Dear ,

The steady thrum of whirring ceiling fans, the drip-drop of condensation from window air conditioning units, the squeals of kids as they sprint through sprinklers and splash in pools: These are the familiar sounds of the dog days of summer; visceral reminders that we’re approaching the hottest days of the year… and some of the hottest on record.

Californians need no reminding that the climate crisis is only deepening: From shattering monthly heat records to experiencing earlier, fiercer, and more frequent fires, to living through a historic drought. There's no doubt that we are on the front lines of the climate emergency, but we’re committed to rising to meet this urgent moment, addressing it with every tool at our disposal.

Here are 4 recent water conservation and emissions-reduction milestones worth knowing about:

1. RECYCLED WATER FILL STATIONS:

If you live through enough summers in California, you develop a special appreciation for water and a deep commitment to its conservation. 

With a historic drought as the backdrop to the hottest month of the year, the City worked with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation to re-open two free recycled water fill stations. 

Now, Angelenos can refill empty water containers with up to 300 gallons a day of recycled water for irrigation, offsetting the demand for precious drinking water and lifting the burden of recent restrictions by providing our customers with a sustainable way to keep up on outdoor watering. 

The two refill stations are located at the Los Angeles-Glendale Water Reclamation Plant and the LA Zoo parking lot. Customers must bring their own water containers when picking up recycled water. 

Click here for locations and more information on recommended water container guidance.

2. A NEW RECORD! WATER USE IN JULY 

We asked, you acted. 

New recycled water stations are just one recent example of our commitment to make participating in conservation efforts easier for all Angelenos.

You showed once again why this City of Angels is the best in the world, thinking of the climate and our shared future by doing your part to restrict and conserve water use during this historic drought. 

Those efforts are paying off. In June, Los Angeles achieved an amazing all-time low in water use. To further mark our efforts, in July 2022 we saved 11% more water than in July 2021. 

This new record is a testament to the deep commitment to sustainability and conservation all Angelenos share, and is cause for great optimism about how we will rise to meet each new challenge the climate emergency presents.

Since I took office in 2013, LADWP customers have saved 257 billion gallons of water – enough water to fill the LA Coliseum over 913 times, and nearly double the amount of water LADWP uses in an entire year. 

Part of this success is due to LADWP investing hundreds of millions in its rebate programs and other water-saving measures including the turf replacement rebate program that has helped Angelenos replace over 51.9 million square feet of turf… that’s enough water savings to supply 27,500 homes per year! 

All watering continues to be limited to Mondays and Fridays for LADWP customers with street addresses ending in odd numbers, and Thursdays and Sundays for all customers with addresses ending in even numbers. To learn more, go to LADWP.com/Save.

3. NEW ZERO-EMISSION EQUIPMENT FOR OUR STREETS

Last week we proved again why Los Angeles is leading the electrification revolution — serving as a laboratory for innovation and modeling. We showed the rest of the world what it looks like to invest in the sustainable solutions that will power our future.

StreetsLA is at the forefront of the clean transportation revolution, and this week introduced an exciting new array of zero-emission equipment to our StreetsLA fleet, including: 

• Their first electric pickup truck that will continue to push manufacturers to bring the medium and heavy-duty work equipment we need, to market;

• Two solar-powered charging stations, making charging accessible and convenient;

• And a new Volvo electric mini excavator, that will be used by many departments for sidewalk repair, park maintenance, and other construction.

This new equipment joins our country-leading EV fleet that already includes an Elgin Hybrid Street Sweeper, Honda Clarity Hybrid Investigator vehicles, and the Dulevo Mini-Sweeper (aka “Verde”), our mini street sweeper for bike lanes, and the Beam Solar Canopy EV charging station.

These new additions to our fleet of zero-emissions vehicles and equipment – one of the largest in the country – are critical in continuing our great progress towards eliminating our municipal transportation emissions. Already, we have 1,500 electric vehicles in use across our City departments and the most electric charging stations in the United States.

4. ENDING OIL DRILLING IN OUR CITY

Earlier this year, I stood alongside fellow elected officials, environmental justice activists, and community leaders to sign a directive to phase out oil and gas drilling in the City. Today, thanks to the tireless work of the Department of City Planning and City Attorney’s Office, we have introduced a draft ordinance that puts our directive in action – spelling out the steps for the City to prohibit new extraction, phase out existing oil operations, and protect the public from the risks and hazards associated with drilling. 

The ordinance sends a clear message: oil drilling may have been a large part of Los Angeles’ past, but it is not our future. In the coming months, City Planning will facilitate public meetings with local stakeholders, and feedback collected at these hearings will inform the final ordinance that the Department will advance to Los Angeles’s City Planning Commission for a formal recommendation. I welcome Angelenos to play a role in shaping this ordinance and can’t wait to sign this once-in-a-lifetime legislation.

Our progress towards securing a Green New Deal for Los Angeles, including 100% clean power and recycled wastewater by 2035, is well underway. Just this year, we passed the most sweeping measure yet to decarbonize all new buildings in the City and our year-over-year emissions cuts have gone from 10% to 24% to 36% below 1990 levels. Our energy grid is 62% clean energy, and we’ve been named the #1 Solar City in the U.S. for eight out of the last nine years. On top of that, we’ve planted tens of thousands of trees in low canopy neighborhoods, covered 80 miles with cool pavement, and installed a total of 63,000 cool roofs. We now use 54% less imported water than we did in 2013 and, thanks to our ambitious ‘Hyperion 2035’ and ‘Operation Next’ plans, our wastewater plants will soon be able to treat billions of new gallons of water for drinking and irrigation.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg, Los Angeles is setting the pace for the rest of the world.

This progress is a direct result of our City, its people, and our partners committing to work together to plot a more sustainable, equitable, and ambitious path forward. I’m proud to be on this journey with you and proud to be your Mayor.

Eric Garcetti
Your Mayor