WRD’s service area map and the geographical locations of its facilities in Southern Los Angeles County.
The Water Replenishment District (WRD) has a rich history of successful groundwater management, ensuring a sustainable water supply for 4 million people in Southern Los Angeles County. Established in 1959, WRD was created to oversee the replenishment and preservation of the groundwater basins that provide a vital source of drinking water. Over the decades, WRD has been at the forefront of innovative water management practices.
20 years ago, as climate change impacted our water supply, WRD adopted the “Water Independence Now” Program, with the goal of becoming independent from imported water using reclaimed water purification and stormwater capture. In 2019, WRD reached that goal with the completion of a state-of-the-art Water Purification Plant in Pico Rivera.
Looking to the future, WRD is preparing to take the next step in advancing groundwater sustainability through the Brackish Groundwater Reclamation Program (BGRP).
In the early 1900’s over pumping caused seawater to seep into the groundwater aquifers. WRD is expanding its Torrance Groundwater Desalter Facility to clean up the salty groundwater plume.
The BGRP initiative will clean up a plume of salty groundwater caused by over-pumping in the early 1900s, which allowed seawater to seep into the region’s groundwater basins. By cleaning up the salty groundwater, WRD aims to create a new water supply, increase groundwater use for the region, and create more storage space for freshwater supplies.
A critical step in achieving these objectives is expanding WRD’s Torrance Groundwater Desalter facility. Using reverse osmosis, the facility treats up to 3.6 million gallons of brackish water per day, capturing contaminants like salt, chemicals, and bacteria. The expansion project will clean up the southern portion of the 14-square-mile brackish water plume and provide up to 2.3 billion gallons of additional high-quality drinking water per year.
Brackish (salty) groundwater plume in the West Coast Groundwater Basin.
As California faces the ongoing challenge of climate change and drought, the BGRP represents an essential tool in creating a more resilient and self-sufficient water supply for the region.
With a proven track record of successful groundwater management and a visionary approach to water reclamation, WRD is paving the way for a more sustainable future for Southern Los Angeles County.
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To learn more about the history of brackish water in the groundwater basins, scan the QR Code or visit our webpage: https://www.wrd.org/brackish-groundwater-reclamation-program |
WRD and the Water Committee have had a decades long partnership in sharing information, innovative technology and support. We thank the Board of Directors and the staff for their continued partnership in leading us to water independence and local resilience – Charming