SWRP Open House_Pico Rivera

Last week, Central Basin wrapped up its second open house event for the Southeast Water Reliability Project (SWRP), a regional recycled water project that will extend the District’s current system into southeast LA County. During the two-hour events, residents from across the area stopped by to meet the project team and learn about the project’s long-term, water-saving benefits.

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Central Basin headquarters are located in Commerce, California.

As promised, we’re keeping you updated on progress on our new landscaping here at Central Basin headquarters. Right now, our garden is a little bare, but we’re excited for it to soon be filled with California-friendly, drought-resistant plants.

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View of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a key water source for Californians, as well as a point of contention.

The Golden State takes the national spotlight this Sunday, December 27, as Lesley Stahl reports on California’s water crisis on 60 Minutes. She’s interviewed Governor Schwarzenegger, farmers, and various water agencies throughout the state, according to KMJ News Talk Radio, and the message is that our drought has the potential to affect all Americans– in the form of higher prices at the grocery store and fewer choices in what we buy.

The timing of this feature is appropriate given that the Obama administration released an Interim Federal Action Plan this week to manage the Delta. Since the Delta is the hub of the state’s water supply system that provides water to 25 million Californians– it’s the largest estuary on the west coast of the Americas—and since the federal government oversees two of California’s largest reservoirs, greater federal action is certainly warranted. Read the rest of this entry »

Central Basin headquarters in Commerce.

At Central Basin headquarters, we’re excited about our new-and-improved landscaping, which got underway this week. Our site is being redesigned to transform our current water-intensive landscaping into a garden that’s drought-tolerant and filled with California-friendly plants. We’re committed to water conservation, and we think this garden will be a great way to demonstrate it. It will also be a huge money-saver for the District because of the lower watering and landscape maintenance costs.

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The Department of Water Resources (DWR) says we must “prepare now” for a dry 2010, allocating only 5% of total contracted water deliveries to State Water Project (SWP) contractors.

A thirsty Lake Oroville

What does this mean? SWP provides water to businesses, homes and farmers, mostly located in Central and Southern California. According to DWR, under the 5% allocation, only 200,000 of the total 4 million acre-feet of water that has been requested, will be delivered.

“Five percent sends a very strong message that the state is in a water crisis,” said Central Basin’s general manager, Art Aguilar.  In fact, California’s water woes may take the national scene in the near future: Rep. Grace Napolitano said last week she is planning a congressional hearing in Southern California to examine what steps to take in the water situation.

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Recently, a $10 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was approved to help clean up the LA River, and last week, the Los Angeles Gateway Authority took the first major step in helping cities do their part to help stop the pollution.

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Central Basin’s Southeast Water Reliability Project (SWRP) was covered in today’s Whittier Daily News.

It’s an exciting time for the City of Pico Rivera, whose schools, parks, and other irrigation sites will have access to a reliable, local recycled water source through Phase 1 of SWRP.

Find out more about our exciting recycled water project and our partnership with the City of Pico Rivera and let us know what you think!

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In California, we know all too well what a drought feels like, but did you know that experts anticipate water shortages to affect more than 40% of the world population by 2050?

In an exhilarating trip down the Colorado River, Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk takes viewers on a journey through one of the nation’s largest water resources. As the world population continues to grow, it’s more and more important that we step up our conservation efforts now.

Check out the movie trailer here:

The film was released on World Water Day in March 2008, and has played at IMAX theaters around the world since. Check it out and tell us what you think!

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After an all-night legislative session last week, the much-anticipated Delta Bill package emerged Wednesday. Governor Schwarzenegger promised to sign the five bills into law, praising the package that finally overhauls California’s antiquated water system.

What’s inside the package: the legislation creates greater oversight of the Delta, supporting its restoration; requires water users to measure groundwater levels and report their usage; and puts forth an $11.14 billion general obligation bond on the ballot next November. Significantly, the package includes important means for increasing water conservation that includes imposing a mandate for cities to lower their water usage 20% by 2020.

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A new study released by the U.S. Geological Survey finds that per capita water usage is at a record low. This decrease is thanks to new water-saving technologies and renewed conservation efforts across the nation, according to an Associated Press report.

Local areas continue to report record low water uses.  In Pasadena, water usage was down 12% in the months of July and August compared to the same months last year.  In Long Beach, water demand in September 2009 came in at over 16% below average.  The City of Signal Hill also reports over 9% reduction compared to the past three years.

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