Redondo Beach Breaks Ground for Stormwater Control Project
On Feb. 9, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the City of Redondo Beach, Calif., celebrated the groundbreaking of the Alta Vista Park Diversion and Reuse Project, which will protect coastal waters from urban stormwater runoff and use collected rainwater for park irrigation.
The $2.2 million project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“With this innovative project, the City of Redondo Beach is taking a positive step to protect beach users and at the same time conserve Southern California’s scarce water supply,” said John Kemmerer, associate Water Division director for EPA’s Pacific Southwest region.
As a result of this project, stormwater that would otherwise impact the beach south of the Redondo Beach Municipal Pier will be collected, treated, and used to irrigate Alta Vista Park. Water that is not needed for irrigation will be infiltrated into the ground, thus reducing discharges to the ocean. This project is designed to help the city comply with Regional Water Quality Control Board requirements to reduce stormwater pollution. Completion of the project is scheduled for September 2010.
This project is being financed by federal Recovery Act funds administered through the State Water Resources Control Board’s Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund.