CA Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund – 8.5

Continue measures to clean up the regional groundwater aquifers.

If water is diverted from the LA River to recharge groundwater, it could be used by municipal water suppliers during periods of greatest need. Identifying and cleaning contaminated groundwater aquifers is therefore crucial for augmenting local water supply.

Improve water supply and recycling facility operations and maintenance.

Water supply projects, like all other infrastructure, require proper operations and maintenance to help maximize long-term viability of the projects. Sufficient funding and maintenance procedures are necessary to effectively deliver proper water supply benefits and to lengthen the lifespan of infrastructure.

Employ and encourage efficient water use.

In addition to capturing and reusing water that flows to the LA River, perhaps the most direct method of improving local water supply reliability is to simply use less. Water conservation and efficient water use—from using more efficient fixtures and appliances…

Divert and treat stormwater and dry weather flows within the river channel for groundwater recharge, direct use as recycled water, and to supply water for parks and ecological areas.

Water diverted from the LA River could become another source in a portfolio of regional water sources. Diverted water could be used to enhance habitat, support recreation, or supply water for municipal and industrial uses. Storing diverted water in basins…

Capture and treat stormwater and dry weather flows before they reach the river channel for groundwater recharge, direct use, water recycling, or release for downstream beneficial uses.

The primary sources of water flowing into the LA River are wet weather (stormwater) runoff originating from precipitation on the watershed and dry weather inputs from the watershed, including incidental urban runoff and groundwater upwelling. The dominant source of dry-weather flow…