Nearly 50 labor, tribal, conservation and environmental justice organizations have urged the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to allocate $150 million toward planning and design of a large regional wastewater recycling project, according to a joint letter submitted ahead of a district committee meeting Tuesday.
The funding request would support the proposed Pure Water Southern California project as part of the agency’s 2026-2028 biennial budget, which is expected to be finalized in April.
Signatories include groups such as Los Angeles Waterkeeper, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and the Natural Resources Defense Council, according to the letter.
Supporters said the project would produce up to 150 million gallons of purified water per day once fully operational, creating a new local water supply while reducing nutrient discharges into the ocean.
Project backers also said construction and operations would generate roughly 75,000 job-years.
“Pure Water Southern California is the smartest and most reliable investment Metropolitan’s leaders could make for our region’s water future,” Bruce Reznik, executive director of Los Angeles Waterkeeper, said in a statement.
Reznik said wastewater is a consistent resource that can be purified and reused, unlike imported supplies from the Colorado River or Northern California that can fluctuate during drought conditions.
The Metropolitan Water District’s Finance, Affordability, Asset Management and Efficiency Committee discussed the agency’s proposed budget Tuesday.
Metropolitan Board of Directors Chair Adán Ortega Jr. said the agency was reviewing how the proposed Pure Water Southern California project fits into broader long-term planning for the region’s water supply.
“Metropolitan’s board is thoughtfully deliberating how and when we invest in projects to ensure our long-term reliability in delivering water to Southern California,” Ortega said in a statement.
He said the analysis is being conducted as part of the agency’s Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water, which is intended to guide future investments and help the district balance projects such as Pure Water Southern California with other supply priorities.
Supporters of the project urged officials to include the funding as part of broader efforts to expand local and drought-resilient water supplies.