Water
We have the specialized expertise to assist our clients as they struggle with scarce water resources, long recognized as the most fundamental constraint on long-term development in Southern California. The development, distribution, recovery, treatment and conservation of water resources will continue to be a topic of fundamental importance to our clients. Accordingly, we provide legal guidance in all areas of water law to our water district, sanitation, and municipal clients, including such issues as groundwater adjudications, groundwater contamination, reclaimed water, water assessments, water transfers, water use planning and management, and urban water management plans.
Expertise
- Water use, planning and management
- Water transfers
- Special districts
- Joint powers agreements to carry out water functions
- Infrastructure construction
- Public financing
- Rate setting and Proposition 218
- Regulatory aspects of wastewater treatment plants
- Reclaimed water
- Water recharge
- Groundwater adjudication
- Water conservation
- Hazardous waste
Expertise in Action
For 15 years, we provided legal guidance on all issues involving the operation of a 12 mgd wastewater treatment plant and associated gathering and disposal systems. This involved not only dealing with construction and maintenance issues, but regulatory compliance audits, funding and fee analysis, waste discharge ordinances and enforcement programs, water reclamation, and ultimately, with privatizing the facility through a lease agreement with US Filter, a Fortune 500 company. The system included utilizing reclaimed water on the municipal golf course and other facilities.
Besides operating a wastewater treatment plant, our municipal clients have also owned and operated their own water departments with water reservoirs, wells, pumping facilities, and water distribution systems. We represent water special districts. We have worked on water master plans, water purchase agreements, MWD contracts, water rights litigation, and water conservation program. We have dealt with all public law issues related to the construction of water infrastructure.
As City Attorney for a number of cities, and particularly Signal Hill, we have played an important role in protecting Los Angeles area municipalities from being forced to collect and treat storm waters through the NPDES program. Signal Hill has been a leader in trying to cause State and Federal agencies to analyze the cost of NPDES programs on municipalities. We have analyzed State and Federal regulatory compliance requirements, prepared legal analysis and comment letters, and participated in the development of strategies, including litigation.