Here’s a sobering statistic: for every inch of rainfall that falls in the City of Los Angeles, 3.8 billion gallons of water is lost to run off. In the last storm, even though only 3.29 inches of rain fell in Los Angeles, we lost 12.5 billion gallons of precious water. Add to that the fact that the city imports nearly 90% of its water supply, and you start to see how we could use every drop that falls.

So we’re thrilled that this is about to change. In partnership with TreePeople, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has committed to capturing rainfall and implementing stormwater and watershed management programs and projects throughout the city with a Stormwater Capture Master Plan.

With this plan, we have the opportunity to learn how much water can be captured as well as what areas of the city are best suited for capturing rainfall. The plan will also highlight what we know about the most effective stormwater capturing programs, policies, laws, and projects. The vision is to create a plan that will play a vital role in helping our city create a safe, cost-effective, reliable, and viable water supply for our future.

Better still, the LADWP wants to create the Stormwater Capture Master Plan with input from Angelinos. They want to hear from you. Truly. Which is why they’re hosting a public meeting on Wednesday, March 26th from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Los Angeles River Center Atrium.

This is a chance to make a real difference in an increasingly urgent issue – how to ensure that Los Angeles has enough water. Come with your ideas as well as questions about increasing the city’s local water supply and reducing our dependence on imported water. We need you!

Mark your calendar for March 26th, and learn more about the Stormwater Capture Master Plan public participation and meeting here.