Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors voted for a plan to improve stormwater capture with a goal of capturing it for local reuse.
The plan aims to increase the local water supply by 580,000 acre-feet per year by 2045. The county will use this volume of water to supplant water imported from other regions so that 80% of the water supply will be sourced locally.
Water supply from other regions has become less reliable due to climate change and water scarcity. The plan could increase the local supply by about 162 billion gallons and service 5 million more people.
The plan addresses long-standing droughts in the county including a severe drought in 2012 to 2016 and another drought in 2021 to 2022.
The plan contains 14 strategies to increase stormwater capture and local water supply by 2045, including reducing water usage, improving drought preparedness and messaging, leveraging groundwater storage potential, making pumping and treating groundwater more cost-effective, and managing invasive species and wildfires that impact water supply and water quality.
Related Stories
Sustainability | May 11, 2020
Watch Bjarke Ingels discuss Mars Science City, BIG's prototype Martian city in Dubai
Ingels believes designing for Mars will help us reach sustainability goals on Earth.
Multifamily Housing | May 8, 2020
'Lakehouse' is the first multifamily project in Colorado to receive WELL Precertification
Stantec and Muñoz + Albin are the project's architects.
Sustainability | Apr 28, 2020
Could a virtual 'city-forest' help solve population density challenges?
The project will house 200,000 people.
Sustainability | Apr 16, 2020
This will be the largest Living Building in the world
ZGF Architects is designing the building.
Sustainability | Mar 31, 2020
Passive house standard becoming increasingly popular for multifamily housing development
Residents reap healthier indoor environment, lower utility bills.
Plumbing | Mar 13, 2020
Pioneer Industries launches new website
Pioneer Industries launches new website
Sustainability | Mar 12, 2020
Containing CO2 during construction
New tools make it easier to measure embodied carbon in materials before they get used for construction.
Sustainability | Mar 2, 2020
City of Buffalo to launch the largest environmental impact bond in the country
EIBs offer a novel approach to pay for high-impact projects based in part on the environmental, social, and/ or economic outcomes they generate.
Architects | Mar 2, 2020
Two ‘firsts’ for Sasaki and LEO A DALY
Following an industry trend, the firms hire chiefs of technology and sustainability, respectively.
Sustainability | Feb 26, 2020
Sustainability in a material world
The concepts of embodied carbon, zero waste, and deconstruction and reuse often run on parallel tracks.
