BY DEVIKA C. MEHTA
LOS ANGELES - This year, LA saw a dismal start to the rainy season, but the recent storms eased fears of water shortages as the runoff from the melting snow from Sierra Nevada mountains fed downstream aquifers, rivers and reservoirs. However, less rains are still a concern and water conservationists are trying to deal with the...
LOS ANGELES - This year, LA saw a dismal start to the rainy season, but the recent storms eased fears of water shortages as the runoff from the melting snow from Sierra Nevada mountains fed downstream aquifers, rivers and reservoirs. However, less rains are still a concern and water conservationists are trying to deal with the...
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drought situation of the state through several mediums-one such being Stormwater Management. The measure has been widely discussed and debated by the government, NGOs and distinct leaders. Tackling the situation are also two Indian-American women who are championing the cause of water crisis in Los Angeles county. Rita Kampalath, Sustainability Program Director of Chief Sustainability Office and Shona Ganguly, Associate Director, Advocacy & Campaigns, The Nature Conservancy are both extraordinary women fighting for a common cause.
Talking to India Journal both Rita and Shona laid out important guidelines for the city, detailed how stormwater can be managed usefully and instructed on ways to capture the ‘liquid gold’.
Taking up the three distressing issues- LA Water crisis, stormwater measures, and California drought- one at a time, they gave some best takes, with wonderful solutions, statistics and examples.
Rita mentioned, “Yes, the situation sounds scary, but there’s a lot that we can still do. Right now, even on a dry day in the County, millions of gallons of water flow out our storm drains and into the ocean. On a rainy day, that number can go up to billions of gallons.”
Shona also commented, “In Los Angeles County, we can expect uncertainty with longer periods of drought and more intense floods. However, there are opportunities to address our water needs. Proper stormwater management would relieve the concerns about a more reliable water supply since we import 80% of our water primarily from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Colorado River. In particular, we have the opportunity to fund and implement nature-based stormwater projects that provide multiple benefits, including water quality, water supply, habitat, and other community investments.”
Explaining stormwater management in L.A. County and its relevance to the entire neighborhood, in relation to the Safe, Clean Water policy for the county, Rita pointed in detail, “Stormwater management in LA County can happen on many different scales. We have large scale projects like dams, spreading basins, and flood channels that manage very large quantities of water, mostly with the goal of protecting neighborhoods from floods and to increase our water supply by putting stormwater into groundwater basins. There are also many smaller scale projects, in addition to some of the larger ones, whose focus is primarily water quality but also provide other benefits like water supply, neighborhood greening, recreational space, and habitat.”
Giving a different angle, Shona noted, “Los Angeles County and many of its cities are working to comply with the MS4 permit, which is regulated by the LA Regional Water Quality Control Board. To do this, they have to achieve certain standards to clean up dry and wet weather runoff. What this means is that they have to clean up the water that flows through our streets to our waterways and finally into our oceans. They have to remove pollutants like trash, bacteria, and heavy metals from our water and especially stormwater, which is what rain is called during a storm. This issue is relevant to every neighborhood in Los Angeles County, because all of the County residents deserve to have clean water and rivers, streams, and beaches that are not polluted.”
So what are the common measures a layman must understand, and how government can assist? Replying to the question, both Rita and Shona made their answers very clear. “There are a number of things we can do in our every day life to help manage stormwater pollution. First off is not littering, picking up after your pets, or, if you’re a homeowner, even considering changing your landscape and lawns so that stormwater that does fall on your property doesn’t run off into the street. This can also be accomplished for small storms through rain barrels or cisterns. People can also support larger projects that the government implements in parks and other public spaces to capture stormwater,” Rita mentioned.
Shona added, “All residents of Los Angeles County can take action by conserving water. In fact Angelenos have an opportunity to stay engaged with the County’s efforts to develop a Water Plan that will provide a roadmap for water sustainability into the future.”
Notifying about the new laws, policies and other methods that can promote stormwater management, Rita sorted, “Cities and the County do have requirements to manage their stormwater particularly for stormwater quality, which is based on permit requirements that they must meet. These permit requirements are quite expensive.”
Meanwhile Shona quoted, “There is a potential stormwater funding measure that LA County is working on that would address water needs. There is also Proposition 68 on the June 5th ballot that will raise funds for parks and water in California.”
About their organizations and role play, both Shona and Rita have a clear standpoint. As part of the County’s Chief Sustainability Office, Rita feels, “We’re in the process of creating a comprehensive sustainability plan for the entire County that will set a regional vision and goals for a number of different issues and of course water will be a big part of that. Proper management of our local water resources, and making sure that we’re cleaning up our local waterways will be key goals of our sustainability plan.”
Shona is also keen to integrate natural solutions into stormwater management. “Nature-based projects at the distributed or neighborhood scale are cost-effective, improve water quality, reduce the amount of pollution in our local waters, mitigate flooding, improve air quality, improve habitat, and provide construction and maintenance jobs throughout the region. The Nature Conservancy is an international science-based conservation and is invested in seeing a resilient Los Angeles region that prioritizes natural solutions, which offer multiple benefits for people and nature,” she announced.
Talking about upcoming events Rita informed that the County is in the process of developing a Safe, Clean, Water Program to deal with stormwater. “People should check on the website, https://dpw.lacounty.gov/lacfcd/scwp/ for ways to get involved.”
Meanwhile, Shona clarified, “There is an election on June 5th that is critical for investments in California’s water, parks, and natural resources. Los Angeles County is also developing the guidelines for a potential stormwater measure.”
Concluding their thoughts, Rita and Shona made one final call to Angelenos, “I hope that people get more involved with stormwater issues and in supporting projects that are designed to deal with these issues. Everyone should see themselves as a water advocate,” Rita advised. While Shona formulating the role of government requested, “It is vital that they integrate natural solutions as a default for projects across the County, because it will address multiple problems and provide multiple benefits for our communities.”
Talking to India Journal both Rita and Shona laid out important guidelines for the city, detailed how stormwater can be managed usefully and instructed on ways to capture the ‘liquid gold’.
Taking up the three distressing issues- LA Water crisis, stormwater measures, and California drought- one at a time, they gave some best takes, with wonderful solutions, statistics and examples.
Rita mentioned, “Yes, the situation sounds scary, but there’s a lot that we can still do. Right now, even on a dry day in the County, millions of gallons of water flow out our storm drains and into the ocean. On a rainy day, that number can go up to billions of gallons.”
Shona also commented, “In Los Angeles County, we can expect uncertainty with longer periods of drought and more intense floods. However, there are opportunities to address our water needs. Proper stormwater management would relieve the concerns about a more reliable water supply since we import 80% of our water primarily from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Colorado River. In particular, we have the opportunity to fund and implement nature-based stormwater projects that provide multiple benefits, including water quality, water supply, habitat, and other community investments.”
Explaining stormwater management in L.A. County and its relevance to the entire neighborhood, in relation to the Safe, Clean Water policy for the county, Rita pointed in detail, “Stormwater management in LA County can happen on many different scales. We have large scale projects like dams, spreading basins, and flood channels that manage very large quantities of water, mostly with the goal of protecting neighborhoods from floods and to increase our water supply by putting stormwater into groundwater basins. There are also many smaller scale projects, in addition to some of the larger ones, whose focus is primarily water quality but also provide other benefits like water supply, neighborhood greening, recreational space, and habitat.”
Giving a different angle, Shona noted, “Los Angeles County and many of its cities are working to comply with the MS4 permit, which is regulated by the LA Regional Water Quality Control Board. To do this, they have to achieve certain standards to clean up dry and wet weather runoff. What this means is that they have to clean up the water that flows through our streets to our waterways and finally into our oceans. They have to remove pollutants like trash, bacteria, and heavy metals from our water and especially stormwater, which is what rain is called during a storm. This issue is relevant to every neighborhood in Los Angeles County, because all of the County residents deserve to have clean water and rivers, streams, and beaches that are not polluted.”
So what are the common measures a layman must understand, and how government can assist? Replying to the question, both Rita and Shona made their answers very clear. “There are a number of things we can do in our every day life to help manage stormwater pollution. First off is not littering, picking up after your pets, or, if you’re a homeowner, even considering changing your landscape and lawns so that stormwater that does fall on your property doesn’t run off into the street. This can also be accomplished for small storms through rain barrels or cisterns. People can also support larger projects that the government implements in parks and other public spaces to capture stormwater,” Rita mentioned.
Shona added, “All residents of Los Angeles County can take action by conserving water. In fact Angelenos have an opportunity to stay engaged with the County’s efforts to develop a Water Plan that will provide a roadmap for water sustainability into the future.”
Notifying about the new laws, policies and other methods that can promote stormwater management, Rita sorted, “Cities and the County do have requirements to manage their stormwater particularly for stormwater quality, which is based on permit requirements that they must meet. These permit requirements are quite expensive.”
Meanwhile Shona quoted, “There is a potential stormwater funding measure that LA County is working on that would address water needs. There is also Proposition 68 on the June 5th ballot that will raise funds for parks and water in California.”
About their organizations and role play, both Shona and Rita have a clear standpoint. As part of the County’s Chief Sustainability Office, Rita feels, “We’re in the process of creating a comprehensive sustainability plan for the entire County that will set a regional vision and goals for a number of different issues and of course water will be a big part of that. Proper management of our local water resources, and making sure that we’re cleaning up our local waterways will be key goals of our sustainability plan.”
Shona is also keen to integrate natural solutions into stormwater management. “Nature-based projects at the distributed or neighborhood scale are cost-effective, improve water quality, reduce the amount of pollution in our local waters, mitigate flooding, improve air quality, improve habitat, and provide construction and maintenance jobs throughout the region. The Nature Conservancy is an international science-based conservation and is invested in seeing a resilient Los Angeles region that prioritizes natural solutions, which offer multiple benefits for people and nature,” she announced.
Talking about upcoming events Rita informed that the County is in the process of developing a Safe, Clean, Water Program to deal with stormwater. “People should check on the website, https://dpw.lacounty.gov/lacfcd/scwp/ for ways to get involved.”
Meanwhile, Shona clarified, “There is an election on June 5th that is critical for investments in California’s water, parks, and natural resources. Los Angeles County is also developing the guidelines for a potential stormwater measure.”
Concluding their thoughts, Rita and Shona made one final call to Angelenos, “I hope that people get more involved with stormwater issues and in supporting projects that are designed to deal with these issues. Everyone should see themselves as a water advocate,” Rita advised. While Shona formulating the role of government requested, “It is vital that they integrate natural solutions as a default for projects across the County, because it will address multiple problems and provide multiple benefits for our communities.”
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