LA’s Fragile Water Supply
Jan 20, 2010
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Los Angeles and water sure have a sordid history together. Of course there's the 1974 movie, Chinatown, that sums up the backroom deals and violence that worked to bring water to a thirsty and ambitious Southern California. Now we are on the verge of another chapter in the "water wars," as years of drought, increasing population, and frustration elsewhere in California threaten to disrupt the way of life to which Angelinos have grown accustomed.
So we created a short film that can be viewed on YouTube or Vimeo.
We believe that having a little debate focused on Silver Lake could present an idea of all the complexities that are involved with this issue. Silver Lake was one of the first reservoirs built in Los Angeles, and became the center of what would become a vibrant neighborhood. Oddly enough, local residents never received water from this source; most of the water was diverted to areas south of downtown LA. When the city suggested paving over the reservoir, turning it into a local aquifer, locals had a fit and demanded that the lake be preserved. However, sunlight, reacting to the chlorine, has created bromate, rendering the water useless for human consumption, so now the water is a pretty backdrop for its surrounding homes. Meanwhile, the adjacent reservoir, Ivanhoe, sports millions of black plastic balls that are supposed to prevent such a chemical reaction from repeating . . . again resulting in residents upset at the eyesore . . . though the wisdom of all that plastic floating in the water merits its own debate.
So can LA afford pretty spots of local water?
And what can the city do in ensuring a steady source of water in the future?
None of us has all the answers, but we hope this film makes you more aware of the issues involved with water, which one could argue is LA's largest import. We look at the history of water sourcing in Los Angeles and one of many current controversies swirling around this priceless resource.
I had the opportunity to work with Patrick Benson, a talented filmmaker, on the project. This 5 minute film took about 2 months. Patrick meticulously sorted through film archives to find the old photos and film footage; we shared the writing. Ara Babaian and Annie Wang were our helpful production assistants.
