Mission

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LA: Brought to you by water.

Simply put: Water is the soul of Los Angeles County. Over the course of just 100 years, a small town in a dry corner of California blossomed into a vibrant cultural and economic crossroads where people from all walks of life come to work, play, and thrive. There’s nowhere else like it. And it is all brought to you by water.

There’s a story behind virtually every drop. Yet a remarkable system that collects, protects, and distributes our water and makes this improbable place a reality, lives underground and far from mind. Most of the 10 million people who call LA County home know very little about what goes into filling their glasses or ensuring stormwater runoff is clean before it enters our rivers, lakes, streams, and ocean.

The region is entering a new day in its relationship with water. Climate change has intensified cycles of drought, flood, and fire. Two-thirds of our water is imported from increasingly stretched sources. As we have grown, so have the threats to our precious waterways and natural ecosystems—the place we call home.

People built this place. Together, people can ensure its future.

The future of LA County depends on a water-literate public that understands how simple individual actions impact the complex networks that make up our water system. Topics like recycled water, flood protection, water pollution, and conservation are important and should feel as accessible as discussing the latest Dodgers game.

The truth is we can no longer afford to take our water for granted. It took a monumental effort to grow this improbable metropolis out of our arid soil. We met that challenge, but we face new threats to the sustainability and success of LA.

Water for LA

Water for LA is a program to transform LA County residents from passive water consumers to empowered and informed water advocates dedicated to sustainability and health for all.

As a trusted resource on all things water, Water for LA leads campaigns that educate the public and foster more sustainable behavior to help ensure the future of the region.

Water for LA envisions an LA County where residents understand and nurture their relationship with water—where it comes from, its connection to the rivers and lakes upstream, and how their actions impact their neighbors, region, ocean, and planet.

Where else can we build a community of fierce water advocates? As the saying goes: only in LA.