Statement from LA Waterkeeper: Metropolitan Water District board votes to move Pure Water So. Calif. wastewater recycling plan forward Board-approved environmental review document; next step is budget appropriation in April.

The board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California voted unanimously on February 10 to certify the environmental review document prepared to inform the Pure Water Southern California wastewater recycling plan. The vote is an acknowledgment that the environmental review process for this ambitious water recycling project is sufficient and opens the way to keep the project moving forward. Pure Water Southern California will eventually produce 150 million gallons of locally sourced purified water each day.

“Pure Water Southern California is an incredible opportunity for our region. This large-scale infrastructure project has the potential to provide Southern California with a reliable and sustainable water source,” said Bruce Reznik, executive director of LA Waterkeeper. “Local water doesn’t have to be transported across the state, which is a significant benefit when our ability to import water from places like the Delta and the Colorado River is already being impacted by climate change, and we could face disastrous interruption by a major earthquake. And the local economic benefits, including job creation, are significant. That’s why this project enjoys widespread support across the board – from the business community, labor organizations, conservation and environmental justice groups and tribes alike.”

Today’s vote by the Metropolitan board is just one step in the long process from planning to implementation. By adopting the Environmental Impact Report for the project, the board signaled it intends to keep the process moving forward. It will be several years before ground might be broken on building the new wastewater recycling system. The next step is for the board to approve funding to continue the design process for the project as part of its annual budget adoption in April.

“Pure Water Southern California is critical for our water security in the decades to come. It’s the best insurance policy we have in this era of climate whiplash,” continued Reznik. “Our access to Colorado River water and the Bay-Delta is dwindling and will only decrease in the years to come. We need our water leaders to fund projects that are realistic and prioritize stable local supplies. This project is the most important investment Metropolitan could make with sustainability in mind, and we know we will have to redouble our efforts for the upcoming budget vote to ensure the agency continues to fund planning for PWSC.”

To speak with Bruce Reznik about Pure Water Southern California, contact Nina Erlich-Williams at nina@publicgoodpr.com or 510-336-9566.