L.A.’s mayor, Eric Garcetti, recently outlined the city’s bold plan to recycle 100 percent of its wastewater by 2035 and subsequently reduce the amount of water presently imported. Although three out of the four wastewater facilities currently recycle 100 percent of their wastewater, the largest facility, Hyperion, which collects 81 percent of the city’s total wastewater, only recycles 27 percent. This equates to only 2 percent of the city’s water supply coming from recycled water. The mayor’s administration says that figure can reach 35 percent if the city would use the effluent that is currently dumped into the ocean to replenish groundwater reserves instead.
To reach the lofty goal, the city plans to spend approximately $8 billion over the next 16 years. $2 billion will go to improvements at Hyperion to maximize the recycling capabilities of the facility, and the rest of the funds will go to build groundwater water wells and a 15-mile pipeline.[1]
An impediment to reaching the goal is current state policy that mandates recycled water, “must first spend some time in aquifers or reservoirs and mix with other sources,” and does not allow recycled water to be put into municipal systems, directly.[2] 18 years ago, a similar plan to use recycled water to replenish the San Fernando Valley aquifer was voted down by area residents; however, the administration feels that recent years of water stress has changed the public’s perception and acceptance of recycled water use and the state is ready to make the necessary policy changes. A second impediment, of course, is funding, but funds will likely come through a combination of bonds, grants and low-interest government loans, according to Mark Gold, UCLA’s associate vice chancellor for environment and sustainability. Gold also feels that the cost of recycled water supplies, which is currently high, will drop to levels roughly the same as imported water.
City Councilman Mike Bonin, who is with is with the L.A. Department of Water and Power and the Bureau of Sanitation at the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, was present for Garcetti’s announcement and stated, “This is a major milestone in our work to make Los Angeles a sustainable and resilient city, and it is just the latest example of how L.A. is continuing to demonstrate that big things can happen in big cities when we work together toward a sustainable future.”[3]
[1] Boxall, Bettina. “L.A.’s Ambitious Goal: Recycle All of the City’s Sewage into Drinkable Water.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2019, www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-water-recycling-los-angeles-20190222-story.html.
[2] Boxall, Bettina. “L.A.’s Ambitious Goal: Recycle All of the City’s Sewage into Drinkable Water.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2019, www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-water-recycling-los-angeles-20190222-story.html.
[3] City News Service. “Garcetti Pledges L.A. Will Recycle 100% of Wastewater by 2035.” Daily Breeze, Daily Breeze, 24 Feb. 2019, www.dailybreeze.com/2019/02/24/garcetti-pledges-l-a-will-recycle-100-of-wastewater-by-2035/.
Photo Credit: Eric Norris, Flickr