According to Jacques Leslie, writer for the NY Times, Los Angeles is one of the leading cities in water conservation efforts and reusable technology. Since 1970, the Los Angeles population has increased from 2.9 million to 3.8 million but the city is consuming less water than it did in 1970. Two main projects are responsible for these incredible results. LA has built a water treatment wetland in place of what used to be a bus maintenance yard. Additionally, a water management plan has prevented flooding in an area with 80,000 inhabitants. These projects lead to the recycling of wastewater from sewers, stormwater and polluted water. In 1990, LA was forced to limit the quantity of imported water as other cities are facing today to prevent overconsumption and wastewater. 89% of Los Angeles water is still imported today since rain is limited in LA and droughts are common. Even with this imported water, LA has reduced its per capita water use to 46 gallons a day. These outcomes are credited to the cycling of stormwater, groundwater and wastewater from homes. When it does rain in Los Angeles, major flooding occurs. To control future flooding, infrastructures were built to rapidly remove the stormwater into the Pacific Ocean and out of residential areas. Even though this controlled flooding, urban development led to increase water runoff due to impermeable cement streets. The water carries toxins, chemicals and pollutants and when moved into the Pacific Ocean, pollutes the beaches. As a solution Dorothy Green of Heal the Bay and Andy Lipkis of TreePeople proposed that instead of exporting the water into the sea, the water should be captured for recycling and stored water could be consumed as needed. A $2.7 million dollar plan helped capture stormwater in Sun Valley, which is prone to flooding. This project was completed in 2010 and allowed residents to collect stormwater. Projects like these has transformed Los Angeles from the infamous city of exported water to the leading city in water conservation efforts.
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