August 13, 2021 Update
West Basin Requires Proof of Vaccination for Staff
The West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) is requiring that all employees must submit proof of vaccination or submit a request for reasonable accommodation under a medical or religious exemption, effective August 2021. Those employees who are not vaccinated or who request accommodation will be required to submit to weekly COVID-19 testing.
With a surge in the Delta variant of the coronavirus and a partial return to the office for the approximately 50 employees of West Basin, the Interim General Manager, under the direction of the Board of Directors, made the decision in order to ensure a safe and full reopening.
To read the detailed report from the Human Resources Department, find the July 26, 2021 Board Inquiry Regarding Mandating COVID-19 Vaccination agenda item 8E: here.
May 27, 2020 Update
A video message from the West Basin Board: Your water is safe.
May 21, 2020 Update
An Open Letter from the West Basin Municipal Water District and Your Water Providers:
To view the full letter click the following link.
Open Letter from Your Water Providers
April 29, 2020 Update
West Basin Recycled Water is Safe and Reliable
In addition to ensuring a safe and reliable drinking water supply for the region, West Basin continues to produce and deliver high-quality recycled water for more than 450 recycled water customers throughout its service area. Last month, the District implemented numerous health precautions and safety guidelines at the District’s Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility and other satellite treatment facilities to ensure that recycled water operations will continue uninterrupted.
Recycled Water and Wastewater Deemed Safe from Coronavirus (COVID-19)
On April 21, the California State Water Resources Control Board released a fact sheet that details how municipal wastewater treatment processes ensure safety against COVID-19.
“Sanitation experts have determined that existing treatment plant disinfection processes successfully disinfect wastewater containing the COVID-19 virus.”
Read more about the safety of recycled water at the following link.
April 8, 2020 Update
West Basin has published a Special Edition COVID-19 Newsletter. Click on the image below to view the newsletter.
March 27, 2020 Update
West Basin COVID-19 Response Plan and FAQs Now Available
Copies of the District’s COVID-19 Response Plan and FAQs are now available for download.
Previous Updates
West Basin Drinking Water is Safe and Reliable
West Basin Municipal Water District is assuring the communities in its service area that COVID-19 has no impact on the quality or supply of the District’s drinking water.
“We understand and share your concerns regarding the health impacts of COVID-19, but we want to assure our communities that the drinking water delivered by West Basin is safe and reliable,” stated West Basin Board President Gloria D. Gray.
West Basin purchases imported drinking water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan). West Basin then delivers those drinking water supplies throughout its service area. The strict water treatment process that Metropolitan utilizes ensures the safety of the region’s imported drinking water supplies.
Metropolitan’s multi-step treatment process includes filtration and disinfection using ozone and chlorine. This advanced process removes and kills viruses, including coronaviruses, as well as bacteria and other pathogens. Ongoing monitoring demonstrates that Metropolitan’s treated water meets or surpasses all federal and state drinking water standards and regulations, which require removal of over 99.99% of viruses.
In California, public water agencies are required to produce annual water quality reports and make them available to the public either online or by request. For specific information about the quality of your drinking water, please contact or visit the website of your retail water supplier (e.g. City of Inglewood, Golden State Water Company, etc.).
If you need help identifying your water supplier, please enter your home address at either of the following websites:
- West Basin Service Area Map & Retailer Links
- California State Water Resources Controal Board Water Service Search Tool
West Basin will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation, following established public health agency guidelines and recommendations and adjusting its programming and operations as needed. All updates regarding West Basin programs and operations will be posted on the District website and other outreach platforms.
District Programs Postponed Until Further Notice
On March 16th, the West Basin began postponing all District events and community programs until further notice in order to help protect the community from the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The West Basin Board of Directors voted to proceed with caution and implement protective strategies across all District operations. Precautionary measures to increase social distancing include offering online and virtual public education programs in place of in-person events, suspending non-essential travel, exploring telecommuting for staff and maintaining a healthful work environment.
“In order to protect public health and prevent the potential for further community transmission of COVID-19 that can occur through public events, West Basin is taking the action of postponing its scheduled public tours, school education classes, and community outreach events until further notice,” said President Gray. “The decision to provide alternatives for our outreach events was made with the greater public interest in mind as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve daily and impact our region,” added Gray.
Impacted West Basin Programs
Program updates will continue to be available on each program webpage.
- West Basin Lunch and Learn classes
- Public and school tours of the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility
- Solar Cup Competition
- Grass Replacement classes
- Rain Barrel distribution events
- Cash for Kitchens
Additional Resources
Please consult the resources below for additional information on how to stay healthy and updated during the coronavirus outbreak.
General Resources
- California Department of Public Health
- LA County Department of Public Health
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- World Health Organization
Drinking Water Resources
Contact:
Amy Rocha, Manager of Communications
310-991-0032 | amyr@westbasin.org
