Also, water restrictions in washing driveways, and watering lawns.
• Builders will need to use waterless urinals and weather-sensitive sprinkler systems.
• It is expected that this could help to save 32 billion gallons of water each year.

Recycling

• The L.A. Basin is attempting to clean up contaminated water supply under the San Fernando Valley.
• Also, the Mayor has proposed cleaning up sewer water for drinking purposes.
• This plan ensures a 600% increase in the amount of recycled water used.
• The city created a system adequate in cleansing the water in the 1990’s, however this system has not been put to use.
• The L.A. Basin is claiming this system is completely sanitary and necessary to provide the growing population with a lasting water supply.

Water Storage

• The governor’s proposed water infrastructure plan gives 5.6 million dollars to establishing and upgrading above and below ground water storage.
• As part of the Strategic Growth Plan, there are several new water storage capacity propositions.
• By continuing to increase the capabilities of the Los Angeles water storage reservoirs, it ensures there is enough water available in low precipitation months.
• Also, this storage system works to hold water in surplus, so as to keep maximum water for potential population rise and drought necessities.

Desalination

• This is seen by many officials as the most critical part of maintaining a drought-free L.A. Basin in the future.
• In this process, salt water is captured and pushed through a filtering membrane to take the salt out and purify it.
• This is thought to be critical as there is a lasting supply, and more specifically to the Los Angeles area, fights cannot affect it.
• Currently, the area is offering subsidies for districts that purchase desalinated water and pressuring the Costal Commissions to put more money into perfecting the process and its costliness.
• Costliness is at present, the only problem with this process.
• Treated water costs between 850-1150 dollars per acre foot, compared to other sources which fall as low as 250 dollars per acre-foot.
• At present, this is not the most practical means of providing water, but the Basin is working towards furthering this method to ensure its utilization in the future.