Sierra Club's Water Conservation Scorecard Ranks City of Los Angeles #1 Among Cities in Los Angeles and Orange Counties
Illustration by Michelle Theis
GIS Map by Charles Gooley, ESRI, and the Angeles Chapter GIS Committee
The city of Los Angeles is doing the "best job of enacting water conservation measures" of any city in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, according to the results of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter's Water Conservation Measures Scorecard released on July 18. The Scorecard rates each of the 122 cities in Los Angeles and Orange Counties by the number and type of water conservation measures enacted to enforce restricted use, efficient use, and best practices. Los Angeles was the only city with measures that satisfied each of the 19 categories identified in the survey. The city of Los Angeles, which uses IAPMO R&T-certified products wherever high-efficiency fixtures and equipment are installed in its public buildings, earned the top spot on the list. Los Angeles earned all 19 possible points and outranked four other cities that also obtained a "Best" rating.
Los Angeles is not only top in California, but also leads the nation's large cities in water conservation, according to the Scorecard. Since June 2009, when mandatory water conservation took effect in the city of Los Angeles, residents have saved more than 75 billion gallons – more than one-third of what Los Angeles uses in one year. Water use in Los Angeles has fallen to 1970s levels, despite a population increase of more than 1 million. In fiscal year 2010-11, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers used an average of 117 gallons of water per person daily – the lowest among the nine U.S. cities with populations over 1 million.
"We're proud to see Los Angeles earn the top spot of the Sierra Club's Water Measures Scorecard. This is an incredible achievement that our customers have achieved through their continued commitment to water conservation," said James McDaniel, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) assistant general manager – Water System. "Angelenos have embraced water conservation as a way of life and are not only leaders in California, but across the nation. Four years ago, critics said L.A. couldn't achieve further water savings, but incentives combined with strong policies, public awareness and a strong response by our customers has led to the lowest water use by our customers ever recorded."
"Water conservation is the best source of water supply" said Ronald Nichols, general manager of LADWP. "These reductions in water use result in lower imports of water to Los Angeles. It saves our customers money; it reduces risk of uncertainty of availability of imported water supply sources, and is the most environmentally sustainable means to meet the total water supply needs of Angelenos."
To learn more about how Los Angeles' water conservation earned a "Best" rating, review the Water Conservation Measures Scorecard report and results online at http://angeles.sierraclub.org/water/conservation.html.
About LADWP
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation's largest municipal utility, provides reliable, low-cost water and power services to Los Angeles residents and businesses in an environmentally responsible manner. LADWP serves about 1.4 million electric customers and 680,000 water customers in Los Angeles.
About the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter
The Angeles Chapter is the local voice of the Sierra Club, America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. Its 40,000 members in Los Angeles and Orange counties strive to explore, enjoy and protect nature in their communities and the planet. |
