Overview
The Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) will describe a future vision of water, wastewater and runoff/storm water management in the City of Los Angeles that explicitly recognizes the complex relationships that exist among all of the City’s water resources activities and functions.  Addressing and integrating the water, wastewater, and runoff needs of the City in the Year 2020, the IRP also takes an important step towards comprehensive basin-wide water resources planning in the Los Angeles area.

Description
The IRP will develop planning documents for an Updated Wastewater Facilities Plan (WFP), Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS), Financial Plan (FP) and Public Education.  The documents will implement the final options, policies, and ideas developed by the stakeholders and concurred with by the City Council in the Integrated Plan for the Wastewater Program (Phase I of the IRP), to address the facility needs of the City’s wastewater program, recycled water and urban runoff/stormwater management through the year 2020 while being consistent with state and federal guidelines.

Location
Facility needs will be throughout the entire City of Los Angeles based on the alternatives identified. For example, such alternatives could consist of existing treatment plant expansions, siting a new wastewater treatment plant, providing additional collection system capacity, providing urban runoff recycling facilities, increasing the recycled water distribution system.

Purpose
To develop and implement an integrated resource planning process that addresses the City’s water resources and wastewater/biosolids collection, treatment, recycling, and beneficial reuse practices through the year 2020. 

Prepare WFP/FP/EIR/EIS documents through an integrated planning process as well as develop and implement supportive public outreach and education program, Determine the needs of the existing wastewater system and evaluate those needs through a participatory decision-making process involving the community and various stakeholders to identify alternatives to address water, wastewater and stormwater facility and program needs, Develop a phasing plan for year 2020 wastewater facility needs which recommends a sequence of the projects enumerated in the WFP, Research and recommend available financial and funding mechanisms to support recommended projects in preparation of the FP document, etc.

Schedule
The IRP will take approximately 3 years to complete.  The project commenced in June 2002.

Status
The baseline needs and the growth projections for water, wastewater and runoff have been determined for the next 20 years. The alternatives analysis approach that addresses the integration of these three areas has been presented to the stakeholders, as well as potential siting of a new upstream wastewater facility(ies).

The IRP incorporates the Guiding Principles that were developed by the stakeholders under Phase I, and plans for the means (programs and projects) to meet the City’s needs for the year 2020 in an integrated approach.  An extensive community outreach was conducted to encourage participation in Phase II and to ensure that public input and participation is received and considered as part of the IRP development.  Currently, there are over 350 stakeholders participating in Phase II of the IRP representing various business, community and environmental groups.

Commonly Asked Questions

Question 1:  Would this project have an impact in my community?

Answer:  It may have an impact since it would recommend the construction of the wastewater facilities to meet the year 2020 demand! The entire City will be studied and a new wastewater facility (treatment plant, major sewer, etc.) may be recommended at any location.  The IRP will also look at wastewater, stormwater and recycled/reclaimed water on an integrated approach so any of these types of new facilities may be recommended at any location.  At this stage, we do not know if any new facilities will be needed in the City.  As we progress with our facilities planning in Phase II, we will be meeting with the IRP Stakeholders to resolve conflicts like selecting locations for specific facilities.  Therefore, it is important to have stakeholders who represent all parts of the City and all groups who may have a stake in the recommended facilities.

Question 2:  How do I get involved in this project?

Answer:  By volunteering to become a stakeholder to have direct input into the IRP planning process or by sharing this information with other groups which may be interested in becoming an IRP stakeholder, i.e., homeowners groups, religious organizations, environmental organizations, chambers of commerce, etc.

The City of Los Angeles is seeking applicants for three areas of public participation in a Facilities Planning Effort:

Steering Group: Members of this group must commit to attending a total of 12 half-day workshops, conducted quarterly over a three-year period.  A series of workshops are the fundamental activities that the Steering Group will use in the participatory decision-making process. Members are expected to review materials provided, and to prepare themselves in advance of the workshops.  At these workshops, the Steering Group will have two basic roles:

Provide an on-going input on a regular basis on technical, environmental and financial development of the project, and

Consider key project issues, such as facilities siting, implementation risks, and acceptability of costs that will invariably arise during the project.

Advisory Group: Through quarterly evening meetings over a three-year period, members will have the opportunity to provide comments and suggestions and make observations for consideration by the City of Los Angeles and the Steering Group.

Information Group: All interested parties are invited to stay informed of the facilities planning effort.  Members of this group will receive periodic newsletters to inform them of major milestones and recommendations of the IRP effort.

Question 3:  How is this project unique?

Answer: The IRP planning process used by the City of Los Angeles is unique in a couple of ways:

It provides extensive, meaningful and interactive participation of 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;

It takes into consideration the complex interrelationships among all of the City agency service functions (water supply; water conservation, wastewater collection; treatment and reuse; biosolids generation and application; storm water quality; water quality issues).