The Los Angeles County Water Plan will articulate a shared, inclusive, regional path forward to sustainably achieve safe, clean, and reliable water resources for Los Angeles County.

County Water Plan Updates

  • Winter 2024: Release of final County Water Plan and initiation of County Water Plan implementation.
  • Summer 2023: Release of draft County Water Plan for public comment.
  • May 2022: Seven stakeholder workshops held in conjunction with IRWM meetings to review final County Water Plan recommendations. Second round of environmental & environmental justice group listening sessions to review the issue-specific strategies and actions.
  • January – February 2022: Seven stakeholder workshops held in conjunction with IRWM Meetings to review, vet, and prioritize issue-specific strategies and actions.
  • September 2021: Seven stakeholder workshops held in conjunction with IRWM meetings to solicit subregional feedback on topics to be addressed in the County Water Plan and seek input on how the region can make progress on these topics.
  • July 2021: First round of environmental & environmental justice group listening sessions held to provide input on desired outcomes. County Water Plan Primer provided to attendees to define key issues to be addressed by the County Water Plan, recommend principles to consider in County Water Plan development, and outline opportunities for participation in the County Water Plan development. Please note that the schedule presented in the County Water Plan Primer is out of date. This timeline contains the most recent schedule.
  • May - June 2021: Seven stakeholder workshops held in conjunction with Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) meetings to introduce the County Water Plan, provide linkage between County Water Plan and existing regional efforts, and encourage stakeholder participation in developing County Water Plan.
  • 2020: Complete Gaps Analysis to provide a synthesis of regional water resource management needs in LA County as identified through review of local and regional planning documents as well as discussions with experts and stakeholders.

A Plan for LA Water

Managing water in Los Angeles County is complicated. The County is sustained by a complex network of natural and engineered water systems that work collectively to meet the needs of our communities and environment. With over 200 water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and land management agencies, collaboration on a regional scale is critical to facilitating the resilience and sustainability of this shared resource.

Water resources in Los Angeles County are increasingly stressed. Climate change is causing a “new normal” of intense droughts, as well as more torrential rains; some groundwater basins are over-drafted and/or polluted, and some of our most vulnerable communities do not have access to safe, reliable water.

At the same time, water management in LA County is already rapidly evolving to address many of the region’s most pressing water issues. Water agencies throughout the county are working collaboratively with each other and community stakeholders to develop integrated programs and projects that generate innovative solutions to complex problems.

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Healthy Watersheds and Livable Communities

Surface water quality, mitigating flood risk, healthy habitats, and recreational opportunities are not consistently provided to support livable communities.

Water Supply Resilience

Climate change, earthquakes, increasing demand, and groundwater quality are among many challenges to LA County’s water supply. Coordinated efforts to increase resilience are needed in all water sectors – stormwater, potable water, and wastewater.

Small Water System Infrastructure

Some small water distribution systems lack the infrastructure and management systems to be resilient in the face of disruptions to supply and aging assets.

Public Education and Engagement

Enhanced communication and engagement are important to improve public and decision-maker understanding of water issues.

Regional Collaboration and Integration

There are over 200 agencies with separate water management responsibilities and infrastructure. Improved cross-sector collaboration and infrastructure integration could improve water resources management and help meet regional water goals.

Drinking Water Equity

Drinking water quality and cost are not equitable across the county.

The County Water Plan will provide an opportunity to think holistically and regionally about our water resources – fostering collaboration among stormwater, potable water, and recycled water stakeholders to identify opportunities for integrated solutions.

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Challenges and Targets

The CWP will establish targets for measuring progress towards some of the key water management challenges that have been identified by local water agencies, stakeholders, and members of the public.

Strategies

The CWP will identify strategies toward addressing the region’s water management challenges. Strategies will draw upon other planning efforts and will be developed in close collaboration with stakeholders.

Actions

The CWP will include specific actions, to be led by the County and its partners, to achieve progress toward the region’s water management challenges.

Collaboration and Participation

We will leverage existing efforts like the OurCounty Sustainability Plan, the Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan, the LA River Master Plan, and Metropolitan Water Districts Integrated Resource Plan to facilitate the development and implementation of integrated solutions to key water management issues through collaboration with water agencies, stakeholders, and members of the public.

LA County Road map

Please check back for updates on how to get involved and upcoming meeting schedules, or sign up to join the County Water Plan contact list.

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