Changing the Course?: What’s Worked, What Hasn’t, and What’s Next for the Safe Clean Water Program

February 16, 2023

LA Waterkeeper’s latest report, “Changing the Course?: What’s Worked, What Hasn’t, and What’s Next for the Safe Clean Water Program” assesses the first three years of Los Angeles County’s Safe Clean Water Program (SCWP). The program is funded by a voter-approved tax (2018’s Measure W) that raises about $280M per year, in perpetuity, to better manage urban and stormwater runoff.

In just three years, LA County has gotten California’s (and one of the nation’s) most ambitious stormwater treatment and capture program off the ground.  LA Waterkeeper’s report specifically examines one of three programs that comprise the SCWP, the Regional Program. To date, the SCWP’s Regional Program has funded 101 projects to the tune of $1 Billion. The program’s success has been uneven, but it has made significant strides, and has show the power and potential to serve community needs while strengthening our region’s water independence. Read more about the SCWP and LA Waterkeeper’s assessment of the first three years of the program in our report.

Get the facts about the Safe Clean Water Program in our fact sheet here.

Learn about the Safe Clean Water Program goals. Click to view our second fact sheet here.