Los Angeles' ambitious plan to recycle nearly all of its wastewater for drinking has been pushed back to 2056, more than 20 years later than initially proposed. Former Mayor Eric Garcetti announced in 2019 that the city aimed to achieve this goal by 2035. However, according to a new plan, some wastewater will be recycled for drinking by 2040.

The project, known as Pure Water L.A., involves building new infrastructure to transport treated wastewater from the Hyperion Treatment Plant in Playa del Rey to a treatment facility in the San Fernando Valley. This process will purify the water to drinkable standards. The plan also includes retrofitting existing treatment plants and cleaning contaminated ground basins to store the water.

The delay is primarily due to the need for extensive new infrastructure and the high costs involved. The project is estimated to cost around $21 billion over the next three decades. Despite the extended timeline, officials emphasize the project's potential benefits, including reducing reliance on the Colorado River and snowpack from the Sierra Nevada, and creating thousands of local jobs.

Bruce Reznik, director of the nonprofit L.A. Waterkeeper, believes there are ways to accelerate the project while keeping costs down. He suggests expanding facilities in the San Fernando Valley to reduce the need for extensive piping and pumping.

At a recent joint meeting of the boards overseeing the L.A. Department of Water and Power and L.A. Sanitation and Environment, officials expressed openness to adjusting the plan. The public will have opportunities to provide input on the progress of the water recycling plan.

LAist reports that the project is expected to reduce pollutants in the Santa Monica Bay by up to 86% and eventually provide up to half of the city's water supply.

LADWP News highlights that the original 2035 goal was considered overly ambitious, but city officials and water advocates agree on the importance of the project for L.A.'s water future.

Tim Conway Jr