Securing a Climate-Resilient Water Supply

STORMWATER CAPTURE

Overview

Stormwater runoff is the largest source of pollution in Los Angeles, and one of our biggest missed opportunities. Each year, more than 100 billion gallons of polluted rainwater flow across our region, carrying oil, trash, bacteria, and toxic chemicals through storm drains and out to our waterways. That same water could be captured, cleaned, and reused to strengthen our local supply.

As climate change brings more extreme swings between drought and intense storms, we must take advantage of every drop we get. By investing in multi-benefit, nature-based solutions, we can capture and store stormwater, recharge groundwater, reduce urban heat, and create healthier, greener communities.

We helped lead the coalition behind the voter-approved Safe Clean Water Program (Measure W), which generates about $280 million annually and has already committed nearly $1 billion to more than 100 projects across LA County. By making the most of our limited rainfall, we can reduce reliance on imported water and build a more resilient, climate-ready water future.

The Challenge

More than

100 billion gallons

of polluted runoff flow across Los Angeles each year instead of being captured and reused.

Southern California could capture as much as

1.4 million acre-feet

of stormwater, but much of that potential remains untapped.

The Safe Clean Water Program invests about

$280 million each year

making strong planning and oversight essential to ensure funds deliver the greatest community and environmental benefits.

We work to ensure the Safe Clean Water Program invests its funding in community-supported, multi-benefit projects that capture and clean stormwater while creating greener, healthier neighborhoods.
Through our roles on the program’s Scoring Committee and Central Santa Monica Bay Watershed Area Steering Committee, we help evaluate projects and advocate for investments that improve water quality, increase local water supplies, reduce flooding, and deliver meaningful benefits to communities.
We focus on making these opportunities accessible to more households, especially low-income residents and people living in multifamily housing who may not have the upfront resources needed to participate in traditional rebate programs.
We advocate both inside and outside the Safe Clean Water Program to ensure its nearly $280 million in annual funding is managed strategically and transparently.
As a leader of the OurWaterLA Coalition, we work with community partners and engage County and city officials to keep the program focused on equitable, nature-based solutions. We also advocate for regular assessments and improvements across the program so that lessons learned lead to stronger projects and better outcomes.
Stormwater investments work best when they reflect the needs of the communities and watersheds they are designed to serve. We lead community events, research, and advocacy to identify priority projects across the Los Angeles River, Ballona Creek and Central Santa Monica Bay, and the Dominguez Channel and South Santa Monica Bay watersheds.
By bringing community knowledge into the planning process, we help move the program beyond one-off projects and toward a coordinated approach that captures more water, reduces pollution, expands green space, and strengthens climate resilience