By Charming Evelyn & Chiara Scaramuzzino
WatCom tours MWD/ LA Sanitation Recycled Water Pilot Project, March 2020 before shutdown.
Dear Reader,
This March we celebrate water to coincide with World Water Day, March 22nd. World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
The theme of World Water Day 2021 is valuing water. Beyond the issues of pricing, this topic includes the environmental, social, and cultural value people place on water.
For the Angeles Chapter Water Committee (Angeles Chapter WatCom) – Water is life, not only for humans but the environment as well. Every living thing depends on water.
The Sierra Club Angeles Chapter Water Committee addresses and tackles water-related issues across Los Angeles and Orange Counties, we also work on State issues through Sierra Club California’s Water Committee and evaluate legislation that affects water quality, water scarcity, water boards, and water bonds.
With the pandemic, we all had to learn to function differently and reach our audiences differently. Covid-19 all of a sudden, smack-dab put water in our faces, including the lack of access to clean, good quality water. It brought the issues of water equity to the forefront of our imaginations, made us think of the homeless and how they access water. It made us really think about water, in a way we hadn’t in a very long time.
However, for those of us out there always leading the good fight, it came as no surprise to us that everyone was finally putting a value to water, literally and figuratively.
The AC WatCom has been a driving force in local water issues and state issues over the years and we continue to advocate for water equity and water conservation. We focus on
- Sustainable water management
- Clean water access
- Water equity, water rates
- Water quality
- Water infrastructure and Water Projects
- Water Policy
- Identify and encourage interest in running for water boards
The committee’s mission is to: Educate and inform the public about local water-related issues and projects happening in SoCal, promote water conservation, fight for environmental justice and support the beneficial use of all conserved water.
Active Water Campaigns/ 2022 Project Goals are:
- The Water Quality Scorecard
- West Hollywood sub-basin dewatering
- Opposition to the Delta Conveyance
- Opposition to the Poseidon desalination proposed plant
- Opposition to the West Basin Ocean Desalination proposed plant
- Opposition to Cadiz
- Support MWD/LA Sanitation proposed water recycling plant
- Support LA Sanitation’s Green Streets project
- Support the expansion of the Edward C. Little Recycled Water Facility to 100% water reuse
- Support the City of LA on moving to 100% water reuse
- New WatCom website
- Water for the homeless/Water equity campaign
Following the events of 2020, the committee has taken a renovated intersectional approach to water issues. We work closely with the Environmental & Social Justice Committees, to address water-related issues affecting under-resourced communities, communities of color, and fenceline communities in Los Angeles and Orange County.
We would like to take the time to thank all of our volunteers, activists, coalition partners of which there are many, the GIS Committee, the Save the Montebello Hills Task Force, the Political Committee, and Environmental & Social Justice Committees both State and local for their continued partnerships.
Join us in our quest. We meet on the 4th Thursday of every month, and you can find us in the Events calendar or online Schedule of Activities.
Thank you for reading and taking action.
From,
Charming & Chiara – Chair and Vice-Chair
Angeles Chapter Water Committee