Metropolitan Completes Environmental Review for Pure Water Southern California

Major milestone clears way for potential development of one of the world's largest water recycling programs

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Following more than five years of environmental analysis, outreach and public input, Metropolitan's Board of Directors voted unanimously to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report for Pure Water Southern California, marking a major step toward the potential development of what would be one of the world's largest water recycling programs.

Why it matters

The Pure Water Southern California program is a partnership between Metropolitan and Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts that aims to use an advanced treatment process to purify and reuse cleaned wastewater currently discharged to the ocean, providing a drought-resistant sustainable local supply of water for the region.

The details

At full capacity, Pure Water would produce up to 150 million gallons of purified water daily – enough to meet the needs of 1.5 million people. The environmental review process identified potential impacts associated with the program's construction and operation, including the proposed purification facilities in Carson and distribution pipelines across the region, and presented measures to address impacts where feasible.

  • Metropolitan's Board of Directors voted unanimously on Tuesday to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report.
  • The environmental review process has taken more than five years.

The players

Metropolitan

A water wholesaler that provides water to 26 member public agencies that serve 19 million people in six counties in Southern California.

Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts

A partnership of 24 independent special districts that provide wastewater and solid waste management services for over 5.5 million people in Los Angeles County.

Nancy Sutley

Vice Chair of Metropolitan's Board of Directors.

Adán Ortega

Chair of Metropolitan's Board of Directors.

Shivaji Deshmukh

General Manager of Metropolitan.

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What they’re saying

“Recognizing that climate change presents serious challenges to our imported water supply, Metropolitan began development of Pure Water Southern California more than a decade ago as a drought-resistant sustainable local supply of water.”

— Nancy Sutley, Vice Chair, Metropolitan Board of Directors

“Under the leadership of Metropolitan Board Chair Adán Ortega, Pure Water Southern California has been grounded in strong partnerships and consensus. From the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, groundwater basin managers and our member agencies to the Central Arizona Project and Southern Nevada Water Authority, this project has been sustained by the support of partners who see the promise in a resilient local supply of recycled water.”

— Shivaji Deshmukh, General Manager, Metropolitan

What’s next

Metropolitan's Board of Directors is expected to consider whether to move forward with Pure Water Southern California as part of its Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water evaluation process and its biennial budget.

The takeaway

The completion of the environmental review for Pure Water Southern California is a major milestone that brings the region closer to developing one of the world's largest water recycling programs, providing a drought-resistant sustainable local supply of water to address the challenges of climate change.