Former landfill in Sun Valley to be converted into wetlands project

SUN VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) -- Water flowing down stream in the Los Angeles River after a rain storm has left many people wondering what happens to it, especially during California's historic drought.

Luckily, most of the water is being collected.

"We're capturing as much as we can, even when it's dry," said Kerjon Lee, public affairs manager with Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.

On stormy days, Lee said the water is moving too fast to collect it all safely. But the county, he said, has 26 water collection sites, seven of which are constantly taking water from the river and other washes, such as Hansen Spreading Grounds in Sun Valley.

The water is captured, stored and then percolated into the groundwater aquifers, Lee said, which is important because they provide one-third of Los Angeles County's drinking water.

The county will be turning a former 46-acre landfill in Sun Valley into an aquifer that will replenish wetlands. The multiuse complex will have a filtration system that will be the county's flagship water collection site.

"There will be park-like amenities, recreation here. And also, enough water captured at this facility for about 5,000 people," Lee said.

But a similar spot is already developed at the Dominguez Gap Wetlands, which provides enough water for 3,200 people. The 50-acre wetlands, located along the Los Angeles River in Long Beach, has been running for the past seven years, providing not just water, but hiking, biking and equestrian trails.

Overall, Los Angeles County's water reclamation system has the capacity to collect enough water for more than 2 million people. But acre after acre of bone dry basins illustrates California's drought problem. The system has only captured about 7 percent of its capacity.

"We're working on the system, so that when the water does return we are ready to capture it," Lee said.