Summer 2013

1st Annual LA Water Summit Coming October 16-17

On October 16-17, 2013 Los Angeles political leaders will come together to discuss the most pressing issues concerning California’s water resources.Willie Brown, the former Mayor of San Francisco (1996-2004) and Speaker of the California State Assembly (1980-1995), will be the Keynote Speaker at the Summit, and California Governor Jerry Brown has also been invited.

Local elected officials are facing tough questions about rising water costs. The Summit will provide a forum for industry leaders to discuss the challenges facing rate payers, including: rising water costs, aging infrastructure, new local water supplies, state water challenges and storm water opportunities.

Registration is now open for the event. Visit www.lawatersummit.org to learn more.


Recycled Water Pipeline Brings 105,000 Gallons of Water Per Day to NRG

A new recycled water pipeline to the NRG El Segundo Power Plant is now complete, bringing more than 105,000 gallons of recycled water to NRG per day. The NRG pipeline project was built to deliver recycled, low-pressure boiler feed water to the power plant through a pipeline approximately 1.5 miles in length with a 10” diameter.

West Basin is excited to have NRG as its newest recycled water customer. Thank you to all the partners for the hard work and dedication that contributed to the success of this project and to El Segundo residents and businesses for their patience!


Recycled Water Customers Celebrated at Appreciation Luncheon

West Basin’s recycled water customers were recognized at a Recycled Water Customer Appreciation Luncheon on May 21, 2013. The West Basin Board of Directors presented awards to 14 landscape irrigation customers, thanking them for their use of recycled water. The customer with the longest relationship with West Basin is the City of El Segundo with 18 years of recycled water use.

Use of recycled water reduces our dependence on imported water and reduces the amount of wastewater discharged into Santa Monica Bay.


Ocean Friendly Gardens Spring Up in Malibu and Manhattan Beach

Spring ushered in the opening of two new Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFGs), one in Malibu and the other in Manhattan Beach. The gardens represent two in a series of sustainable gardens built to encourage residents to take out part of their lawn and create an “Ocean Friendly Garden.” West Basin partnered with the local cities as well as the Surfrider Foundation to create gardens that will save approximately 80 percent of water use each year.

Ribbon-cutting ceremonies took place for the Malibu OFG on March 20, 2013 at Malibu Bluffs Park and by the Manhattan Beach Pier on April 25, 2013 for the Manhattan Beach OFG.

Look for the next Ocean Friendly Gardens coming to Carson and Gardena in September. You can learn how to create your own OFG at a Landscape Training on July 27 at the Carson Juanita Millender-McDonald Community Center. Call (310) 371-4633 to register.



Water and Wildlife at Risk in the Bay Delta

California’s water supply and wildlife are at risk. The San Francisco Bay Area is home to California’s largest estuary, the Sacramento –San Joaquin Delta, and a recent U.S. Geological Survey predicts that a major earthquake (at least 6.7 magnitude) has a 63 percent chance of hitting the Bay Area in the next 30 years. The devastation of this high magnitude earthquake could interrupt delivery of water for up to two years and destroy a vital native habitat. The Delta currently supplies our region with about 30 percent of our water.

Recommendations have been made towards a $14 billion twin tunnel project, which is being developed through a separate federal and state initiative. The project will be incorporated into the plan if the tunnels are approved by the State and permitted. The plans and projects offer the greatest hope in many years that California will be able to manage expected threats to the central water supply and restore the habitat for wildlife that call the Delta home.

For more information go to: baydeltaconservationplan.com.


More than 1,400 Free Water-Saving Toilets Given to Local Residents

Local residents were able to replace their older toilets, manufactured before 1992, with free High-Efficiency toilets (HETs) at five different HET events across West Basin’s service area. New toilets use only 1.28 gallons per flush and are EPA Water Sense certified. The five events took place in Gardena, Inglewood, Manhattan Beach, West Hollywood, and Carson. Over fourteen hundred toilets were given away for a total of 18.3 million gallons in water savings which is enough to provide water for 100 families for one year.

Over $20,000 was earned by local volunteer groups who provided the “heavy-lifting” at the events. To find out about the next HET event, visit: www.waterprograms.com/westbasin or call ConserVision Consulting at (866) 861-0784.


Culver City Businesses Implement Water Saving Business Practices

Ten Culver City organizations were honored in May for implementing water efficient practices within their regular operating procedures. West Basin, in partnership with the City of Culver City and Golden State Water Company, acknowledged these organizations’ efforts at the May 13, 2013 Culver City Council Meeting.

The list of water-efficient organizations included: Culver City Unified School District, El Astro Motel, El Marino Language School, Fox Hills Pines Homeowners’ Association, Haas Entertainment, MDR Associates, Travelodge, West Los Angeles Community College (Westside Extension), and Veterans Park.

Businesses participated in West Basin’s conservation programs to save water, save money, and contribute to the service area’s future water portfolio. These programs include: Cash for Kitchens, Recirc and Save, Complete Restroom Retrofit and Large Landscape Controller Rebates / Save Water, and Save a Buck. Visit the “Conservation” page at www.westbasin.org to learn more about how to take advantage of these programs for your own business or organization.


Payne Elementary Pandas Become Water Stars… Saving 20 Gallons of Water Per Day

Gustavo Castillo helped his class of Beulah Payne Elementary Pandas become a group of Water Stars by pledging to conserve 20 gallons of water per day as part of West Basin’s Water Star Program. His teacher and classmates won a $100 Lakeshore Learning Materials Gift Card and Water Star t-shirts.

Mrs. Sitkoff’s class participated in the Water Explorations school program which invites 3-12 graders to participate in interactive learning tours/workshops at West Basin’s Water Recycling and Ocean-Water Desalination facilities during the school year. At the end of the tours each child receives a Water Star Kit complete with faucet aerator, shower timer, water wasting fix-it-tickets, toilet tummy, flow rate bag and leak detection tablets. Each Water Star kit saves an estimated 20 gallons per student per day. Gustavo was one of the 3,200 children who received the kit and recorded his water saving using the Water Star Kit. Congratulations to Gustavo and the Payne Pandas! 

To learn more about West Basin’s education programs, visit our website.


Art Brings Water to Life in West Basin’s Annual Art Contest

Judges for the 2013 Water is Life Art Contest had a very difficult time choosing three grand prize winners from over 390 pieces of beautiful art pieces displaying the importance of water for this year’s contest. Young artists from 43 schools within West Basin’s service area participated in the contest. Winning art pieces were chosen based on the creativity of their portrayal of water conservation messages and their artistic skill. The students’ art was printed on bookmarks and posters for distribution at the winners’ schools and at local public libraries.

      Grand Prize Winners from West Basin’s Entire Service Area included:

  1. Elementary School Grand Prize Winner Nayeli Soon, Grade 3, Richmond Street Elementary School, El Segundo
  2. Middle School Grand Prize Winner Bailey Sarria, Grade 8, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Hermosa Beach
  3. High School Grand Prize Winner Christopher Lizama, Grade 12, Leuzinger High School, Hawthorne

Click here to see the art work for this year’s Annual Art Contest


Water Harvest 2013

October 26, 2013
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Free tours, games, prizes and fun!
1935 S. Hughes Way, El Segundo, CA 90245


Solar Cup Race Heats Up at Lake Skinner

Students participating in Metropolitan Water District’s 11th Annual Solar Cup™ Race fueled up their boats under the sun at Lake Skinner for the three day race May 17-19, 2013. The Solar Cup Race is the nation’s largest solar-powered boat competition. The Solar Cup program is a team-based educational opportunity that allows students to apply their skills in math, physics, engineering and communications while learning about Southern California’s water resources, resource management, conservation and alternative energy development.

West Basin sponsored four schools: the California Academy of Math and Science, Environmental Charter High School, Palos Verdes High School and Peninsula High School. Two West Basin teams received awards in this year’s competition. In the Central/Bay Region Division (South Counties, Foothill, Inland Empire and Central/Bay), Palos Verdes High School won second place veteran team for their Public Service Announcement project. Peninsula High School won second place for veteran team in both endurance and sprint races and first place for their technical reports.


Free Water 101 Classes and Public Tours

Call (310) 660-6211 to reserve your spot in our next water class tour!

  • August 1, 6:30 p.m., Water 101 class and Night Tour of Water Recycling Facility in El Segundo
  • September 14, 9:30 a.m., tour of the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility in El Segundo
  • Every Friday and Saturday, free tours offered at the Ocean-Water Desalination Demonstration Facility in Redondo Beach
    • Tours are offered on Fridays (11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m.) and Saturdays (10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m.) and Wednesday and Thursday by appointment.
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