The Federal Clean Water Act requires publicly owned sewage treatment works to prepare and periodically update wastewater facilities plan. The City of Los Angeles prepared its first wastewater facilities plan in 1982 and updated it in 1991. Past wastewater facilities planning focused primarily on developing cost effective construction and operational alternative to meet future wastewater needs. It did not always adequately consider the advance impacts on communities and the surrounding environment. As a result, capital improvements projects were often met with criticism and / or protest by the impacted communities. Planning also did not consider the relationship between the wastewater, water and storm water service function, and the potential for mutually beneficial approaches in the context of watershed planning. Recognizing the water, wastewater and storm water interrelationship and recognizing the need to get the public involved early in the planning process, the City initiated a fresh approach through the first phase of the Integrated Resources Plan (i.e., the Integrated Plan for Wastewater Program (IPWP)] in 1999. The IPWP process used by the City of Los Angeles was unique in a couple of ways; first it provided extensive, meaningful and interactive participation by diverse stakeholders throughout the entire planning process, including environmental groups, churches, government, community and homeowners associations, businesses, public agencies, universities and other interested groups and individuals. And secondly it took into consideration the interrelationship among various City agency service functions (water supply, water conservation, wastewater collection, treatment and reuse, biosolids generation and application, storm water quality and water quality issues). The City is continuing this process in Phase 2 of the Integrated Resources Plan, which includes the development of a detailed Facilities Plan, Financial Plan and Environmental Impact Report for the program. The program should be completed by the end of year 2004.