You may not realize it, but West Hollywood is a part of the West Basin Municipal Water District, represented by a 5 member elected Board of Directors. Our district is comprised of West Hollywood, Culver City, Malibu, El Segundo, Marina del Rey, and Baldwin Hills -- a non-contiguous district. While West Hollywood get's its water from the City of Los Angeles DWP and the City of Beverly Hills, and not West Basin, we are nevertheless, a part of the West Basin District and may one day receive reclaimed water for irrigation purposes from West Basin.
I am forwarding their most recent newsletter as a courtesy to a fellow government agency that represents our community. Our elected Director on the West Basin Board of Directors is Ed Litttle of Culver City. He has represented our district since 1989 and is well regarded as a water policy expert.
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WEST BASIN NEWSLETTER
Walk, ride your bike or use public transportation to get to SEA Lab on Saturday, April 21, 2012, for its annual Earth Day event, held at 1021 N. Harbor Drive in Redondo Beach from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. If you do drive a vehicle, free parking is available in the parking lot near Ruby’s Diner. See the environmentally-protective technology used by the ocean-water desalination facility, learn how to turn your yard into an ocean-friendly landscape, pick up a coupon for an ocean safe car wash that recycles water, and trade in your plastic bags for a reusable tote. Event also features a sidewalk chalk drawing challenge and beach cleanup. This event is made possible by SEA Lab, City of Redondo Beach, Golden State Water, Cal Water, and West Basin. Visit www.redondo.org for more information.
At its Monday, April 23, 2012 Board meeting, the West Basin Board of Directors will consider its Recycled Water Standby Charge for reauthorization. The Standby Charge is considered each year at a public hearing. Originally adopted in 1991 to support the development of new, local water supplies, the Standby Charge continues to pay for West Basin’s continually growing, world-class recycled water program. To date, West Basin has produced more than 130 million gallons of recycled water to offset importing water, diversify local supplies, and provide environmental benefits for Santa Monica Bay. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm at West Basin’s Carson office, located at 17140 S. Avalon Blvd., Carson CA 90746. For more information, please visit
www.westbasin.org Visit our website and download a discount coupon for the carwash closest to you. West Basin is working together with commercial car wash facilities that recirculate water, helping to conserve drinking water supplies, reduce runoff, and keep car cleaning supplies from entering storm drains and polluting Santa Monica Bay. Gardena Car Wash and Hermosa Beach Car Wash are currently participating in the program. Visit
www.westbasin.org to download your coupon. The Water Education Center and Ocean-Water Desalination Demonstration Facility is now open by appointment only on Wednesday and Thursday, and for open house style tours on Friday at 11:30am, 12:30pm and 1:30pm and on Saturday at 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm and 1:30pm. The facility is closed Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. West Basin’s Water Education Center is located next to SEA Lab at 1021 N. Harbor Drive in Redondo Beach. Learn about all of the fascinating aspects of water. Take part in Water 101 on the first Thursday of the month. This free class combines a mini-lecture, videos and night tour of West Basin’s water recycling facility to provide you with a better understanding of our current and future water situation. Dinner provided at 6:30pm with lecture beginning at 7:00pm. Participants receive a Water 101 information booklet and certificate. To make a reservation, call (310) 660-6200.
Next class: Thursday, May 3rd at 6:30pm at the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility, 1935 S. Hughes Way, El Segundo, CA 90245. Since the accidental household bleach leak that occurred at our Temporary Ocean Water Desalination Demonstration Facility back in February, West Basin’s priority has been to restore the SEA Lab aquarium to its full tank capacity. West Basin has met its commitment and the aquarium is back on its own pumping system. We continue to work with SEA Lab to restore their education programs. Visit SEA Lab this Saturday as part of the Earth Day festivities to see newly donated sea life and learn how you can help protect the ocean. Details above. West Basin’s entire 20-acre water recycling facility is expanding and construction is on schedule for completion by early 2013. The fifth expansion will increase production by 16 million gallons a day and provide 100% recycled water for groundwater protection and recharge. Construction of a new high-rate clarifier is underway, a major ozone treatment center and its storage facility are being completed, and a new microfiltration system foundation has been poured. Planning for future water needs requires collaboration and partnerships now, more than ever. West Basin began its master planning process in 2005 and has accomplished tremendous success in partnering with customer agencies. West Basin has updated its Plan and now looks ahead to maximizing water efficiency through 2016. The Plan includes comprehensive programs that address the needs of residents, businesses, and municipalities, reach indoors and outdoors, and integrate energy efficiency where possible. Thanks to a grant from United States Bureau of Reclamation, with matching funds from each retail customer agency, West Basin’s Master Plan is integrated with each customer’s water efficiency plan. Participating customer agencies include the Cities of El Segundo, Inglewood, Lomita, and Manhattan Beach, the County of Los Angeles, California American Water, Cal Water Service Co., and Golden State Water Co. West Basin is participating with Home Depot who will host two Water Wise Plant Sales in the South Bay in May, Water Awareness Month. Save up to 50% on plants marked with the South Bay Garden Friendly logo, take part in a raffle, visit water efficiency vendor displays, and attend mini-workshops:
- May 5th - Hawthorne Home Depot, 14603 Ocean Gate Avenue
- May 19th - Torrance Home Depot, 244151 Crenshaw Boulevard
Thank you to the 617 student artists who have participated in this year’s Water is Life art contest. Nearly 50 schools in West Basin’s service area provided student artwork for consideration. Grand prize and Honorable Mention recipients will be presented with awards by the West Basin Board of Directors on Monday, April 23, 2012. Posters and bookmarks featuring student artwork will again be distributed to libraries throughout West Basin’s service area.
Shown here: High School Grand Prize winner Eun Young Lim, 11th grade, Palos Verdes High School. To view more student artwork, visit www.westbasin.org
Visit us at www.westbasin.org © West Basin Municipal District
Serving the cities of Carson, Culver City, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lomita, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, and West Hollywood.
17140 South Avalon Blvd. Suite 210. Carson CA 90746-1296 Phone: 310.217.2411 Fax: 310.217.2414
