01.03.11: L.A. Department of Public Works

Los Angeles has had an unusual amount of precipitation in resent weeks yet, the watershed of the city loses 70% of that water because it is channeled directly to the ocean. This is a fundamental part of city history. The reason for it dates back to decisions made in the 1930’s to channel the Los Angeles River in order to avoid floods. But, the L.A. River is a meandering body of water that can be powerful in times of generous rain and anemic in the summer. Now, almost 85% of the water we use in the City of Los Angeles is imported from the Colorado River and from Northern California. But, what if we could capture and save the water that falls from the sky in quantity as it has in the past few weeks so as not to take water from other places that need it, too? The Los Angeles Department of Public Works has been working hard on that question. In collaboration with dozens of national and local non-profits ranging from the Natural Resources Defense Council and Heal the Bay, the City of Los Angeles has been changing the landscape and helping Los Angeles residents to collect rain water from heavy rains so that it can be stored for use during dry months. Hear in the City's host, Sara Harris spoke with Department of Public Works Director of Stormwater Management, Shahram Kharaghani--She asked him the following question: what do could we ideally do with all that rain water? (c) Hear In The City. 2011 . www.hearinthecity.org Airs Mondays on KPFK 90.7FM in Los Angeles at 2:00pm or www.kpfk.org