City of Los Angeles ??' Shaping the Future of Water

From climate change to historic droughts, California’s water future continues to face ever growing challenges, but what are we doing to develop secure reliable water supplies and what is Los Angeles doing to become ‘water strong’? This seminar will highlight the steps that Los Angeles is taking to develop sustainable water supplies, and how LA’s strategy is a glimpse into what other cities facing similar water reliability challenges will utilize across the globe. Los Angeles is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, seismic risk, groundwater contamination, rising costs of water and various additional stressors. The convergence of these risks threatens the ability of utilities to sustainably provide reliable drinking water for their communities. Water reuse presents a critical opportunity for engineers to modernize infrastructure and strengthen water security in a rapidly changing environment.

This seminar will examine how Los Angeles is implementing a comprehensive water management strategy to fortify the region’s water supply portfolio. A case study on the Groundwater Replenishment (GWR) Project will be presented by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). LADWP’s GWR Project is currently in construction, one of the largest water projects in the state, and once complete will provide enough drinking water for half a million residents. By developing this local supply, Los Angeles will reduce dependence on imported water from the Eastern Sierras and Colorado River. The successful implementation of the GWR Project and other large scale reuse initiatives alike depends on the intersection of 1) creative engineering solutions, 2) public policy and regulatory engagement, 3) advanced water treatment technologies and 4) stakeholder partnerships. Mr. Gonzalez will discuss how these elements have guided the GWR Project, a landmark effort three decades in the making, and how its lessons can inform the next generation of water projects across the state.

Speaker: Jesus Gonzalez, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power