Cities Fail in Bid to Stop Water Recycling Project
Six southeast Los Angeles County cities failed in their effort Wednesday to obtain an injunction aimed at stopping a $22-million-plus water recycling plant being developed by the Water Replenishment District of Southern California.
With bulldozers already at the Torrance site where the plant would be built, the cities sought an immediate stop to the project. The cities challenged the agency’s rights to underground water, claiming it did not follow proper administrative procedure.
Superior Judge David P. Yaffe turned down the injunction request, but scheduled a second hearing in June.
“We think it might be a waste of $22 million,” said Desi Alvarez, the public works director of Downey.
Joining Downey in the suit are Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, Artesia, Lakewood and Signal Hill.
The Water Replenishment District has been embroiled in the controversy for months. After protests about a 200% increase in fees, the district reduced its assessments.
Ed Casey, the water district’s attorney, said the project is needed to reclaim salty water from the aquifer.
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