This is just one post in the Drought, Weather & Snowpack Category

Assemblyman Lieu touts West Basin’s innovative water conservation effort

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 11, 2008 at 5:53 am

From the State of California, this press release:

Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), a member of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, held a press conference today with West Basin Municipal Water District in response to the Governor’s declaration of an “official drought.” The press conference highlighted innovative and efficient water conservation programs being implemented within the water district.

“Water is something that we usually take for granted. When we turn on the faucet, we always expect it to be there, but we need to remember that it is not an endless resource,” warned Assemblymember Lieu. “In order to avert forced water rationing, we need to put the same effort into water conservation as we did during the energy crisis when we had to conserve electricity to avoid rolling black outs.”

Last week, Governor Schwarzenegger officially declared the State of California to be in a drought for the first time since 1991. California is experiencing the driest spring season in the past 88 years and with state reservoirs being precariously low, the scene is set for a dangerous summer and wildfire season. With warnings of forced water rationing and emergency transfers of water supplies, it is critical that innovative and efficient water conservation programs are pursued state-wide.

West Basin Municipal Water District runs one of the nation’s top centers for water treatment technologies, the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility. The facility is the largest of its kind in the nation and was recognized in 2002 by the National Water Resources Institute as one of six best recycling facilities in the United States. At the facility, West Basin produces five types of recycled water, ranging in quality and purity. The water they produce is used for a variety of purposes, including park irrigation, purified water for drinking and water for local businesses.

“With the Governor’s recent declaration of a statewide drought, all the cities in the 53rd Assembly District should join us and their retailers in our collective effort to drought proof the region,” said Donald L. Dear, Board President, West Basin Municipal Water District. “It is time to get serious about water in Southern California. With Assemblymember Lieu’s leadership, we can protect our water future.”

“State water levels are dangerously low and as we head into a dry summer, the possibilities of wildfires are becoming more serious,” stated Assemblymember Lieu. “We need to ensure that water districts throughout the state are conserving as much as they can and using their resources wisely, so that we have the water necessary to get through the summer.”

June 11, 2008 · Filed Under Conservation, Drought, Weather & Snowpack, Recycled Water