L.A. is conserving water at record levels, but it’s not enough as drought worsens in the Northwest
Los Angeles’ municipal water supply has shrunk to a new record level, despite a recent statewide drought, the Los Angeles Times reported last week.
According to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, there were 11.2 inches of rainfall on June 11 — the city’s wettest June day since 1948 — but it’s just enough to push the system past the previous record of 12.9 inches, set in April 1996.
“It’s a small amount, but it’s a good sign that there’s enough water coming down to move things along,” Deputy City Atty. Michael Gennusa said.
So far, L.A. County has experienced a total of 10.4 inches in drought, according to the L.A. Department of Water and Power. But those numbers are more likely to fluctuate, with a report from the county this week that the water authority expects to exceed 10.9 inches.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has come out with a long-term plan to fix the city’s crumbling drinking water system, which has led to a crisis of water quality and reliability.
Earlier this year Garcetti announced that he had partnered with local water districts to implement a two-year water supply recovery plan, which Garcetti says will result in an additional 50 million gallons of water being delivered to homes and businesses per year.
When the water supply is restored — which could happen as early as next June if the drought continues — the district will begin testing of the water to determine its quality, which should then head to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the water authority said this week.
When the test results come back, Garcetti’s office said they will determine what steps need to be taken to ensure the water supply meets the needs of residents and businesses in Los Angeles and beyond.
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