Public can comment through July 14 on environmental analysis of large-scale recycled water program, a partnership with Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
Metropolitan Water District today released the Draft Environmental Impact Report for Pure Water Southern California, a major water recycling effort moving forward in partnership with Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts.
Marking a significant milestone in the program’s development, today’s release of the report kicks off a public review period through July 14 during which community members and stakeholders can comment on the report’s adequacy in identifying and addressing potential environmental impacts from the construction and long-term operation of program facilities in Carson and other communities in Los Angeles County.
“This program has been years in the making, and throughout its development, we’ve prioritized collaboration and transparency — engaging with our communities to ensure their voices are heard,” said Metropolitan General Manager Deven Upadhyay. “We live in a region with ever-present seismic and climate risks. Pure Water Southern California can increase water security for our communities and their input and support are essential for its success. We believe that this draft document incorporates the feedback we’ve heard from those who have participated in this process.”
Pure Water Southern California would purify and reuse cleaned wastewater currently discharged to the ocean. At full capacity, the program is expected to produce 150 million gallons of purified water daily – enough to meet the needs of 1.5 million people and benefiting the entire region. Metropolitan and the Sanitation Districts aim to complete their respective environmental review processes by early 2026. The agencies’ boards of directors would then consider final approval of the program, and water could be delivered from the facility as early as 2033.
“The Pure Water Southern California project is a vital investment in our communities. It will create a reliable new water supply and make the most of our existing resources. It’s a major step toward ensuring that families, businesses, and future generations are protected from the impacts of drought," said Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts Chief Engineer and General Manager Robert Ferrante.
The Draft EIR, a requirement under state environmental laws, identifies potential impacts associated with the program’s construction and operation, including both purification facilities in Carson and the distribution pipelines across the region. The report identifies potential impacts including land use and planning, noise, air quality and water quality, and describes measures to address impacts where feasible.
At this stage in the environmental review process, the public is asked to focus their comments on the adequacy of the analysis presented in the Draft EIR.
To learn more about the Draft EIR, submit comments or for details on upcoming public information meetings, visit www.mwdh2o.com/purewaterDEIR.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative that, along with its 26 cities and retail suppliers, provides water for 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.
The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts are a regional agency consisting of 24 independent special districts serving over 5.6 million people in 78 cities and unincorporated territory within Los Angeles County. The Sanitation Districts protect public health and the environment through innovative and cost-effective wastewater and solid waste management and, in doing so, convert waste into resources such as recycled water, energy and recycled materials.
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