Resilience with Recycling: LADWP's Strategies for Local Water Supply, with Anselmo Collins

In this episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark speaks with Anselmo Collins, Chief Operating Officer for water at LADWP, about Los Angeles’ water resource challenges and the utility’s shift toward local supply. Anselmo explains LADWP serves about 4 million customers across 473 square miles, delivering roughly 450 million gallons per day while importing about 90% of its water via aqueducts vulnerable to climate “whiplash” and seismic risk near the San Andreas fault. He outlines major initiatives including over US$600 million investment for groundwater remediation, expanded stormwater capture and infiltration projects in parks, and recycled water via indirect and direct potable reuse. Key programs include the Stormwater Capture Parks project, the recycled water project producing 25 million gallons per day by 2027, and the $26 billion, multi-decade Pure Water Los Angeles plan targeting up to 210 million gallons per day.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro00:30 Anselmo Career Journey01:13 LADWP Scale and Supply02:15 Drought and Seismic Risks04:43 Groundwater Cleanup Plan05:52 Source Control and Monitoring07:28 Recharge and Stormwater Capture08:59 Stormwater Quality Treatment09:28 Recycled Water and Pure Water LA12:34 Jobs and Community Benefits13:06 Career Advice and Wrap Up