Catch the Rain and Savings: West Basin Rain Barrel Program
For the second year in a row, West Basin is partnering with local civic and non-profit organizations to assist with their environmental programs and distribute free rain barrels to residents in the West Basin service area. West Basin recently completed events in the City of Hawthorne and Hermosa Beach distributing 600 rain barrels to local residents! West Basin is looking to distribute a total of 2,000 rain barrels by this winter.
Collecting and reusing rainwater is a great way to reduce the amount of water flowing into storm drains and local water ways, and use every raindrop efficiently. In addition to protecting the environment, West Basin’s programs also provide local non-profits an opportunity to raise funds by providing volunteers to assist with the events. The local students, parents and volunteers assist with promoting the events, traffic control and loading rain barrels into customer vehicles.
With predictions of a “Godzilla” El Niño, West Basin’s limited supply of rain barrels are sure to go fast. Get on the notification list today by contacting our partner organization, the South Bay Environmental Services Center, at www.sbesc.com or (310) 371- 4633.
Remaining distribution event dates include:
- Saturday, December 5 in Carson
in partnership with the Carson Lions Club - Saturday, December 12 in Culver City
in partnership with the Culver City Rotary Club - January event in the City of Inglewood
TBA
For information about rain barrel and cistern rebates offered by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, please visit http://socalwatersmart.com.
Disclaimer: All rain barrel events and rebates are contingent on available funding, funding is not guaranteed and programs can end at any time for any reason. First-come, first-served, while supplies last.
Why Desal Now
Our future supplies of water are challenged by scarcity and the uncertainty of climate change. Challenges, such as the over allocation of the Colorado River, predictions of smaller and smaller snowpacks, higher temperatures and longer, reoccurring droughts make the development of new water supplies prudent and necessary.
To face these challenges, West Basin is currently evaluating the potential for an ocean water desalination facility that would provide the district with 20 million gallons per day of drought-proof, locally controlled drinking water supply.
Water conservation and recycling remain critical components of West Basin’s diverse water supply portfolio and will continue to be expanded. Now, responsible water reliability planning dictates adding ocean water desalination to our diverse water portfolio by the year 2023.
Unfortunately, both recycled and conserved water do not augment our future drinking water supplies. Directly drinking purified recycled water is 10 to 20 years away, and today is prohibited by regulations. In the future, we will need both ocean water desalination and direct purified recycled water as potable water supplies, in addition to improved water efficiency.
As the Environmental Impact Report process moves forward, we look forward to keeping you updated on this project. Please visit the West Basin desal project website to show your support or request more information: www.westbasin.org/desal.
Drought Update – El Niño
El Niño is a naturally occurring climate cycle that is result of ocean changes affecting weather patterns
Predictions of a wet winter in California are growing more certain, with current climate patterns increasingly similar to El Niño in 1997. Water experts are keeping a close watch on Northern California especially, where nearly 75% of the state’s reservoirs are north of Fresno and precipitation in Sierra Nevada meets about a third of the state’s water needs. Still, with four years of drought to make up for, water supply conditions in California are less likely to be improved completely with one rainy season.
While predicted rains in Southern California will help with local groundwater replenishment (for more information visit Water Replenishment District of Southern California), the region and state remain in mandatory conservation mode. Recent state reports show Californians have cut water usage by approximately 26% in September. In the West Basin service area, this number is 23%.
West Basin continues to expand its water conservation and water recycling programs, and is studying responsible ocean water desalination, in order to reduce dependence on imported water and to provide locally-controlled, drought-proof water supplies.
Explore Innovative Water Reuse Projects Around the World
WateReuse Association’s new “Global Connections Map” features West Basin’s Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility with a video profile and case study. This interactive site showcases the various ways water is reused across the globe. The map highlights innovative water purification projects that bring attention to the need for water reuse, a particularly relevant concern in drought-stricken areas such as California.
The website explores how West Basin treats water from the City of Los Angeles’ Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant and is the only wastewater recycling facility in the world that produces five different qualities of water for specific purposes. These “designer waters” waters include irrigation water, cooling tower water, high-pressure boiler feed water, low-pressure boiler feed water, and seawater intrusion and groundwater augmentation water.
Discover the Global Connections Map and watch the videos on our water recycling project, designer waters and benefits.
Credit: WateReuse Research Foundation and Australian Water Recycling Centre
Recycled Water Customer Spotlight – The Lakes at El Segundo
As West Basin celebrates 20 years of water recycling in 2015, we would like to congratulate The Lakes at El Segundo for also reaching this important milestone.
The municipal golf course opened in 1994 and immediately recognized the benefit of being located next to West Basin’s new water recycling facility: access to a sustainable water source for the golf course. The Lakes ultimately signed on to be West Basin’s first recycled water customer in 1995. Over the last two decades, The Lakes have been using West Basin’s recycled water for irrigation on its greens and fairways throughout the 9-hole golf course.
During fiscal year 2014-2015, The Lakes used 21.6 million gallons of recycled water – that amounts to 21.6 million gallons of potable water savings in one year! We salute The Lakes’ commitment to conserving our precious water supply, and look forward to providing recycled water for many more years to come.
Thank You for Making Water Harvest a Success!
The 17th annual Water Harvest Festival marked a momentous year as West Basin celebrated 20 years of water recycling. Since the facility was first built, it has produced more than 165 billion gallons of recycled water, equivalent to the amount of water to meet the needs of the City of Los Angeles for an entire year. Over 1,800 guests attended this year’s Water Harvest to learn about water efficiency and the future of our water supply in this historic drought. Nearly 400 toured the world-renowned Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility where they had the opportunity to taste purified sewer water and learn about West Basin’s “five” designer waters.
In addition to the tours, the festival included 35 educational booths, interactive stage shows, rides, games, and a grand prize winner from Hawthorne who took home a brand-new water and energy efficient washer and dryer. Thank you to our generous sponsors, booth participants, and volunteers. If you missed out on the fun check out our Facebook page to see all of the pictures from the event! To learn more about Water Harvest view our event page. We hope to see you next year!
Water Classes, Tours & Speakers – Free Water Education All Year
This year may be coming to an end, with only two more Water 101 classes left in 2015, but West Basin will continue to offer free water education classes, recycled water facility tours and speaker presentations in 2016.
Please stay tuned for our latest water education program schedule and make sure to make water education one of your New Year’s resolutions!
Water 101 Classes
If you haven’t already, register today for one of our remaining 2015 Water 101 Classes. At the end of this free, “crash course” on our precious water resources you will become an honorary water expert, complete with a certificate.
Remaining 2015 Water 101 Class Dates:
- Thursday, Dec. 3 – El Segundo
- 7 – 8:30 p.m., light dinner at 6:30 p.m.
- Includes tour of the water recycling facility
- Thursday, Dec. 10 – Carson
- 7 – 8:30 p.m., light dinner at 6:30 p.m.
- Virtual recycling tour via video
Registration required. To sign up, please email info@westbasin.org or leave a message on our tour hotline at (310) 660-6243.
