In the heart of the San Fernando Valley lies a surprising contrast: a serene, beautiful Japanese garden sits right next to a massive, industrial water treatment plant. The twist? The water that keeps the garden lush comes from the plant, and the water that goes into the plant comes from the homes of millions of Angelenos.
For a century, Southern California has relied on a vital system of imported water brought from hundreds of miles away. But as climate change puts new pressure on those traditional sources, Los Angeles is making a multi-billion-dollar bet on a new, drought-proof local supply: advanced water recycling.
In this episode, we go inside the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant to understand this monumental shift. Can we really turn wastewater into a pure, safe, and reliable source of drinking water? We explore the technology, the cost, and the challenge of building public trust with the people who are essential to making it work:
- Eileen Alduenda (Council for Watershed Health): The environmental advocate focused on community impact and watershed health.
- Joe Broughton (Jacobs Engineering): The engineer who managed the complex construction of the expansion.
- Anselmo Collins (LADWP): The senior manager tasked with securing water for four million people.
Join us as we explore what it takes to turn a city’s wastewater into its most valuable resource, and ask: Is this the future of water in Southern California?
If you like this episode, you may also enjoy What Matters Water TV + Podcast Episode 18, titled Wastewater to Wonder: California’s Charge to Advanced Purified Water.