Rachel, our tunnel boring machine, has built 3.3 miles of tunnel and is nearing the halfway point in her 7-mile journey to Royal Palms Beach. She has tunneled under Figueroa Street, the 110 (Harbor) Freeway, Machado Lake, Harbor Regional Golf Course, Gaffey Street, and the shallowest point of the Clearwater tunnel alignment. She has made significant progress, and expects to reach the beach in early 2025.

Last year, schools near the Clearwater Tunnel alignment in Carson, Wilmington, Harbor City, and San Pedro participated in 12 free boat trips that we offered in collaboration with the Think Earth Foundation. Students from grades 4 to 6 embarked on a 3-hour cruise within the Los Angeles Harbor. They learned about marine life and how human actions can impact the marine ecosystem. This year, we are expanding our school outreach program to 19 free boat trips and are currently finalizing the schedule with local schools.

For the past century, the Sanitation Districts have been building wastewater and solid waste infrastructure to serve the people of Los Angeles County. Today, we convert waste into resources for 5.5 million people in 78 cities and unincorporated areas of the County. Though society and technology have changed, we continue to protect public health and the environment. In 2023, we are honored to be celebrating our centennial and reaffirm our commitment to serving LA County.

Tell us about your community! The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Sanitation Districts are asking residents in Los Angeles County to help identify community priorities, values and needs by taking a questionnaire. To make the questionnaire as inclusive as possible, the survey is available in six different languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Khmer and Tagalog.

The resulting information will help the agencies plan the Pure Water Southern California program. This program would recycle up to 150 million gallons of wastewater per day, which is enough water for 1.5 million people, thereby creating a significant and reliable new water source for the region.