Los Angeles is running out of water, and time. Are leaders willing to act?
It seems like only yesterday that we were hearing about the historic drought in California. Now, in the wake of California’s historic drought, the state is facing a water emergency. The city of Los Angeles is facing that same emergency. In Los Angeles, the situation isn’t just desperate, it’s desperate and growing worse. Water is the key to our city and to the region. If we don’t get our water supply right now, it could spell our doom.
A drought is a natural disaster, but this time, it’s in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles has grown in the last few decades. In fact, it may be growing the fastest in the nation. It’s the largest of the five-counties and home to one of the world’s most diverse populations. It doesn’t have room for everyone–not in our sprawling city. At the same time, we have a number of water sources that supply us. But over the past several years, the city has become dependent on one water source that is not keeping up. That water source is Lake Los Angeles.
The truth is, water quality is declining in Los Angeles.
Lake Los Angeles is fed by two rivers, the Los Angeles River and the South Bay. The watershed covers 5,000 square miles, and includes parts of Ventura, San Bernardino, and San Bernardino counties, as well as Los Angeles County. Lake Los Angeles has served as our drinking water source since the early 1900s until a recent switch in water sources, which has caused it to become polluted. According to the California Department of Water Resources, the lake’s water quality has been compromised. The water quality has declined as a result of sewage and industrial pollution over the years. Over the past 15 years, Lake Los Angeles has gone from being a source for drinking water to being used primarily for recreational activities.
Lake Los Angeles is also used as a source of municipal water for the city of Los Angeles. Without Lake Los Angeles, our water supply would be less reliable.
Without Lake Los Angeles, the city wouldn’t have enough water to operate its public infrastructure and power plants. Without power plants and public infrastructure, the city would be forced to rely on less reliable water