The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners late last month gave the green light to provide up to $740 million for new water recycling facilities in the San Fernando Valley.

The funds will go toward the Groundwater Replenishment Program jointly run by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation and Environment. The program, one of the largest potable water reuse projects in the state, centers around the city’s Donald C. Tilman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys.

The goal of the program is to boost the availability of recycled water within the city of Los Angeles, reducing the need for the city to rely on water imported from the State Water Project and the Colorado River.

Recycled water is a key component to meeting the local water supply goals outlined in the city’s 2020 urban water management plan, the Los Angeles New Deal, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ Executive Directive 5, which all focus on reducing reliant on imported, purchased water, in favor of investing in local and sustainable water supplies.  

This project around the Donald Tilman Water Reclamation Plant aims to produce at least 20 million gallons per day of purified recycled water that can reach more than 250,000 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers.

New facilities will include: an advanced water purification facility capable of producing 30 million gallons per day of purified water.

Dallas-based Jacobs Solutions Inc. has already been selected as the lead contractor for the project.

Construction is set to begin this month, with the project slated for completion by the end of 2027.