California’s water distribution system, a miracle of modern engineering, draws water from as far away as Lake Shasta, the Colorado River and the Owens Valley. The sheer scale of the system requires enormous amounts of energy, as it carries water to two-thirds of the State. In fact, 20% of the energy used in California is expended moving water from these distant locations to your home.

Where does this water go once it travels hundreds of miles to reach you? In our District, it is estimated that up to 70% is used just for outdoor irrigation.
While the Las Virgenes - Triunfo Pure Water Demonstration Facility illustrates how domestic water can be recovered and reused, the Sustainability Garden shows how selecting climate-appropriate landscaping can significantly reduce water consumption.

In addition to reducing water use, native and drought-tolerant plants provide food and cover for our indigenous wildlife and insects. This helps our Santa Monica Mountains ecosystems be more resilient to climate change and habitat loss.

Also, these landscaping options require less maintenance, minimal fertilization and no harmful pesticides. So you can spend less time working in your yard and more time enjoying it.

 More information on each section of the Sustainability Garden can be found by clicking on the links to the left.