San Fernando Valley / Evaluation of Groundwater Recharge Capacity and Expansion / Estimated Costs, Risks, Timeline, and Funding
Council File 26-0790
Under review — the city is studying whether it can expand groundwater recharge in the San Fernando Valley to reduce imported water reliance, but the Energy and Environment Committee hasn't yet acted on the initial referral.
Brief
Councilmembers Imelda Padilla and Bob Blumenfield introduced a motion directing the city to evaluate expanding groundwater recharge infrastructure in the San Fernando Valley. The motion seeks an assessment of the valley's recharge capacity, estimated costs, implementation risks, timeline for development, and potential funding mechanisms. The file is currently pending in the Energy and Environment Committee as of late May 2026.
Full summary
This motion, introduced by Councilmembers Imelda Padilla and Bob Blumenfield on May 27, 2026, directs city staff to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of groundwater recharge opportunities and expansion potential in the San Fernando Valley. Groundwater recharge is a water conservation and resilience strategy that captures surface water (typically during wet seasons or from treated recycled water) and allows it to percolate into underground aquifers for storage and later use, reducing reliance on imported water and building local supply capacity. The motion asks for a detailed analysis covering: the valley's current and potential groundwater recharge capacity; estimated financial costs for expanding recharge infrastructure and operations; associated risks and mitigation strategies; realistic timeline for implementation; and available funding sources (including grants, bonds, state programs, or public-private partnerships). This type of assessment typically involves coordination between the Department of Water and Power, the city Planning Department, and potentially the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, depending on jurisdictional overlap. The file was referred immediately to the Energy and Environment Committee, where it remains as of late May 2026. The motion does not set a specific deadline for completion of the study, though the file itself will expire in May 2028 if no further action is taken. No subsequent activity has been recorded since referral.
Activity (1)
- 2026-05-27 Motion referred to Energy and Environment Committee.
Documents (1)
- 2026-05-27 Motion · motion