Metropolitan Monthly News

Aug. 25, 2022

Portions of Los Angeles County Asked to Suspend Outdoor Watering During Emergency Repair Work of Critical Pipeline, Sept. 6-20

Above, a map of the portions of greater Los Angeles County that will be affected by Sept. 6-20 pipeline shutdown. Click on map to view a pdf version.

Starting Tuesday, Sept. 6, residents and businesses in portions of greater Los Angeles County are being called on to suspend outdoor watering for 15 days as a critical imported water pipeline is shut down for emergency repairs. Metropolitan is joined by its member agencies and local retail water agencies in the water-saving call to stretch Southern California’s severely limited water supplies as repairs are made to this pipeline.

Agencies under the water-saving request include the cities of Beverly Hills, Burbank, Glendale, Long Beach, Pasadena, San Fernando and Torrance, as well as Central Basin Municipal Water District, Foothill Municipal Water District, Three Valleys Municipal Water District and West Basin Municipal Water District.

The 36-mile Upper Feeder pipeline is an important part of Metropolitan’s regional water system, delivering Colorado River water into Southern California. After a leak was discovered in the pipeline earlier this year, Metropolitan made a temporary repair and began operating the pipeline at a reduced capacity while a more permanent solution was designed and developed.

Read the press release, learn more about the shutdown and call for no outdoor watering, and view a fact sheet (also available in Spanish, Chinese and Armenian) for tips on how to prepare for the shutdown.

Public Review and Comments Sought for Draft Environmental Impact Report for Delta Conveyance Project

The California Department of Water Resources has released the Draft Environment Impact Report for the Delta Conveyance Project. This is an important step in evaluating a key strategy to modernize the Delta conveyance. The July 27 release of the draft EIR initiated a 90-day public review period.

As the largest potential funder of this project, Metropolitan encourages Southern Californians to study this proposal closely as our imported supplies from Northern California and the Colorado River face historic uncertainties. More than half of this region’s water has come from these two sources for decades. In the midst of climate change, Metropolitan is managing the three driest consecutive years on the State Water Project in history, and is dealing with historic shortage conditions on the Colorado with a call by the Bureau of Reclamation to dramatically cut water use even more next year.

“As we move forward, it will be important to connect with tribes, environmental groups, business and labor organizations, as well as other stakeholders to get the critical feedback we need to address our water supply challenges," said board Chairwoman Gloria D. Gray. "It will require all of us working together to not only modernize the conveyance of supplies from Northern California, but also develop more local supplies, storage and conservation to ensure we are successful in preparing for future droughts and climate change."

Read Metropolitan's blog and statements from General Manager Adel Hagekhalil and

Chairwoman Gray.

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Calls for Reduced Demands on

Colorado River

On Aug. 16, the Department of the Interior announced the need for urgent action to improve and protect the long-term sustainability of the Colorado River by reducing demands on the river by 2-4 million acre-feet.

Drought and low runoff conditions accelerated by climate change have led to historically low water levels in lakes Powell and Mead. Over the last two decades, the seven Colorado River Basin states have been in discussion on drought response operations. With water levels continuing to decline, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is requesting reducing water demands by 2 to 4 million acre-feet.

The Colorado River Basin, courtesy of

The Bureau of Reclamation.

"We have worked earnestly with our colleagues in the basin to develop an aggressive but realistic plan to reduce demands," said General Manager Adel Hagekhalil. "We’re not there yet, but we are committed to working with our partners to develop a viable plan. We have no choice. Building on our history of partnerships, with federal funding and Reclamation’s support, we will build reliability back into our Colorado River supplies with a workable and inclusive plan."

Read his full statement.

Metropolitan Retrofitting Pipe to Protect from Threat of Earthquakes

Above, from left: Brent Yamasaki, Metropolitan Water System Operations group manager; Chief Engineer John Bednarski; and Tim Smith, board director representing the San Diego County Water Authority and chair of Metropolitan board's Engineering & Operations Committee.

Metropolitan's Casa Loma Siphon, a 5-mile-long pipe constructed in 1935, is being upgraded with seismic resilient pipelines to help guard against earthquakes. By strengthening this pipe, which helps move Colorado River water into Southern California, Metropolitan is strengthening its earthquake resilience for the region.

The $33.7 million project will replace about 1,200 feet of the 148-diameter pipe with two parallel barrels of earthquake-resistant iron pipeline. Once completed, the Casa Loma Siphon will be the world's largest earthquake-resistant ductile iron pipe outside of Japan.

Read the LA Times article on this project.

Rep. Napolitano and Reclamation Commissioner Touton Visit Pure Water Southern California

Above, from left: Adel Hagekhalil, Metropolitan general manager; U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano (D- El Monte); Camille Touton, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation commissioner; Gloria D. Gray, Metropolitan board chairwoman; and Robert Ferrante, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts general manager and chief engineer.

Metropolitan's Community Relations Team Manager Rupam Soni provides an overview of the Pure Water treatment.

On Aug. 18, Rep. Grace Napolitano and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton visited Pure Water Southern California. Along with our partner, the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Metropolitan showcased how the proposed water purification process will take treated wastewater and purify it to produce a new, drought-proof source of high-quality water for Southern California.

The environmental review process for the project will begin in September. During the first phase of review, community members are encouraged to provide input and share concerns. Visit

mwdh2o.com/purewater for more information on the project.

2021/2022 Year in Review

Watch Metropolitan's latest video on what the district has accomplished in the last fiscal year, under the leadership of General Manager Adel Hagekhalil.

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