Summary
The City of Santa Monica faces tangible problems with water resources related to environmental degradation and extreme phenomena, such as beach pollution and drought periods. Both the City and the public are aware that these issues need to be properly managed to avoid consequences to the City’s viability – unstable water sourcing, water scarcity, reliance on costly imported water, and health issues for beachgoers – which could lead to declines in tourism, jobs, and the overall economy. The environmentally sensitive Clean Beaches project, recently completed, addresses water management considering climate change. Furthermore, it fulfills the regulation requirements driven by the Discharge Permit of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4), for fighting the pollution of Santa Monica. The Clean Beaches project includes the construction of a large water storage tank near the Santa Monica Pier and a corresponding stormwater diversion and harvesting system to collect urban runoff, stormwater runoff, and brackish water to be treated at the City’s existing Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility (SMURRF). The treated water is then available for non-potable use and groundwater injection.
Research director
Prof. Spiro Pollalis
Research core team
Olga Tzioti, Research Associate
Case study written by
Olga Tzioti, Research Associate
