Metropolitan completes environmental review for Pure Water Southern California

Following more than five years of environmental analysis, outreach and public input, Metropolitan's Board of Directors voted unanimously Tuesday to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report for Pure Water Southern California - marking a major step toward the potential development of what would be one of the world's largest water recycling programs.

The board action formally completes the project's environmental analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act, clearing the way for future decisions on the project's implementation, including phasing, funding, design, and construction. The board is expected to consider whether to move forward with Pure Water Southern California as part of its Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water evaluation process and its biennial budget.

A partnership between Metropolitan and Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Pure Water Southern California would use an advanced treatment process to purify and reuse cleaned wastewater currently discharged to the ocean from the Sanitation Districts' A.K. Warren Water Resource facility in Carson. At full capacity, Pure Water would produce up to 150 million gallons of purified water daily - enough to meet the needs of 1.5 million people, benefiting the entire region.

"Recognizing that climate change presents serious challenges to our imported water supply, Metropolitan began development of Pure Water Southern California more than a decade ago as a drought-resistant sustainable local supply of water," said Vice Chair Nancy Sutley. "Completion of the environmental review is a major milestone that will allow our board to evaluate next steps to advance the program."

During the environmental review process, the Pure Water team identified potential impacts associated with the program's construction and operation, including the proposed purification facilities in Carson and distribution pipelines across the region. The Draft EIR, which was released last spring, presented measures to address impacts where feasible. The Final EIR includes staff responses to all public comments received during the public comment period.

"Under the leadership of Metropolitan Board Chair Adán Ortega, Pure Water Southern California has been grounded in strong partnerships and consensus. From the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, groundwater basin managers and our member agencies to the Central Arizona Project and Southern Nevada Water Authority, this project has been sustained by the support of partners who see the promise in a resilient local supply of recycled water," said General Manager Shivaji Deshmukh.

"Equally important are our partnerships with the communities surrounding the project. From the beginning, Metropolitan committed to an inclusive, transparent process, and we've worked hard to build relationships in these communities, which would be impacted and served by the Pure Water Southern California program. That commitment will continue as the project develops."

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.