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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 5 findings
F1
Page 172
North Hollywood Operable Unit needs to be replaced. It will be replaced by the North Hollywood Operable Unit Second Interim Remedy. The completion date is as yet undetermined.
F2
Page 172
The potentially responsible parties have installed 33 groundwater monitoring wells in and around Home Depot and near the North Hollywood Operable Unit at 11845 Vose Street in North Hollywood.
F3
Page 172
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power operates the North Hollywood Operable Unit. Potentially responsible parties give funds to United States Environmental Protective Agency. The agency pays the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power 90 percent of North Hollywood Operable Unit’s operating costs.
F4
Page 172
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has 26 new groundwater monitoring wells—25 were constructed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and one by the United States Environmental Protective Agency. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s 25 monitoring wells have three elevations/zones (shallow, middle, and deep pipes) and the United States Environmental Protective Agency’s one monitoring well has two elevations/ zones (two pipes).
F5
Page 172
It will take many decades to clean up the contaminants in the aquifer. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s research and development lab at the La Kretz Innovation Campus’s Los Angeles Clean Tech Incubator will need additional help to create new methods to clean up the groundwater.10
Recommendations 2
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R2Page 1705 (2009–2010) LADWP should have a new review made of the amount of water that can be pumped from the San Fernando Basin Aquifer. Due to the future increased demand for water and possible reductions in water sources, the San Fernando Basin Aquifer may be a major source of potable water. LOS ANGELES COUNTY 2014–2015 CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT LADWP’s written response to the Los Angeles County 2009–2010 Civil Grand Jury on November 22, 2010 LADWP agrees with the finding. LADWP has already been working with the cities of Glendale and Burbank as well as the Upper Los Angeles River Area (ULARA) Watermaster to develop a plan to determine a thorough and accurate “Re-evaluation of the Safe Yield of the San Fernando Basin.” The ULARA Watermaster recommended to the Superior Court on April 30, 2010, that a number of critical data-gathering activities need to take place before undertaking such a study. It is anticipated that a study would likely be initiated within 3 to 5 years. CGJ’s written questions on February 10, 2015 Did the Upper Los Angeles River Area (ULARA) Watermaster complete the study of the amount of potable water that can be pumped from the SFB within the three- to five-year timeline as promised? What was the result, and can we have a hard copy of the study or can you point us to an online version on your website? LADWP’s written response to the 2014–2015 CGJ on March 3, 2015 First, LADWP would like to clarify that the ULARA Watermaster did not promise to study the amount of potable water that could be pumped from SFB within three to five years. The ULARA Watermaster has determined that SFB is not in a condition of overdraft and that current operations do not pose an imminent threat to water supplies.9 This affords time to complete improvements to the stormwater capture facilities while also compiling the necessary data for a future reevaluation of the safe yield. LADWP and the cities of Burbank and Glendale are working proactively towards preserving the SFB water supply, including an agreement to reevaluate the SFB safe yield. This reevaluation will be supported by the ULARA Watermaster’s continuing compilation of data and information about the SFB hydrogeology and his evaluation of the viability of Los Angeles River tributary flow measurement devices. LADWP has also partnered with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District on a program to improve and expand the system of stormwater capture facilities. This program will substantially increase the natural recharge of stormwater into SFB and provide the greatest benefit to protecting the SFB water supply. Groundwater overdraft occurs when water removal exceeds water recharge. The slow natural recharge rate of most aquifers and high rate of pumping has led to groundwater overdrafts in most irrigated areas of the U.S. over the past century. Impacts associated with groundwater overdraft are the results of falling water levels as the water stored in an aquifer is depleted. http://wingolog.org/projects/water/html/node35.html. LOS ANGELES COUNTY 2014–2015 CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT
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R9Page 1721 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s research and development lab at the La Kretz Innovation Campus should work with the UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science to request academic research into groundwater remediation in the San Fernando Basin to help speed the cleanup of the San Fernando Basin Aquifer. As described in the committee’s interview report with LADWP’s Chief Sustainability and Economic Development Officer. LOS ANGELES COUNTY 2014–2015 CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT