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Metropolitan Water District chair outlines Colorado River cuts, Pure Water SoCal and local priorities
Summary
Adan Ortega, MWD board chair and San Fernando representative, told the council California faces roughly 440,000 acre-feet in cuts from the Colorado River, highlighted Pure Water SoCal (115M gallons/day first phase) and warned of expensive adaptation costs; he urged partnerships with Northern California watershed communities.
San Fernando — Adan Ortega, chair of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California board, briefed the City Council on regional water challenges and Metropolitan’s priorities.
Ortega told the council Metropolitan supplies water for about 19 million people across six counties and outlined ongoing Colorado River negotiations, saying climate-driven aridification has revealed that allocations written in the 1920s exceed available supply. "In California alone, we'll have to reduce about 440,000 acre feet of water," Ortega said, equating that reduction to the annual use of roughly 1 million people.
He described Pure Water SoCal, a planned regional purification and groundwater-replenishment program based in Carson. Ortega said the project’s first phase is expected to produce about 115 million gallons of purified water per day, has already secured approximately $211 million in state and federal funding, and faces a total estimated cost in the billions. He urged investment in turf replacement and conservation and noted rebate levels have dropped (turf-replacement rebates were reduced from $7 to $4 per square foot due to exhausted Department of Water Resources funds).
Council members thanked Ortega and asked him to continue engagement with elected officials and the city's representatives. Ortega invited council members to Metropolitan events and trips to meet with Northern California watershed communities to build common-ground solutions.
