Metropolitan to Break Ground on Project to Bring Additional Water to Southern California Cities Most Vulnerable in State Drought

Sepulveda Feeder Pump Stations Project to deliver alternative sources of water for communities dependent on the State Water Project

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Metropolitan Water District of Southern California:

WHAT:	Metropolitan Water District is breaking ground on a project that will increase water reliability in communities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties that were required to severely curtail their water use during the record-breaking drought in 2020-2022. The Sepulveda Feeder Pump Stations project will push Colorado River water and stored supplies from Diamond Valley Lake – Southern California’s largest reservoir – into communities that currently have limited access to these resources. These communities, home to millions of people, rely almost exclusively on water from the northern Sierra, delivered through the State Water Project. When State Water Project deliveries are significantly reduced, these communities need alternative water supplies.
WHEN:	10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 21. The event also will be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.
WHERE:	Venice Pressure Control Structure, 3862 Tuller Ave., Culver City, CA 90230
WHO:	Shivaji Deshmukh, Metropolitan general manager
	Nancy Sutley, Metropolitan Board vice chair
	Dennis Erdman, Metropolitan Board director
	Jacque McMillan, Metropolitan Board director representing Calleguas Municipal Water District
	Jay Lewitt, Metropolitan Board director representing Las Virgenes Municipal Water District
	Mai Hattar, Metropolitan chief engineer
	Dave Pettijohn, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power director of water resources
VISUALS:	Backdrop of early-stage construction of one of two pump stations that will, when needed, reverse flows in the existing Sepulveda Feeder Pipeline to push water from DVL and the Colorado River into the State Water Project-dependent communities.
BACKGROUND: Completion of the approximately $280 million project is expected in early 2029. Metropolitan is also building four projects that together will allow additional water from DVL and the Colorado River to be delivered to communities in the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley that are also dependent on the SWP and were under mandatory restrictions during the last drought.