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Los Angeles County Waterworks District Puts Forth Efforts to Conserve Water

November 7, 2022

Conserve water today for a better tomorrow because every drop counts!

Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts is comprised of five special districts and the Marina del Rey Water System. A division of Los Angeles County Public Works, Waterworks provides an average of 19.5 billion gallons of potable water a year to 280,000 Los Angeles County residents through 70,000 water accounts.

The sources of Waterworks’ water supply include local groundwater, imported water from the State Water Project (SWP) and the Colorado River Aqueduct (CRA). Approximately two-thirds of its supply comes from outside the Los Angeles County Region.

District No. 29 is Waterworks’ retail water provider for the communities of Malibu and Topanga. It serves potable water to approximately 22,300 people through 7,500 metered connections and has both residential and business customers.

One unique feature of District 29 is that it purchases its entire water supply from West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin). Water supplied to this district is completely dependent on the availability of imported water from West Basin, whose primary sources include the Colorado River and the California State Water Project (SWP). While imported water supplies can vary from year to year, both the Colorado River and SWP have been significantly impacted by the ongoing drought.

As longer and more extreme periods of drought impact the region as a result of climate change, Waterworks is evaluating water supply vulnerability and investigating ways to make water supplies and the distribution system more resilient. Among those efforts is an extensive public outreach campaign to promote water conservation awareness and support its customers in adopting water smart practices.

Water conservation directly impacts Waterworks finances, as water sales are its primary source of revenue. To ensure it is able to operate its infrastructure and maintain an exceptional customer experience, Waterworks is exploring additional financial resources, such as grants, to support ongoing capital projects and operations.

Waterworks continues to coordinate with regional partners to decrease future dependence on imported water and mitigate the effects of current and future drought cycles. Water supply availability continues to be a critical issue for the Los Angeles County Region.  Waterworks will continue to work with its strategic partners to implement the County Water Plan, the plan will articulate a shared, inclusive, regional path forward to sustainably achieve safe, clean, and reliable water resources for Los Angeles County, http://lacountywaterplan.org, and build resilient sources of local water supply.

Waterworks is also continuing to work with regional partners to collaborate on and share consistent water conservation messaging to customers across all Los Angeles County communities.

Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts works with regional partners to lessen dependence on imported water and mitigate drought effects through outreach on conservation. Through social media, newsletters and community meetings, Waterworks helps customers conserve with leak audits, smart irrigation systems and other methods. Waterworks’ programs aim to transform residents from passive water consumers to informed water advocates.

In addition to operational improvements throughout the system, Waterworks has implemented Level 2 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan, which targets a 20 percent reduction in water use. This is facilitated through a series of customer water use restrictions, including limiting outdoor irrigation to two-days a week, requiring shut-off nozzles on hoses, prohibiting water runoff into streets, and requiring restaurants to serve water only upon request. If drought conditions worsen throughout the state, additional water restrictions may be implemented to reduce demand.

Waterworks is helping lead the way through implementation of several actions and programs to build water resilience and address the largest impacts.

Waterworks deployed targeted social media content, billing inserts, automated phone calls, e-blasts, a newsletter and media relations to encourage customers to conserve. It has also implemented water conservation programs that save customers money, including a rebate program for water saving devices, turf replacement, and rain barrels to help customers capture stormwater. Additionally, Waterworks offers its customers a comprehensive and free water audit program. The audits check irrigation systems, appliances, and fixtures for any leaks or inefficiencies.

Water conservation should be practiced by all Los Angeles County residents, including youth. Waterworks is updating its elementary school water conservation education program with interactive class activities and lessons encouraging students to be mindful of water usage in their homes.

Finally, Waterworks is collaborating with Water for LA (waterforla.com), a regional education program designed to transform residents from passive water consumers to empowered and informed water advocates dedicated to sustainability and health for all.

On top of general information distribution, Waterworks is reaching out to the top five percent of residential water users by phone to alert them of their high usage and educate them on ways to conserve. Waterworks is also reaching out to customers who may be wasting water through behaviors like overwatering their lawns and gardens and letting outdoor irrigation drain into the street.

To promote awareness of Waterworks services, staff regularly attend community meetings, town councils and other public venues to promote water conservation, provide drought updates and keep customers informed of ongoing programs and projects.  Through these meetings and events, Waterworks endeavors to promote within its customer a sense of shared responsibility for regional water resiliency.

Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts works with regional partners to lessen dependence on imported water and mitigate drought effects through outreach on conservation. Through social media, newsletters and community meetings, Waterworks helps customers conserve with leak audits, smart irrigation systems and other methods. Waterworks’ programs aim to transform residents from passive water consumers to informed water advocates.

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