RPVCCA_CC_SR_2013_12_17_D_Water_Replenishment_District_Letter_Of_SupportClTYOF
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
REVIEWED:
Project Manager:
HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
LES JONES, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC
WORKS ~
DECEMBER 17, 2013 ~
LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR WATER REPLENISHMENT
DISTRICT
CAROLYN LEHR, CITY MANAGER~~c.L.
Andy Winje, Associate Engineer~
RECOMMENDATIONS
Authorize the Mayor to sign, on behalf of the City, a letter of support to the Water
Replenishment District of Southern California, and specifically that agency's Groundwater
Reliability Improvement Program.
BACKGROUND
Mayor Pro Tern Knight has brought to the City's attention an opportunity to support the
Groundwater Reliability Improvement Program (GRIP), which is the cornerstone imported
water independence initiative of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California
(WRD).
DISCUSSION
The WRD is an agency that manages groundwater for over 10% of California's population
including 43 cities in southern Los Angeles County, including RPV. Historically, their work
has been to inject water from a number of sources, including imported and recycled water,
into the ground to preserve and protect the groundwater aquifers used for the public water
supply. One of their initiatives is to replace imported water used for this purpose with local,
treated, recycled water, eventually eliminating the region's dependence on Northern
California and Colorado River water supplies. The City's proposed letter will support the
WRD with this and other related programs toward this worthy goal. A fact sheet on the
GRIP initiative is included as attachments to this report.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the proposed letter of support.
D-1
WRD Letter of Support
Page 2of2
December 17, 2013
Attachments: GRIP Fact Sheet
Draft Letter of Support
D-2
\IVl,U)'.s WIN pi:ogram. Each year,
~ere-feet) ofco~ly imported water, currently used to rep,1en,IS!l
:. :in'tbe Montebello Forebay Spreading Grounds, with available treated wastewater
(recycled water), while achieving self-reliance and saving money. This treated wastewater
is currently unused and disposed of in the San Gabriel River, which ultimately flows to
the ocean.
GRIP BENEFITS
Driven by increasing population coupled with ongoing drought conditions, the need
fur additional water supplies is expected to grow. GRIP will maximize the development
of local water supplies and provide the Basin with a reliable groundwater
replenishment supply. GRIP will provide protection from reductions and
curtailments to imported water. Specifically, GRIP will reduce the demand for imported
water from the environmentally-sensitive Bay Delta and the drought-stricken
Colorado River. In addition, the locally derived source is less energy intensive than
transporting water from hundreds of miles away.
By expanding the use of recycled water, drinking water supplies are actually conserved.
This diversified strategy will enable the Los Angeles region to move towards greater
water independence. Overall, GRIP's goal is 100 percent independence from costly,
less reliable imported water for groundwater replenishment.
RECYCLED WATER
WRD, in partnership with the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County and Los
Angeles County Department of Public Works, has successfully used recycled water to
replenish the region's groundwater since 1962. Recycled water is wastewater that is
purified through high levels of treatment and meets strict state and federal quality
standards. In fact, as a result of nature's water cycle (hydrologic cycle), all water on
earth is recycled. However, modern treatment technology provides the opportunity to
accelerate the natural process of filtration, purification and disinfection; making
recycled water and projects such as GRIP a safe, viable and cost-effective option to
replenish the Basin. Numerous scientific studies, have found no health issues related to
the use of recycled water for groundwater replenishment.
(562) 921-5521 • WWW.WRD.ORG
Ge11m1tcd In-House
Willard H. Murray, Jr.
Division One
Lynn Dymally
Division 1hree
Albert Robles
Division Five
Robert Katherman
Division Two
Sergio Calderon
Division Four
General Manager,
Robb Whitaker, P.E.
~ter Replenishment District of Southern California
4040 Paramount Boulevard• Lakewood, CA 90112 D-3
CITY OF
December 17, 2013
Robert Katherman
President, Board of Directors
Water Replenishment District of Southern California
4040 Paramount Boulevard
Lakewood, CA 90712
RE: Support for the Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) Groundwater
Reliability Improvement Program (GRIP)
Dear President Katherman,
As Mayor of Rancho Palos Verdes, I am writing on behalf of the entire City Council to commend
the Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) and their continued efforts
towards 100% independence from imported water through the Groundwater Reliability
Improvement Program (GRIP). The City Council of Rancho Palos Verdes supports and
encourages environmentally responsible and sustainable initiatives such as GRIP.
WRD has a long history of successfully using recycled water to replenish the region's
groundwater. GRIP continues WRD's commitment to being a leader in water replenishment within
the region. GRIP embodies forward thinking, real solutions to reduce the region's dependence on
costly imported water from the environmentally-sensitive Bay Delta and drought-stricken
Colorado River. GRIP will help the region meet its water demands through sustainable methods
by offsetting nearly seven billion gallons of imported water with locally available recycled water
which would otherwise be wasted.
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes recognizes WRD's work to protect and preserve the region's
groundwater supplies through innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally sensitive practices.
We support the initiatives of GRIP to help reduce the region's dependence on costly imported
water and the Program's efforts towards 100% independence from imported water. The City of
Rancho Palos Verdes thereby supports and commends WRD and the initiatives set forth by
GRIP.
Sincerely,
Jerry Duhovic
Mayor
Cc: City Council
30940 HAWTHORNE 80ULVARD / RANCHO PALOS VERDES WWW.PALOSVERDES.COM/RPV D-4