Mayor Karen Bass, state and local water officials and LADWP customers celebrated new grants that will help improve water resiliency. (photo courtesy of LADWP)

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined state and local water officials on Oct. 5 to announce that the city will receive $19.1 million from the state for climate resilience projects, including one that will pay for free yard transformations in underserved L.A. communities.

Approximately $14.6 million of the grant from the California Department of Water Resources’ Urban Community Drought Relief Grant Program will fund a free lawn replacement program that could save 77 million gallons of water each year. Under the program, which is scheduled to launch in 2024, qualifying Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers with single-family homes in L.A.’s underserved communities can have their lawns replaced at no cost with water-efficient landscapes installed by professional landscapers under contract with LADWP.

“We will continue to lead Los Angeles to a new era of sustainability that supports frontline communities while making major investments in water efficiency and creating good-paying jobs in the process, and this funding does just that,” Bass said. “I urge every eligible resident to embrace this opportunity.”

The grant funding is an example of the state’s recent partnerships with local agencies under the Go Golden Initiative, which recognizes innovative water projects that are increasing California’s climate resiliency.

The grant announcement was made at the home of LADWP customers in the Harbor-Gateway community who received a free lawn transformation in 2022 when they offered to host a free LADWP hands-on workshop that taught customers how to replace their lawn with California-friendly landscaping. The customers’ lawn transformation is indicative of the type of turf replacement services that the grant will enable LADWP to offer customers in underserved communities.

LADWP estimates the direct install program could replace up to 1.75 million square feet of lawn over three years, translating into potential water savings of 77 million gallons each year, enough to serve nearly 3,000 customers. The remainder of the state’s grant of $4.5 million will go toward the construction of the Dominguez Gap Recycled Water Project in Wilmington. The project is a partnership among several agencies, including the L.A. County Public Works and the Water Replenishment District.

This pipeline connection, funded by the DWR grant, is expected to supply LADWP with an additional 3.5 million gallons per day of advanced treated recycled water, offsetting the demand for drinking water equivalent to that used by 47,000 customers per year. The Dominguez Gap Recycled Water Project is scheduled for completion by 2025. For information, visit ladwp.com/water.