West Basin Announces Legislators of the Year

The West Basin Municipal Water District Board of Directors announced the Legislator of the Year awardees last week. This annual award recognizes legislators who have been instrumental in advancing the development and protection of reliable water supplies through legislation and advocacy in the past year.

Last year was a special one for West Basin at the U.S. Capitol, as Congress officially passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2018. This bill included a modification to West Basin’s Harbor South Bay Water Recycling Project funding, increasing the total authorization to $70 million that includes an additional $35 million for future projects. This funding is crucial to West Basin’s ability to cost-effectively expand its water recycling system and could not have been accomplished without the support of West Basin’s Congressional Delegation, including:

• Representatives Karen Bass, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Ted Lieu, Alan Lowenthal, Grace Napolitano, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Adam Schiff, and Maxine Waters; and

• Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris.

“The West Basin Board celebrates this esteemed delegation with our Legislator of the Year award for their environmental stewardship and support of recycled water in our region,” said West Basin Board President Scott Houston.

At the state level, two awardees were recognized for their leadership on Assembly Bill 1668 and Senate Bill 606 that will transform how Californians use and think about water by making conservation a way of life. They are:

• Assemblywoman Laura Friedman; and

• Senator Bob Hertzberg.

“Legislation that advances water management planning and the conservation of our precious natural resources is a testament to how the work done today can ensure that we are meeting the needs of tomorrow,” said President Houston. “On behalf of the West Basin Board of Directors, we proudly recognize these legislators as they continue to advocate on behalf of California’s water future.”

Culver City is part of the West Basin Water District.