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La Palma council adopts 2025 urban water management and drought plan
Summary
The City of La Palma on June 2 adopted its 2025 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan after a staff presentation describing updated demand projections, regional coordination and conservation programs; the vote was 4–0 with one councilmember absent.
The La Palma City Council on June 2 voted to adopt the city’s 2025 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and its updated Water Shortage Contingency Plan, a five‑year planning update that documents demand projections, conservation programs and drought response stages.
Acting Director Jake Shapiro presented the plan, saying the update reflects regional coordination with the Municipal Water District of Orange County and updated population and demand projections through 2050. He summarized the city’s system and planning elements, noting the city’s water system includes two groundwater wells, one imported connection managed through the regional partner, two reservoirs with combined storage and roughly 40 miles of pipeline. "The 2025 update builds upon the 2020 plan and includes updated population and water demand projections through 2050, reporting on compliance and state conservation requirements," Shapiro said.
Shapiro told the council the update also includes a stand‑alone water shortage contingency plan with six standard shortage levels, staged response actions and public communication protocols to guide the city’s response during varying levels of supply interruption or state‑declared drought conditions. He also reviewed ongoing demand‑management programs coordinated regionally, including rebates and incentives for high‑efficiency fixtures, turf replacement, irrigation upgrades and other water‑use efficiency measures.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing. Councilmember Mark Waldman moved to adopt the UWMP and the drought contingency plan; Mayor Pro Tem Debbie Baker seconded. The council approved the item by roll call: four yes, one absent.
Why it matters: The UWMP is a statutorily required planning document that informs long‑range water supply decisions and sets the city’s approach to conservation and drought preparedness. The plan’s approval allows La Palma to meet state reporting requirements and maintain eligibility for certain regional programs and grants aimed at improving water use efficiency.
What’s next: Staff will finalize plan materials for filing and posting per state requirements and continue coordination with regional partners on implementation of conservation programs and outreach.
