In L.A., one approach centers holding on to stormwater
The City imports over 80% of its water from hundreds of miles away through gray infrastructure like the L.A. Aqueduct. Meanwhile, rainwater that can’t seep through the city’s many impervious surfaces causes flooding and washes pollutants out to the ocean.
While the 51-mile Los Angeles River is often the focus of efforts to safeguard communities and heal the local watershed, neighborhood projects like Magic Johnson Park that collect runoff from sub-watersheds of the L.A. River play an essential role. Hyper-local efforts create a network of built and natural systems that keep local water in the landscape, while providing significant ecological and community benefits.
Stormwater harvesting and storage in small to very large cisterns or tanks, at homes, schools, and industrial and commercial facilities can significantly increase local water supplies, reduce flooding and pollution. Water conservation, reuse, and infiltration are also all part of LA’s broader approach. By maximizing the use of stormwater in L.A., the city can reduce its reliance on imported water and retain that water within its local watershed.
Approaching water stewardship through the lens of living infrastructure can help communities repair harmful import legacies, create a more resilient local water supply, improve flood safety, cool urban heat islands, and foster biodiversity.
