Around LADWP
L.A. Receives Over $19 Million for Water Supply Reliability Projects
On October 5, Mayor Karen Bass and State and local water officials announced in Los Angeles that the City will receive $19.1 million from the State for climate resilience projects, including one that will pay for free yard transformations in underserved L.A. communities. About $14.6 million of the grant from the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) Urban Community Drought Relief Grant Program will fund a free lawn replacement program that could save 77 million gallons of water each year. Under the program set to launch in 2024, qualifying LADWP customers with single-family homes in L.A.’s underserved communities can have their water-thirsty lawns replaced — at no cost to them – with water-efficient landscapes installed by professional landscapers under contract with LADWP.
Read more at LADWP News
LADWP Selected as “Utility of the Future Today” Once Again
After being recognized in 2020, LADWP was again chosen as a “Utility of the Future Today,” a national award that honors forward-thinking, innovative water utilities that are providing resilient, value-added service to communities, particularly in community engagement, watershed stewardship and recovery of other resources such as water, energy and nutrients. LADWP was selected for embarking on various innovative programs to create a clean energy future, planning for a more locally sustainable water future including maximizing water recycling, rebuilding our infrastructure, and working to continue to set an example of sustainability for the country to follow. Senior Assistant General Manager of Water System Anselmo Collins accepted the award at the Water Environment Federation (WEF)’s WEFTEC conference earlier this month in Chicago. Congratulations to the Water System for this national recognition, which was also the result of strong leadership from LADWP’s executive team and the Board of Water and Power Commissioners.
Sixth Annual Clean Air Day
LADWP was once again a proud sponsor of California Clean Air Day, now in its sixth year, which aims to promote actions that support clean air in our community. Over 530 employees took the Clean Air Pledge this year, committing to small actions that reduce air pollution, such as telecommuting, taking public transportation or planting a tree. LADWP’s Green Team also hosted the Department’s second annual Clean Air Fair on October 5 at JFB. The Fair included an EV showcase with a variety of EV dealers like BMW, Chevrolet, Kia, Tesla, and Volkswagen – one EV was purchased by an employee on the spot! The event also featured non-profits and municipal and commercial exhibitors with workshops, games and prizes that were all centered around the clean air theme.
View images from the event below:
The Green Team also held a raffle for employees who took the Clean Air Day pledge. Winners of house plants included Nancy Mardis, Susan Chiang, Alice Jon and Meliana Tanzil, while Candace Montgomery won a HEPA air purifier.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month
This month, LADWP’s Information Technology Services (ITS) team has been providing staff with weekly Bulletins and training opportunities to promote best practices to stay safe online.
It is extremely important that everyone at LADWP knows how to stay vigilant online. By sharing information about how to stay safe, we can foster a cybersecurity awareness culture and safeguard sensitive information and digital assets. This benefits everyone in our online activities at work and also in our personal lives. Three steps you can take now to increase your cybersecurity include:
- Lock your computer and other devices before walking away.
- Think before you click, and report suspicious emails to Phishing@ladwp.com.
- Pick strong and secure passwords, and change them regularly.
Don’t forget to complete the Phish or Treat Training, the Cybersecurity Quiz and the Security Awareness Proficiency Assessment (SAPA) by November 3 for your chance to be entered into a raffle for some great prizes! Remember, security awareness is a journey that extends beyond the month of October. Take the skills you have learned this month and continue to apply them year-round.
Employee Prevents Fire with Safety Training
A customer in the North East Los Angeles area commended Water Utility Worker John Cruz Jr. for helping prevent a potentially dangerous situation. During trash collection day, a person set fire to a recycling bin located under a tree, and the area was soon engulfed in flame. John, who was working in the area, was asked if he had a fire extinguisher and could assist. When he approached the scene, John immediately sprung into action, remembering his LADWP safety training: remain calm, keep his mind on the task in front of him, keep his head on a swivel watching for traffic and any other potential hazards, and the P.A.S.S. method to use for fire extinguishers. John was able to successfully put out the fire in time for the Fire Department to arrive and assist with the incident. The customer mentioned that since her neighborhood is near a park, the community worries about fires, so John's actions to protect the area were greatly appreciated.
“As an employee of LADWP, I just did what any other employee would have done in my situation. I’m grateful for all the training I have received and being able to apply it to a real-life situation, all while providing our customers with the care and service the Department represents.”
John Cruz Jr., Water Service Worker
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This publication is written and published by the Communications and Corporate Strategy Division. For other 2022-23 issues, click the three horizontal lines icon next to the Contact logo at the top left of the document. Then click the “Editions” tab. For issues from 2000-2021, see Intranet page MyDWP/.
