Drought, Water, Infrastructure Get Airing at LMU Library Talk Series

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Sep 30, 2014, 02:18 ET

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With all of California in a historic drought, an engineering expert in water resources and infrastructure will discuss the shortage, as well as Southern California's dependence on an unusually complex water system, in a free lecture at Loyola Marymount University titled "Where Does LA Get Its Water?"

The event is Sept. 30, 4 to 6 p.m., in the Von der Ahe Suite at the William H. Hannon Library at LMU.

The topic is especially timely as Californians face a November ballot that features a $7.1 billion water bond issue to support infrastructure and water supply improvements statewide.

Presenting will be Joseph Reichenberger, professor of civil and environmental engineering, and director of Graduate Civil Engineering and Environmental Science Programs at LMU.

Reichenberger will describe the sources of water for Los Angeles, some of the issues relating to the reliability of supply from these sources, the competing interests, and alternative sources such as water recycling and desalination. The impacts of climate change on these sources will be discussed, as well.

For arid Southern California, reliable water supplies are critical for economic survival, development and to maintain existing lifestyles. Most water used in Los Angeles comes from hundreds of miles away including the Colorado River, the Delta in Northern California and the snow pack of the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. These far-away sources are much sought after, and are shared with Las Vegas, Tucson, Phoenix, along with communities in Northern and Central California. Fish and aquatic habitat also depend on these sources.

Details are available on line.

About Loyola Marymount University
Located between the Pacific Ocean and downtown Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive university offering 60 major programs, 36 master's degrees and a doctoral degree in education from four colleges, two schools and Loyola Law School. Founded in 1911, LMU is ranked third in "Best Regional Universities/West" by U.S. News & World Report. LMU is the largest Jesuit Catholic university for undergraduates on the West Coast with more than 5,900 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate and law students. For more LMU news and events, please visit www.lmu.edu/news.

SOURCE Loyola Marymount University