Groundwater Tours

The WRD conducts free groundwater tours of the Central and West Coast Basins throughout the year. The purpose of the tour is to acquaint you with the challenges we face in supplying water to southern Los Angeles County. For additional information or dates and times of upcoming groundwater tours, please contact us.

Our groundwater tours offer the public a firsthand look at water treatment facilities and groundwater projects throughout southern Los Angeles County. Tour attractions include a visit to either the San Gabriel River or Rio Hondo Spreading Grounds. These large ponds of water, located in an area known as the Montebello Forebay, are replenished with water from a variety of sources, including storm water, reclaimed water and imported water.

Another tour stop is the Leo J. Vander Lans Water Treatment Facility, a state-of-the-art plant in Long Beach treating recycled water to near distilled water quality using microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light. The treatment facility, which will produce about 2.7 million gallons of advanced treated water daily, helps protect the groundwater basin from seawater intrusion.

The half-day tour begins at the WRD office in Lakewood. Participants are advised to wear casual clothing and, most importantly, a comfortable pair of shoes. Tours are limited to 50 adults. Reservations are taken on a first come, first served basis.