Despite the end of California’s mandatory water use restrictions, the drought prevails. Across the state, officials are looking for ways to conserve and reuse water while making the most of the little rain the area does receive.
The city of Los Angeles began its Avalon Green Alley Program in 2015, joining the ranks of cities like Chicago and Seattle that are using hundreds of miles of space between buildings to capture and store rainwater.
The program—a 2015 SWS Top Project winner—is the result of a partnership between a number of city agencies and the environmental nonprofit the Trust for Public Land.
The New York Times recently reported on the progress of the project. The first alley, completed in 2015, captured 750,000 gal of rainwater in its first year. An alley currently nearing completion is expected to capture of 700,000 gal annually. By the time the project is completed, the city will boast at least five alley networks, further supporting the state’s goal of reducing reliance on imported water.
Exciting and impactful projects like this are happening all over the country, and we want to hear about them. If your organization is in the midst of an extrordinary project, let us know. Nominate your project for the 2016 SWS Top Storm Water & Erosion Control Projects awards program and you could be featured in our November/December issue, as well as the fall Virtual Expo.
