The four-minute animated film, created by Epipheo Studio, was developed as a cornerstone of SCWC’s recent communications campaign to advance understanding of water recycling and purification in California.

The Telly Awards recognize excellence in video and television across all screens, celebrating standout work from organizations, agencies, and creators worldwide. This recognition places Renewed among the most impactful and innovative storytelling efforts in today’s media landscape.

SCWC’s video, produced by Epipheo, received top recognition in several highly competitive categories:

• Gold Telly Awards
  • Animated Marketing & Communication – Nonprofit
  • Animated Marketing & Communication – Sustainability & Environment
  • Animated Marketing & Communication – Art Direction
  • Animated Marketing & Communication – 3D/CG Animation
• Silver Telly Award
  • Animated Marketing & Communication – Writing

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This episode shifts the conversation from engineering to storytelling.

The post #29 – The Power of Water Storytelling appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

“This is a game-changing moment for California’s water management,” said Charley Wilson, Executive Director of the SCWC. “These forward-thinking regulations will enable us to make the most of our water resources and ensure a sustainable water future for our state.”

Key projects like Metropolitan Water District’s Pure Water SoCal and LADWP and Los Angeles Sanitation District’s Operation NEXT Water Supply Program stand at the forefront of this innovative wave, setting a benchmark in sustainable water management.

“It’s crucial to recognize that the success of high-quality recycled water systems depends fundamentally on the quality of the source water,” said Wilson. “This is where the role of the State Water Project and the Colorado River becomes indispensable as part of an “all-of-the-above” approach to water resources. Squeezing every possible use out of each drop of water we have is key to a sustainable water future for California.”

The SWRCB’s regulations will help to ensure that direct potable reuse projects are designed and operated in a manner that protects public health and the environment. The regulations also provide a framework for the development of local and regional direct potable reuse projects.

“We applaud the State Water Resources Control Board for their leadership and foresight in adopting these regulations,” said Wilson. “This is a major step forward in our efforts to ensure a secure and sustainable water future for California.”

The SCWC is committed to working with the SWRCB and other stakeholders to ensure that the regulations are implemented in a manner that is consistent with the highest standards of public health and environmental protection. Watch our video series on water recycling to learn more about the process.

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Protecting Every Source: Southern California’s Water Story highlights the work that Southern California’s water agencies are doing to transform the regions’ water systems amidst a record drought. The video demonstrates how Southern California has become one of the most water-efficient regions in the world — diversifying our water supply portfolios to expand local water resources while protecting the health of our imported supplies.

“As climate change continues to make year-to-year hydrology less predictable, having a diversified water supply portfolio will help us adapt to meet the needs of our changing climate, and we want to make sure our ratepayers understand how that will happen,” said Paul Liu, SCWC Board Member and Managing Water Utility Engineer at LADWP. “This video will be a vital tool in dispelling the common misconception among Southern California residents that local water supplies will lead us to outgrow the need for imported water — this belief isn’t rooted in reality. Imported water will always be a vital piece of our portfolio.”

The video takes viewers on an animated journey, explaining the sources that make up Southern California’s water supplies. Viewers are shown the foundational importance of imported supplies, like those from the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Colorado River, as well as added strength provided through local water investments in stormwater capture, water recycling and groundwater recharge — and how each of these sources have been impacted by California’s changing climate.

“We’re proud to have LADWP’s support in the development of this resource,” said Charley Wilson, SCWC Executive Director. “SCWC members have been hard at work innovating and modernizing our region’s water systems and it’s important that the communities we serve understand that their water comes from a variety of wide-ranging sources, as far away as the Eastern Sierras and as close as their backyards.”

The video series was made possible through generous funding provided by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.  Animation studio Epipheo also produced SCWC’s Recycled Water video series and a video encouraging California legislators to fund recycled water projects.

The post New Educational Video Highlights SoCal’s Water Supplies appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

The District provides recycled and imported water to cities and retail water agencies in southeast Los Angeles. The District’s service area is 227 square miles, encompassing 24 cities and serving nearly 2 million people.

In 1952, the District was formed by a vote of the people to mitigate the over-pumping of underground water resources in the region. In 1954, the District became a member agency of Metropolitan Water District to use imported water to curtail the use of diminishing groundwater supplies. In 2015, the District began supplying recycled water to provide regional water reliability.

Central Basin Municipal Water District’s regional recycled water program, with infrastructure shown above, delivers 4,500 to 5,500 acre-feet of recycled water each year.

“Drought conditions becoming the ‘new normal’ in addition to increasing demands for water and limitations on imported water supplies are a strong reminder of the imminent need to prioritize investments in local, sustainable water supplies,” said the District General Manager Dr. Alejandro Rojas. “The District’s commitment to expanding its recycled water programs, innovation, and focus on equity is critical to promoting a resilient water supply.”

The District has an enduring record of ensuring water demands and supplies stay balanced. The District developed a regional water recycling program that delivers 4,500 to 5,500 acre-feet of recycled water to more than 400 industrial, commercial, and landscape irrigation water connections. Over the next three to five years, the District plans to expand its recycled water use by 2,000 acre-feet to reduce the strain on drinking water supplies. The District hasn’t raised water rates in two years and will uphold the Human Right to Water to ensure that its customers have access to safe, clean, affordable water.

The District is also a proud partner of Pure Water Southern California, a new, large-scale local recycled water project that will turn wastewater into high-quality drinking water. Once completed, it will produce 150 million gallons of water daily, becoming one of the largest advanced water treatment plants in the world.

The District has been providing reliable and effective operations for 70 years and will continue to deliver high-quality water and service to its customers.

Using recycled water for irrigation, as seen in the photo below of the Los Amigos golf course, and planting drought tolerant gardens, as shown to the left, increases resilience by conserving drinking water.

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SCV Water’s approach is two-fold: Investing in and protecting a diverse water supply; and working with customers in using water wisely.

PLANNING YESTERDAY FOR WATER TOMORROW

Before the first reports of widespread drought conditions began, SCV Water had been building a diverse and resilient portfolio of water supplies. These historical investments in supply, storage and treatment have played a critical role in providing some security against the severe drought.

Imported Water
In the 1960s, the community recognized additional water would be needed to supplement local supplies, and contracted with the State of California for water from the State Water Project. SCV Water continues to invest in maintenance and upgrades to the distribution and storage network for that supply. Over the years, SCV Water has invested in additional amounts of State Water Project water to better meet the needs of a growing community. Further investment in other water rights and water banking (more on these below) strengthen the long-term reliability of the imported supply portfolio. In dry years, like the area is experiencing now, SCV Water imports about 7 percent of the total supply from the State Water Project, compared to about 50 percent in a normal water year.

Since this supply fluctuates in years of drought and may be uncertain after a disaster like a large earthquake, the Agency has proactively invested in local water supplies to ensure SCV Water customers have a secure, reliable water source.

Principal Water Resource Planner Rick Viergutz checks equipment that monitors conditions for Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems, as part of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan.

Local Groundwater
The Santa Clarita Valley is fortunate to overlie two main groundwater aquifers, which can provide a local, less expensive, and more reliable alternative to imported water to fill part of the community’s annual water needs. About half of the SCV’s water supply in a typical year would come from groundwater; however, it has been reduced to about 37 percent this year.

Portions of the aquifers have experienced contamination from industrial activities and man-made chemicals. The cause of this reduction began before the current drought, and SCV Water has an aggressive treatment program underway to protect and restore the groundwater.

Of SCV Water’s 42 active wells, 17 are removed from service due to contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals. In the last few years, SCV Water strategically and nimbly built two treatment facilities, with several more in process to increase groundwater supply. Several other wells have been impacted by contaminants including perchlorate and volatile organic compounds from the Whittaker Bermite property, a former munitions testing and manufacturing site. Treatment systems have been installed for some wells, and others are undergoing design of new treatment facilities to bring them back into service.

Banked Water and Other Dry-Year Reserves
The Agency’s most innovative and valuable investment right now is in water banking programs. SCV Water had the foresight to invest in off-site “water banks” in neighboring Kern County. Much like a savings account for money, water is added during wet years and pumped back out when needed during dry years. SCV Water recently invested in additional infrastructure that increased the amount that can be withdrawn each year. These supplies are critical to lessening the impact of a multi-year drought on the community. The Agency expects to invest in additional water storage projects in the future as part of a long-term strategy for a reliable and sustainable water supply.

Recycled Water
SCV Water has delivered recycled water to the community since 2003. Unlike groundwater, which can be depleted, or State Water Project water, which is costly and uncertain, recycled water is available as long as wastewater is generated. Several projects are underway to expand capacity almost 20-fold, from 475 up to 8,500 acre-feet per year (just under 3 billion gallons), delivering it to additional large landscape irrigation and industrial users.

In an innovative partnership between SCV Water, the City of Santa Clarita, and the developers of Vista Canyon, a new mixed-use development, a water recycling facility built by the developer will soon provide water for irrigation within Vista Canyon, as well as future landscape customers in the area. At build-out, the project could produce about 392,000 gallons per day.

“A diverse water supply is key to helping our customers weather dry years,” said SCV Water’s General Manager Matt Stone. “Investments in projects such as off-site storage options across the state, local groundwater management and water recycling ensure our customers always have access to safe, reliable water when needed.”

WATER-WISE ACTIONS

Santa Clarita home, after taking part in the Lawn Replacement Program

A strong partnership with customers recognizes that everyone has a vital role as water stewards to ensure the SCV has enough water now and in the future. Customer vigilance, coupled with robust communications and rebate programs, resulted in an 18 percent decrease in water use in September 2022 over 2020 in the Santa Clarita Valley.

“More than half of the water used in the average SCV household is used outdoors,” said Stone. “And as much as half of that water may be lost to run-off or overspray. Our innovative programs provide resources that allow customers to make small but lasting changes to water use and increase our water savings.”

SCV Water is home to many water-saving programs, rebates and resources for its residential and commercial customers. When customers asked for flexibility, the Agency delivered. Take, for instance, the Agency’s revamped Lawn Replacement Program (LRP). The new guidelines offer increased economic incentives, bonuses for native plants, options for irrigation upgrades and an expanded list of eligible project areas and sizes.

Information on water- and money-saving options accessible to customers can be found at https://yourSCVwater.com/save-water-money/.

From investing in a diverse water supply, using water wisely and restoring local groundwater, SCV Water is poised to meet the community’s water needs for years to come. Like the adage that recommends against putting all your eggs in one basket, SCV Water consistently invests in multiple sources of water, to help ensure water supplies in wet or dry years.

“Dry times in California are part of the norm. Thanks to a solid foundation of thoughtful planning and innovative projects and programs, SCV Water is here and ready to provide our customers with a long-term water supply,” said Stone. “And we couldn’t do it without the diligence of our customers in making permanent changes in water-use habits.”

Treatment facility opened in 2021, which removes PFAS from 3 groundwater wells in the area.

WHAT ARE PFAS CHEMICALS?

Synthetic PFAS chemicals have been around for more than 70 years, and are found in thousands of everyday products, including non-stick cookware, shampoo, food wrappers and firefighting foam. The chemicals have existed in the environment due to manufacturing, product use and discharges from local wastewater treatment plants.

The post Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency’s Investment in Resiliency is Decades in the Making appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

Drought conditions have significantly reduced the amount of water that can be imported to Southern California. The bad news is some data shows our existing water supply may diminish by 10 percent in the next 20 years. The good news is the Water Replenishment District (WRD) has been planning for extreme drought conditions for 60 years.

WRD manages southern Los Angeles County’s groundwater supply – billions of gallons of fresh water held in naturally formed aquifers located right under our feet. This water provides nearly half of our drinking water supply. This year, WRD celebrates 60 years of using recycled water to replenish our groundwater basins and maintain a drought-proof supply of drinking water.

After World War II, Los Angeles County experienced a population boom. Billions of gallons of water were pumped out of the ground faster than nature could replenish. As a result, groundwater fell to extremely low levels. In some inland areas, wells went dry. In some coastal areas, seawater encroached into our drinking water aquifers making the water too salty to drink.

To repair the groundwater basins, voters approved a measure to create WRD in 1959. The immediate objective of WRD was to purchase replenishment water to restore the over-drafted basins and inject water into a barrier system to prevent the migration of seawater into aquifers.

Today, WRD protects groundwater for a 420-square-mile service area covering 43 cities, including parts of the City of Los Angeles. WRD serves four million people and groundwater managed by the district provides nearly half of the region’s water supply. The other half of the water is imported from hundreds of miles away through a series of canals and pipelines.

At first, imported water was the main source of water WRD relied on for groundwater replenishment. Between 1961 and 1962, WRD purchased over 62 billion gallons of water to replenish groundwater aquifers. Today, no imported water is purchased for groundwater replenishment. This is thanks to WRD’s transition from imported water to recycled water.

In 1960, WRD began its journey to offset the need for imported water. WRD financed the world’s first water treatment plant for the specific purpose of producing water for groundwater replenishment– the Whittier Narrows Reclamation Plant. The facility is owned by the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD) and has been a source of recycled water for WRD’s replenishment activities for 60 years.

A purple pipe at LVL carrying treated water from the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts’ Long Beach Water Reclamation Plant.

In 1971, WRD expanded its use of recycled water by taking deliveries from the LACSD Pomona Water Reclamation Plant. Two years later, recycled water from their San Jose Creek Plant began flowing.

To prevent seawater intrusion, seawater barrier injection wells were strategically placed along the coast. These wells inject water at high-pressure levels to create an artificial “wall” that prevents seawater from creeping into freshwater aquifers. Initially, imported water was used at these seawater barrier injection wells. Now, there are multiple sources of recycled water used at the seawater barriers.

In 1995, the West Basin Municipal Water District began producing advanced treated water from its Edward C. Little Recycling Facility that WRD buys for injection into the West Coast Seawater Barrier. In 2006, WRD completed the construction of its Leo J. Vander Lans Advanced Water Treatment Facility to provide recycled water to the Alamitos Seawater Barrier. That same year the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation completed the Terminal Island Advanced Water Purification Facility to provide recycled water that WRD buys for seawater injection. To date, the three plants have produced over 91 billion gallons of recycled water for that purpose and have the capacity to meet the needs of all seawater barriers.

In 2004, WRD set out on a monumental mission – to create a resilient and locally sustainable source of water for groundwater replenishment. WRD called this initiative the Water Independence Now (WIN) program. Prior to WIN, about 37 percent of WRD’s operations relied on imported water. To offset the need for imported water, WRD increased its portfolio of recycled water.

The Leo J. Vander Lans (LVL) facility, located in Long Beach, treats recycled water used for injection wells at the Los Alamitos Barrier to prevent seawater intrusion.

In 2019, advanced treated recycled water from WRD’s Albert Robles Center (ARC) began deliveries to the spreading grounds. This facility treats up to 14.8 million gallons of water a day that is used as a source to replenish groundwater basins.

The completion of ARC brought the mission of WIN to fruition. Since construction has been completed, WRD and partner agencies produce enough recycled water to meet our replenishment needs.

As WRD’s history illustrates so well, recycled water is the most reliable option in the face of diminishing imported supply. The three LACSD plants and ARC have delivered over 749 billion gallons of recycled water for groundwater recharge. This was accomplished without a single drop of imported water.

WRD’s next goal is to raise the stakes and completely offset the need for imported water in the region. This vision is called the Water Independence Now for All (WIN 4 All) plan. To reach this goal, WRD will take advantage of available groundwater space to store recycled water. These steps will strengthen our water security and help us build a drought-proof water system in southern LA County.

The post Recycling Water for 60 Years, Water Replenishment District Maintains Groundwater Supply Throughout Drought appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

Water: Too Precious to Use Just Once is a short and informative three-part video series produced by the Southern California Water Coalition’s Water Recycling Task Force that tells the story of how recycled water will help Southern California build a resilient water supply for the future.

In this series, we find out what water recycling is, how safe it is, and how it is used and will be used in the future. As state and local leaders look for ways to help us cope with extreme droughts and floods, rising temperatures, depleted groundwater basins and more, using more recycled water just makes sense.

Each short video is a great primer on the basics of water recycling and its importance as part of a diverse set of solutions employed by water agencies and local government to stretch our limited water resources as far as possible. The bite-sized videos are meant to be shared, so be sure to pass them along to your family and friends who may want to learn more about smart, innovative ideas for sustainability.

The video series was made possible through generous funding provided by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the work of the dedicated members of SCWC’s Water Recycling Task Force video subcommittee. Subcommittee members included representatives from Carollo Engineers, Eastern Municipal Water District, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, Los Angeles County Public Works, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, San Diego County Water Authority, Santa Margarita Water District, UCLA,  and the Water Research Foundation. The water experts teamed up with the video and storytelling experts at Epipheo to produce the series.

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