Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council Talks Environmental Plans

The focus of Tuesday night’s Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council meeting was on the environment, from using rain barrels to buying local produce at the Farmers Market.

A representative of the Hollywood Beautification Team, which is 19 years old next month, spoke to the council in hopes to attract residents to use rain barrels for landscaping to conserve the city’s water supply.

“When the rainfall goes into the ground, the DWP pumps it back up, filters it, and turns it into potable water. So when you turn on your faucet, 11 percent of the water that comes out of the kitchen sink came from the earth in Los Angeles,” said Sharyn Romano, director of the Hollywood Beautification Team, to the council.

According to Romano, in an average year of rainfall, 14,000 gallons of water runs off the roof of a 1,500 square-foot home in Los Angeles. A rain barrel catches that water from the roof and stores it for later use. Cost has deterred most homeowners from acquiring one, as they range between $150-200. Yet the team has set aside a limited number of free rain barrels for the community in exchange for a workshop on water conservation.

On March 26 at the Hollywood Neighborhood City Hall, located at 6501 Fountain Avenue, there will be a series of workshops on how to use rain barrels and conserve water starting at 9 a.m. Members who want to participate in this program must be willing to give the city feedback on the rain barrels. The Bureau of Sanitation collaborated with Romano’s team to design a barrel that takes after the city’s trash can mold.

“This is such a cost effective and wonderful program,” said Romano.

Also to address the city’s water usage and environmental issues were Lisa Mowery and Daniel Hackney from the Bureau of Sanitation. Hackney, the bureau’s neighborhood council liaison, prompted the audience to ask questions about the bureau. GTLNC President Lance King asked him how much money is made on the blue recycle bins.

Hackney said citywide, they make $5.2 million a year, but the expense of providing the service is probably more.

“Mostly recycling, we’re doing it because it’s good for the environment. That’s why when you see apartment buildings that are serviced by a private hauler; you don’t see the private hauling providing recycling. It’s because they’re not going to make money and they’re in the profit business. The government is in the environmental business,” said Hackney.

“We do it because we have state mandates that requires us to divert 50 percent from landfills,” he added. “The city of L.A. is currently at 70 percent, which is the best for any big city in America." 

Mowery discussed service charges on the DWP bill, including the Sewer Service Charge (SSC), which restores sewer water into water that is almost drinkable. The water is used in parks and cemeteries.

“Los Angeles really is a desert. The droughts come and go. But frankly, we should really be planning for them. As much water that we can reuse, the better,” she said.

A resident brought up the question of treating stormwater. Mowery said that if the city did that, it would cost more than it does to obtain water from outside sources.

“I think we can all see that that’s going to change in the future. The water coming from outside is going to get more and more expensive. The technology for treating sewer water and storm water is going to get better and better. At some point, those lines will cross and we’ll be spending more money on reusing the water that we’ve already got here in the L.A. basin,” she said.

The GTLNC, in an effort to make the neighborhood aware of the small Sunday Farmers Market, is holding an Earth Day event with newly reelected Fourth District Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge on April 17 that will include a petting zoo, moon bounce, education booths and prizes next to the local produce booths in the Wells Fargo parking lot. The event will include a bike ride for cyclists 13 and older.