Photo: DAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images
More than 33 billion gallons of rainwater has captured Los Angeles County thanks to recent winter storms that have hit Southern California in recent weeks. and that in the future it can be used as drinking water, reported county Public Works officials.
Director of Los Angeles County Public WorksMark Pestrella, stated that that amount of water can cover the demand for 816,000 people for a year.
According to Pestrella, the rainwater was captured within the first few months of the winter storm season.
“This is great news for the county and the region. We are working with our water partners to increase the region’s capacity to capture, clean, and conserve stormwater runoff, while investing equitably in communities through the Clean and Safe Water Program,” said Pestrella.
The program, adopted by voters in 2018 through Measure W, aims to increase local water supply by capturing rainwater and improving water quality.
According to the authorities, Approximately 98% of the stormwater runoff collected from the San Gabriel River and the Hondo River channel is conserved.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works operates 14 major dams and 620 miles of rivers and flood control channels.
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