Waterproofing LA: How Cities and Buildings Adapt to Water Scarcity
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM · 1 hr. (US/Pacific)
Energy Efficiency, Renewables, and Grid Integration
Information
As Los Angeles grapples with increasing water stress due to climate change, persistent drought, and rising demand, securing reliable water sources is essential to building long-term resilience. This session will explore strategies at the regional, city, and building levels to address water scarcity, highlighting how decentralized water reuse can play a crucial role in sustainability and resilience, especially amid recent wildfires and the rebuilding efforts that will follow. Our expert panel will discuss policy initiatives, infrastructure advancements, and technologies that support water conservation and reuse.
Attendees will gain insight into how integrated water management strategies can enhance resilience, reduce dependency on imported water, and support sustainable urban growth. This session will offer practical guidance on choosing the right water solutions for different project scales—from single-family homes to commercial buildings and even district- and city-level planning. Whether you're involved in policy, real estate development, or sustainability planning, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to advance water efficiency and reuse.
Project highlights include:
• Operation Next – A plan to transform the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant into a 100% water recycling facility by 2035, significantly boosting LA’s water supply.
• Pure Water Southern California – A regional initiative aiming to produce up to 150 million gallons of purified water per day by recycling wastewater into high-quality drinking water.
• Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) – Opened in 2022, this underground facility treats stormwater, urban runoff, and wastewater to produce purified water.
• Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills – A LEED Gold-certified hotel utilizing an onsite water reuse system to treat greywater for reuse in irrigation, enhancing sustainability and reducing water demand in drought-struck Southern California.
Attendees will gain insight into how integrated water management strategies can enhance resilience, reduce dependency on imported water, and support sustainable urban growth. This session will offer practical guidance on choosing the right water solutions for different project scales—from single-family homes to commercial buildings and even district- and city-level planning. Whether you're involved in policy, real estate development, or sustainability planning, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to advance water efficiency and reuse.
Project highlights include:
• Operation Next – A plan to transform the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant into a 100% water recycling facility by 2035, significantly boosting LA’s water supply.
• Pure Water Southern California – A regional initiative aiming to produce up to 150 million gallons of purified water per day by recycling wastewater into high-quality drinking water.
• Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) – Opened in 2022, this underground facility treats stormwater, urban runoff, and wastewater to produce purified water.
• Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills – A LEED Gold-certified hotel utilizing an onsite water reuse system to treat greywater for reuse in irrigation, enhancing sustainability and reducing water demand in drought-struck Southern California.
Pass Type
Conference PassVolunteer PassStudent Pass
Location
411 Theater
Program
Greenbuild
Track
California
Learning Level
Basic
Learning Objective 1
Multi-scale water resilience strategies – Understand how water stress can be addressed through coordinated efforts at the regional, city, and building levels, including policies, infrastructure investments, and water management approaches.
Learning Objective 2
The role of decentralized water reuse – Learn how onsite water recycling systems can reduce reliance on imported water, enhance sustainability, and provide critical resilience in post-disaster rebuilding efforts.
Learning Objective 3
Policy and incentive landscape – Learn about California’s water policies, incentives, and funding, and see how those frameworks are extending to new markets like Texas, Florida, and Hawaii.
Learning Objective 4
Real-world application – Gain insights from successful onsite water reuse projects located in Los Angeles, learning system design, operational benefits, and key lessons that can be applied to future developments.
Continuing Education Credit Offered
AIA LU|HSWGBCI
