Environmentalists, City and County Officials Applaud New Water-Recycling System and Guidelines

City and county officials gathered with environmentalists at Penmar Park last week, where to capture, treat and reuse rainwater for park irrigation.

The rainwater harvesting system is part of a new set of guidelines that local officials and environmentalists hope will improve water management.

"What we’re doing here today in Venice can serve as an example for the whole state of California in how we start treating rainwater as a resource," said Heal the Bay president Mark Gold. "This is taking leadership... which we're not getting from Sacramento or Washington."

The tank under Penmar Park will capture run-off from the surrounding neighborhoods, water that formerly ran into the ocean at the end of Rose Avenue.

Because of the proximity to Santa Monica Airport, rainwater captured at the park is in the highest pollution, "tier four" category. Under the new guidelines, though, tier four water systems will have a stormwater monitoring system and can be used for irrigation.

Kevin Regan, from the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks, said that his department is the city's largest commercial user of water.

"This reduces the cost and dependence on potable water," he said. "We're very happy to be the recipient of these storm water projects. Having this policy in place is really going to help the City of Los Angeles."

Similar projects are planned throughout Los Angeles County, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The construction of the tank, which will be covered with a baseball field, is expected to be complete in late summer 2012.