State Water Resources Control Board Enables Fines for Water Wasting
In response to the ongoing severe drought, the State Water Resources Control Board approved an emergency regulation to ensure water agencies, their customers, and California residents increase water conservation or face possible fines of up to $500 per day. The new regulations focus on outdoor water use, where the majority of water wasting takes place. With this regulation, all Californians will be expected to stop:
- Washing down driveways and sidewalks with a hose
- Watering of outdoor landscapes that cause excess runoff
- Washing of motor vehicles without a shut-off hose nozzle
- Using potable water in a fountain or decorative water feature, unless the water is recirculated.
The new regulation was developed following two drought emergency Declarations by Governor Brown. As drought conditions continue, the State Water Board may revisit this regulation and consider other measures to enhance conservation efforts throughout the state. Visit www.swrcb.ca.gov for more details.
Drought Update
As we continue into this dry and hot summer, this year’s fire activity is well above the year to date average, key reservoirs remain at low levels, and the statewide snowpack has already melted. The State Water Board’s Drinking Water Program is providing technical and funding assistance to several communities facing drinking water shortages.
The Central Valley has been hardest hit with losses in crop revenue. Water-saving tips are being promoted statewide through a newly improved water conservation website, SaveOurWater.com.
California was awarded $687 million in state drought funding back in March through emergency legislation that continues to advance toward meeting critical needs.
Even international pop star, Lady Gaga, is focusing her attention on the drought with a Public Service Announcement asking California’s to join the effort and take extraordinary measures to save water. To learn more about how California is dealing with the effects of the drought, visit Drought.CA. Gov
West Basin Board Member Edward C. Little Retires
Longtime West Basin Board member Edward C. Little retired effective May 20, 2014 having served since 1989. Director Little, who served the cities of Culver City, El Segundo, Malibu, and West Hollywood along with a portion of Lennox, North Ladera Heights, Del Aire, Topanga, View Park and Windsor Hills, has been praised for his vision and leadership of the West Basin Board of Directors.
Director Little was instrumental in the development of the state-of-the-art water recycling facility in El Segundo, and to diversify the agency’s water portfolio to not only include wastewater recycling, but water conservation and more recently, ocean-water desalination. To honor Director Little’s leadership and vision, the Board of Directors renamed the El Segundo water recycling facility the “Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility” in 2007.
Director IV position is currently vacant and will be filed through the November 4, 2014 election process.
West Basin Honors Incoming Metropolitan Water District of Southern California New Board Chairman
Together with the City of Torrance, West Basin’s Board of Directors hosted a reception to welcome the new Board Chairman of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Randy A. Record. Mr. Record is a fifth-generation native of San Jacinto and has been active in the water industry for more than a decade.
Mr. Record is the second member of his family to serve on Metropolitan’s board. He has been involved in the farming community for over three decades as an owner and partner in agricultural enterprises and serves on numerous community water and agricultural committees. West Basin’s Board of Directors presented Mr. Record with a proclamation and look forward to working with him on the current water issues.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a consortium of 26 cities and water districts that provides drinking water to nearly 19 million people in parts of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.
West Basin and Parsons Recognized for Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility Phase V Expansion
Every year, Design-Build Institute of America’s Western Pacific Region (DBIA WPR) honors the projects that exemplify the principles of interdisciplinary teamwork, innovation and problem-solving that characterizes the design build delivery. On May 22, 2014, West Basin Municipal Water District and Parsons Corporation were recognized at the 2014 DBIA WRP design-build awards competition for their work on the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility Phase V expansion.
With this expansion, the facility has the potential to produce 62 million gallons of water every day, at full capacity, conserving enough drinking water to meet the needs of 80,000 households. The Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility was the only water-related project to win this year. We applaud the great team effort!
OCEAN FRIENDLY GARDENS
Hawthorne
West Basin and The City of Hawthorne recently celebrated the official opening of the garden with a ribbon cutting ceremony. This garden features an array of drought-tolerant plants that are easy to incorporate into home landscapes and require little to no watering.
Hermosa Beach
Residents got their hands dirty with a free hands-on-workshop at the Hermosa Beach Community Center. Participants learned how to plant California native plants, install drip irrigation, and lay organic mulch. This workshop was provided by West Basin, Surfrider Foundation and G3 (Green Gardens Group). To learn more about upcoming gardens and workshops follow West Basin on Facebook and view “how to” videos at www.westbasin.org
Water Harvest is a FREE family event for the community to learn more about the value of water. As California faces this serious drought, now more than ever we must all do our part to help ensure a more reliable water future. West Basin will be offering tours of the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility, interactive games, kid’s costume contest, stage shows, pony rides, reptile petting zoo, food, and the chance to enter into our grand prize giveaway.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
When: 10 AM – 2 PM
Where: Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility
1935 S. Hughes Way | El Segundo, California 90245
For more details visit, www.westbasin.org/water-harvest-2014
Rock “n” Roll Car Wash Joins West Basin’s Ocean-Safe Car Wash Program
In addition to rockin’ and rollin’, the Rock n ’Roll Car Wash in Hermosa Beach is helping residents save water, money and the ocean! Rock n’ Roll Car Wash and West Basin are doing their part during the drought by promoting the use of local car washes and offering customer discounts to help cut the cost. The coupon enables people to save money, be more water efficient and reduce runoff, helping our ocean and making us less dependent on imported water. To learn more about our Ocean-Safe Car Wash program and to download discount coupons from a participating car wash near you, click here.
Gardena Recycling System Saves 29 Million Gallons of Water
West Basin received a $1,000,000 grant from the California Department of Water Resources to expand its water recycling system in coastal Los Angeles County. The project will save 29 million gallons of drinking water each year and offset the use of imported drinking water. The 1.25 mile pipeline will expand West Basin’s recycled pipeline network to over 125 miles in length and provide new water to four large irrigation sites. The bulk of the project is located in the southern part of Gardena and covers a portion of Los Angeles. The new pipeline will extend south from West 168th Street to Electric Street, via South Normandie Avenue.
West Basin Teams Race to the Solar Cup Finish Line
After months of preparation, students raced their solar-powered boats down a 200-meter raceway as they participated in the 2014 Solar Cup™, the nation’s largest solar boat building program in the world, during the May 16 – 18, 2014 event at Lake Skinner in Temecula Valley. As sponsors of the event, West Basin remains committed to investing in its education programs such as these to provide a hands-on introduction to water resources management, water supply issues, and engineering principles. We are very proud of the following sponsored teams that participated this year and we’re looking forward to next year’s race!
- California Academy of Math and Science, Carson
- Environmental Charter High School, Lawndale
- Palos Verdes High School, Palos Verdes Estates
- Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Rolling Hills Estates
Water Education Program Reservations
West Basin will begin accepting reservations for its free water education school programs on Monday, August 18, 2014. Water Explorations and Splash Science field trip programs will operate from October 2014-June 2015. Program descriptions can be viewed on West Basin’s education webpage. New teacher-friendly reservation procedures and forms can be downloaded from this webpage too. Do not miss out! Secure your education program dates today!
FREE Water 101 Classes and Public Tours
Have you visited the only water recycling facility in the world that produces five different “designer” waters? Want to learn more about the drought or simply where your water comes from? West Basin Municipal Water District offers a variety of free tours and classes to the public to learn about this and much more through its free Water 101 classes and Water Tours. If you’d like to make a reservation for a large group, please contact us at info@westbasin.org or call (310) 660-6243.
Upcoming Water 101 Classes at the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility
1935 S. Hughes Way l El Segundo, CA 90245
- August 7
- October 2
- December 4
Upcoming Water 101 Classes at the Donald L. Dear Building
17140 S. Avalon Blvd. Suite 210 – 3rd floor l Carson, CA 90746
- August 14
- October 9
- December 11
Saturday Water Recycling Tour Dates
- Saturday, September 13
- Saturday, November 8
Address: Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility 1935 S. Hughes Way l El Segundo, CA 90245
Time: Tours began promptly at 9:30am and last 1.5 hours.
*Please note: All tour participants must be at least 7 years of age or older and all participants must wear flat, closed-toe shoes.
Water Education Center Tour Dates
- Wednesdays and Thursdays by appointment only
- Fridays – every hour from 11:30am – 2:30pm
- Saturdays – every hour from 10:30am – 1:30pm
Address: Water Education Center
1021 N. Harbor Dr. l Redondo Beach, CA 90277
*Please note:Tours last approximately 1 hour. Metered parking is available on Harbor Dr.
