August 3, 2023
Contact: Lisette Guzman
Public Information Officer
Los Angeles County Public Works
liguzman@dpw.lacounty.gov / (626) 262-2441
LA County Public Works Releases its
Regional Water Resiliency Plan for Public Review
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County Public Works today released a draft of the long-anticipated County Water Plan for public review. By building on existing local and regional planning efforts, the County Water Plan targets the enhancement of water infrastructure, healthy watersheds, and water resource optimization through actionable targets and strategies.
Water resources in Los Angeles County are increasingly stressed. Climate change has introduced a weather whiplash of intense droughts and torrential rainfall. Many of the County’s groundwater basins are over-drafted or polluted, and some of the region’s most vulnerable communities lack access to safe, reliable water supplies.
According to Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella, P.E., the County Water Plan is a response to these broad regional challenges.
“The County Water Plan is a comprehensive document that articulates a shared, inclusive, regional path forward to sustainably achieve safe, clean, and reliable water resources for all communities in Los Angeles County,” Director Pestrella said.
With over 200 water supply agencies alone and numerous other wastewater treatment, flood control, and land management agencies within the county, collaboration on a regional scale is crucial. The County Water Plan leverages existing efforts like Los Angeles County’s “OurCounty” Sustainability Plan, the Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan, the LA River Master Plan, and Metropolitan Water District’s Integrated Water Resources Plan to facilitate the development and implementation of integrated solutions to key water management issues through collaboration with water agencies, stakeholders, and members of the public.
The public is encouraged to visit lacountywaterplan.org to review the published draft and provide feedback on the strategies during the 30-day public comment period.
Public input will be included when the plan is presented to the LA County Board of Supervisors for adoption later this year.