Three years after the Hyperion sewage spill, LA has finally agreed to a $20 million settlement for critical upgrades. But while this is a positive step, ensuring Hyperion’s long-term viability and justice for affected communities, there’s still much more work left to do.

Though recent headlines may suggest these problems are new, the reality is that bacterial contamination, ocean advisories, and beach closures have been worsening in recent years. It’s enough to make any beach-going Angeleno wonder: what’s going on, and is this something people should be worried about?

The CAMP4W marks a historic shift for MWD, placing climate change at the core of its planning and emphasizing local water supplies. This move is crucial for addressing water sustainability and climate resilience across the United States.

Climate change is affecting the Colorado River, highlighting the need for local, resilient water sources such as recycled wastewater and stormwater capture.

Your support for LA Waterkeeper is a crucial part of the solution. Every donation propels us forward in our mission to safeguard water resources, combat pollution, and foster a genuinely sustainable and equitable future for all Angelenos.

In a significant move, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors officially adopted the First Edition of the Los Angeles County Water Plan (CWP) this past Tuesday, marking a crucial step towards achieving resilient and sustainable water resources for the region.  

The Los Angeles County Water Plan was recently released for public review, and it gets a lot of things right. LA Waterkeeper submitted comments on the draft, noting some of the things the Plan gets right and where opportunities for improvement remain.

The Colorado River Compact was negotiated in 1922 with the goal of divvying up what seemed, at the time, like an abundant source of water that could support agricultural growth and widespread community development throughout the southwestern United States. A century later, the shortcomings of the compact are becoming increasingly clear, as discussed in our blog. Most significantly, the Colorado River is drying up under the same mega-drought that’s gripping California, further increasing pressure for Angelenos to reduce residential water demand and advocate for local water supplies to ensure an equitable and resilient water future for Los Angeles.

On August 11, Governor Newsom released a new water strategy for the state, warning that water supplies will shrink by 10% over the next twenty years due to climate change. While the plan has been met with mixed reaction, there is a lot to like, including its call to dramatically increase wastewater recycling, stormwater capture and reuse, groundwater remediation, and conservation. Now, we have until the end of the month to ensure the state budget includes sufficient funds to move these programs forward and ensure a resilient water future for California.

The LA River Master Plan could have set our LA River on a bold and innovative path. Instead, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved an antiquated Master Plan. What does that mean for the future of the river?

LA County is at a crossroads: do we want to double down on the concrete or a living, breathing river?

California Senate Proposes $1.5 Billion for Drought-Resilient Water Supply

MWD Budget Vote Sends Mixed Message on the Agency’s Future Direction, With More Key Votes on the Horizon

The Los Angeles River is one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2022.

A big win for the environment and communities. West Basin votes to terminate the ocean desalination project.

Groundwater has always played an integral role in the water supply for the region and is poised to play a primary role in our drought resiliency. Understanding the region’s groundwater journey reveals how this critical resource will secure the LA Basin’s water security for decades to come.

How can Los Angeles expand its successful wastewater purification programs to help move us towards water independence? Learn what it means to Recycle wastewater- the 3rd ‘R’ in our Integrated Approach to Water Management.

How can Los Angeles capture and reuse stormwater to address our climate crisis? Learn what it means to Reuse- the 2nd R in our Integrated Approach to Water Management.

Our climate crisis has pushed the Western US into a Mega-Drought. How does LA adapt to this new normal?

Our climate crisis has pushed the Western US into a Mega-Drought. How does LA adapt to this new normal?