LA introduces major water conservation and reuse project
For anyone who grew up in Southern California in the late 1980’s or 90’s, the concept of water conservation is a familiar one. However a concerted public effort to conserve water in this arid region over the last decade or so has been surprisingly absent. This is all going to change due to a major water conservation and reuse plan introduced by Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa.
With concerns over a growing population, which is predicted to increase LA’s water demand by 15% in the next 25 years, coupled with fears that climate change is going to decrease the already limited natural water supply, it appears government officials are beginning to take action.
The Mayor’s plan to reduce water usage entails a combination of enforcing already existing water laws regarding the watering of lawns and sidewalks, as well as introducing some new stricter restrictions. However, it is the plan to recycle local water that is cause for some controversy. Currently one of the largest single sources for LA’s water is the groundwater basin under the San Fernando Valley. However years and years of pumping out this water has left the basin running out of new supplies. To deal with this shortage, the Mayor intends to revive a proposal from years ago that would use highly treated waste water to refill the Valley’s underground water basin.
While this proposal has elicited cries of “no water from the toilet to the tap,” it is clear that dramatic steps are required to continue supporting this massive civilization we have placed in the middle of a desert. According to the plan, half of the 15% projected increase in water use is to come from conservation efforts, and half is to come from recycling of waste water. The plan is projected to cost $1.5 billion in infrastructure and conservation programs.
Photo credit. [The photo is of the Owens Valley in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, where much of LA’s water is taken from.]
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