As long as people have lived in our region, water has been an essential element for the life-style, health and economy of our region. Now, however, Pasadena faces a severe water crisis. It has never been an easy need to resolve, but population, growth and Climate Change have made the development of a sustainable or resilient water program an even greater necessity.

It's not just a challenge for Pasadena, but also for all of California, and even the nation. Recognizing that, Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order calling for the establishment of a resilient water program for the future, and last year California released the Water Resilience Portfolio.

What does resilience mean? Governor Newsom describes it as the ability "to cope with more extreme droughts and floods, rising temperatures, declining fish populations, over-reliance on groundwater and other challenges."

Pasadena Water & Power (PWP) has unveiled a plan for the next 25 years called the Water System and Resources Plan (Plan). It is a $425 million plan, though, that is not resilient. It relies heavily on continuing to drain the local Raymond Groundwater Basin, neglecting environmental stewardship and minimizing the impacts of Climate Change.

The Plan will be considered for approval by the Pasadena City Council in March 2021. We hope you will get involved.

There is some good information in the plan, such as much of the factual data it provides about Pasadena water and the emphasis on better management of local supplies and programs. It is worth studying carefully. Here is the link to the document:

PWP's Proposed Plan

What's Wrong With Pasadena's Water Plan

How to Fix It

Pasadena can no longer be complacent and take water for granted. The era of cheap water has passed, and now everyone needs to pitch in to solve the water challenge. This can be our most important local response to Climate Change.