Water Quality

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Water quality varies across southern California. Be sure you know the water quality in your area.
Groundwater Recharge, Retention & Pollution

Water Quality

If you were a Chumash Native American living 300 years ago or even a resident living in Los Angeles in the early 1900s you would have witnessed a lovely rambling L.A. River that would regularly flood its banks. All that changed in the 1930s when there was an extremely damaging flood and that is when the government decided to make a concrete floor and sides to the river so it could not wander or flood anymore. That fix did tame the river but there was a price to pay for the luxury.

Los Angeles water quality is always a concern

Otter image courtesy Bureau of Land Management

In 2006, The Angeles Chapter opposed additional land use approvals in Santa Clarita relying on water from the contaminated Saugus aquifer.

Once a year, your local water utility sends you a glossy pamphlet, your annual water quality report. Let’s take a look at one and decipher it!

Blank support letter for Los Angeles Groundwater Replenishment Project

In 2012, Disney proposed an expansion of the Big Golden Oak Studio, releasing a 5-thousand page DIER (Draft Environmental Impact Report), which the Sierra Club reviewed:

Chromium 6 Overview for the Sierra Club 2012

Water Quality

Resources

The City of Los Angeles’ Bureau of Sanitation manages a Watershed Protection Program that includes Low Impact Development, Green Infrastructure,Pollutant Prevention and Removal, and Environmental Compliance:

The Water Committee of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter reviewed the Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study in 2013:

In 2013, the Water Committee commented on the LA County Flood Control District Water Quality Improvement Program Ordinance, related to fees assessed to pay for projects involving improvement of surface water quality within the LA District:

2010 Support letter from the Sierra Club for the DWP’s Groundwater Replenishment Project.

Slides of a 2011 update from Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles Country presentation on the Clearwater Program

Comments from the Sierra Club on the Clearwater Program Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental – written 2012.

Water & Living in a Desert in the Santa Clara Valley – Recycled Water Disposition

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Assessing Water Quality

Water Quality Scorecard

The Sierra Club Angeles Chapter Water Committee is currently in the process of developing a water quality scorecard for the Southern California Area.

Until then, you can calculate your water footprint using the link below!

 

Draft Scorecard

[Top header image: Hollywood Reservoir, Hollywood, CA. A major storage area for LA’s fresh water needs. ©John Nilsson, All Rights Reserved.]

Water Quality Posts

Garbage Dump Pollution and Water

Garbage Dump Pollution and Water

Garbage Dump, Pollution and Water Timeline for Sunshine Canyon Landfill Both the L.A. City & County owned land in Sunshine Canyon 1991 Old City Dump was closed. 1996 County expansion opened in 1996 1999 City passed the expansion & reopening of the Sunshine...

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