Street Banners Raise Awareness about L.A. Aqueduct Centennial & Importance of Local Water Supplies

Website and Facebook Page Also Launched

LOS ANGELES — As part of celebrating the Centennial Anniversary of the completion of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has placed banners along various L.A. city streets to raise awareness among Angelenos about the importance of the L.A. Aqueduct.  The banners depict the past and future of L.A.’s water, which includes continued reliance on the 100 year old engineering marvel as well as developing more local water supplies through recycling, stormwater capture, conservation, and groundwater cleanup.  The LADWP also announced the recent launch of a website about the history of the Aqueduct, www.LAAqueduct100.com , as well as a Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/LAsWaterFuture, about the history and future of water in Los Angeles.

On November 5, 1913, thousands of people converged on the L.A. Aqueduct Cascades north of the City to celebrate the Aqueduct opening. 2013 marks the Centennial Anniversary of that historic event which delivered water to the growing city from the Eastern Sierras, hundreds of miles away. The completion of the L.A. Aqueduct 100 years ago spurred the growth and economic development of Los Angeles and Southern California.

Six different banners have been created to illustrate the Aqueduct Centennial’s theme, “Our Legacy. Our Future.” Three “Our Legacy” banners feature photos of the construction of the Aqueduct from 1908-1913, and the Aqueduct Grand Opening Celebration which took place at the Aqueduct Cascades near Sylmar in the northern reaches of the San Fernando Valley. Three “Our Future” banners focus on LADWP’s commitment to plan for and provide safe drinking water for future generations by further developing local water supplies and expanding L.A.’s nationally recognized water conservation efforts.  The banners will be rotated in various locations around the City over the next six months. For a preview of the banners see www.facebook.com/LAswaterfuture.

 The LADWP is commemorating the Aqueduct Centennial with striking new website and Facebook page exploring the past, present and future of water in Los Angeles. The Centennial website features the history, stories, photos and movies about the L.A. Aqueduct construction a century ago. The Facebook page, www.facebook.com/laswaterfuture, invites the public to join in the conversation about water in Los Angeles.  LADWP has also begun using the hashtag #LAA100 to tag Twitter posts about the LA Aqueduct Centennial.

 “It’s important that people who live in and visit Los Angeles know about the Los Angeles Aqueduct and how it transformed a small, sleepy pueblo into the amazing place it is now. We invite everyone to explore the legacy and future of the City’s water supply on our new Aqueduct Centennial website and Facebook discussion,” said LADWP General Manager Ron Nichols. “The entirely gravity-fed system remains one of the engineering marvels of modern times, and we’re proud to showcase the past, present and future of our water delivery system.”

The Centennial website has many never seen before photos and stories about the construction of the Aqueduct. It examines how Los Angeles’ water supply has evolved over the past century, and how environmental mandates have significantly reduced the amount of water delivered each year through the Aqueduct. It also explains the critical role that the development of local water supplies, including increased groundwater cleanup and replenishment, recycling, stormwater capture and conservation, will play in meeting the long-term needs of the City.

Since its launch several months ago thousands of people have “liked” the new LA’s Water Future Facebook page, www.facebook.com/laswaterfuture and are talking about Los Angeles water. The new Facebook page is about finding and sharing water conservation tips, water recycling and helping customers learn how to save water and money. It also explores the beauty and recreational opportunities of the Eastern Sierra where the Aqueduct water originates, and the complex water-gathering issues the City faces there.

“Our new L.A. Aqueduct Centennial website and Facebook page are dedicated to the countless people over the last century who built and operated the Los Angeles water system, to the thousands more who work 24/7 to provide water to the City and to those who will continue that amazing work in the next 100 years,” said Jim McDaniel, LADWP Senior Assistant General Manager – Water System. “We are proud to share the legacy and future of water in Los Angeles on www.LAAqueduct100.com and www.facebook.com/LAsWaterFuture.”

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