CC SR 20221115 F - Water Replenishment District
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 11/15/2022
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to receive a report on the Water Replenishment District
(WRD).
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file a report on the Water Replenishment District.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: McKenzie Bright, Administrative Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS: None
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
At the Council meeting on August 16, Councilmember Cruikshank requested a report on
the Water Replenishment District (WRD).
WRD is the largest groundwater agency by population in California, tasked with managing
and protecting local groundwater resources. WRD’s service area covers 420 square miles
of southern Los Angeles County, comprising the Central and West Coast Basins,
including Rancho Palos Verdes and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Fundamentally, WRD
works to ensure enough water is returned underground to keep the basins healthy.
WRD, established in 1959, ensures that a reliable supply of high-quality groundwater is
available through replenishment with recycled water and stormwater capture and
monitors and tests groundwater throughout the region. WRD is the Watermaster
Administrative Body for the Central and West Coast Basins, responsible for administering
the terms of the legal judgments controlling pumping, water right sales and leases,
storage, and carry-over conversions. Cal Water and West Basin Municipal Water District,
for example, receive adjudicated pumping rights to pump groundwater, which WRD
oversees.
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Groundwater management is important to regulate over-pumping that can lead to well
overdraft and saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers.
WRD uses recycled water to replenish the spreading grounds located atop the Central
Basin and seawater barrier injection wells located along the coast. The spreading grounds
are large pond-like basis created by the Army Corps of Engineers in the 1930s, initially
for flood control. Today, the spreading grounds act like a sponge to allow large volumes
of water to soak into multiple aquifers underground, replenishing the Central Basin. At the
injection wells along the coast, freshwater is pumped into underlying aquifers to prevent
seawater from intruding into the groundwater aquifers and help replenish the West Coast
Basin.
Figure 1: WRD Graphic of Means of Groundwater Replenishment
Source: Water Replenishment District, see wrd.org/groundwater-101
WRD is also working on desalting seawater intrusion, which has already occurred prior
to the construction of the seawater barrier system, which will lead to a new source of
drinking water. Ultimately, WRD seeks to increase recycled water supplies, maximize
groundwater usage, and optimize groundwater storage.
Rancho Palos Verdes is part of Division 2 of WRD, overseen by Director Rob Katherman.
Director Katherman has confirmed his attendance at tonight’s meeting and will be
available to answer any questions. Anticipating Council questions and to allow time for a
brief presentation earlier on the agenda, Mr. Katherman will be asked to submit a speaker
slip so that this consent calendar item may be heard before any Public Hearing or Regular
Business agenda matters.
More information on WRD is available at wrd.org.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council receive and file this report.
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