More than 96.3 billion gallons of stormwater were captured and stored in Los Angeles County reservoirs during the storm season, county officials reported this Wednesday.
Since October 2023, when the storm season began, Los Angeles County collected enough water to meet the needs of more than 2.4 million residents for one yearwhich represents approximately 24% of the region’s annual demand.
Los Angeles County announcement comes during California Water Awareness Monthfrom May 1 to 31.
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“Water is our most precious natural resourceespecially when cycles of drought, wildfires and floods threaten our region’s water supply,” Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Lindsey P. Horvath said in a statement.
“The more water we capture and store locally, the more we can reduce our dependence on imported supplies and ensure the entire region has access to safe, clean and reliable water“he added.
Los Angeles County’s 14 major reservoirs, including Big Tujunga and Pacoima in the Los Angeles River basin, and the Cogswell, San Gabriel and Morris dams in the mountains above Azusa, capture significant amounts of stormwater to help recharge local groundwater basins through land expansion operations at 27 county-operated facilities.
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Municipal and county water agencies across the region have also invested in small- and large-scale infrastructure projects. to help increase local water supply by recharging groundwaterwater recycling and conservation strategies.
Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said that between the last two storm seasons, downtown Los Angeles set a new rainfall record for the wettest consecutive years since the late 19th century.
“Due to the effects of climate change, It is essential that we capture and store as much rainwater as possible during these above-average storm seasons, so that the region is prepared during the inevitable drought years ahead,” Pestrella said.
Among those benefiting from the county’s stored groundwater is the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)which is the largest municipal water and energy company in the country with around 681,000 customers for water service.
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Los Angeles County is a region that is committed to increasing its local water resilience.
Adopted in late 2023, the Los Angeles County Water Plan was developed in collaboration between county Public Works, local water agencies, tribes and municipal and nonprofit stakeholders.
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With more than 200 water supply agencies and other wastewater treatment, flood control and land management agencies within the region, the Los Angeles County Water Plan complements existing local and regional water planning efforts.
For more information on all things water in the Los Angeles County region, you can visit this link.
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