LOS CERRITOS
Winner of Nineteen LA Press Club Awards from 2012-2021 Serving Cerritos and ten other surrounding communities since 1985 • August 28, 2026 • Vol. 41, No. 44 • LOSCERRITOSNEWS.NET
Southern California faces new pressure as Lake Mead falls to 27% capacity, Lake Powell drops to 22%; deeper cut possible if drought persists.
Southern California cities rely on Colorado River water imported through pipelines and aqueducts. If drought continues, cuts could be as high as 40% among California, Arizona, and Nevada. That means higher costs and tighter supplies for the water millions of us depend on. By Brian Hews A federal order requiring California to reduce its use of Colorado River water by approximately 12% is putting renewed attention on something Southern California cities have been confronting for years: the cost and vulnerability of relying on imported water. The Colorado River is one of the major sources of imported water serving Southern California. Water travels hundreds of miles
through the Colorado River Aqueduct before entering a regional system that supplies communities throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties. For communities with access to groundwater, the shrinking Colorado River also illustrates why maintaining local wells, pumps, treatment facilities, reservoirs and pipelines has become increasingly important. Every gallon that can be reliably produced locally is a gallon that does not necessarily
have to be replaced with increasingly expensive and constrained imported supplies. The new federal action comes as the Colorado River’s two massive reservoirs have fallen to extraordinary levels. Lake Mead is just 27% full, while Lake Powell has dropped to approximately 22% of capacity. California, Arizona and Nevada have agreed to collectively reduce their Colorado River withdrawals by approximately 3.2 million acre-feet through the end of
DOWNEY APPROVES $8 MILLION PFAS WATER-TREATMENT CONTRACT $8.04 million Tetra Tech agreement advances design for treatment of two contaminated groundwater wells. By Vincent Medina The Downey City Council on Tuesday approved an $8.04 million professional services agreement with Tetra Tech Inc. to design major water-treatment improvements aimed at removing PFAS contaminants from the city’s groundwater supply. The agreement is part of Downey’s systemwide PFAS treatment program and calls for the development of two regional treatment facilities serving city groundwater wells. Tetra Tech has worked with Downey since 2020 to evaluate PFAS contamination and develop the treatment strategy, which is now moving into the design phase. An earli-
er citywide study examined 18 Downey wells affected by PFOS and PFOA with a combined capacity of approximately 13,900 gallons per minute. The study evaluated water quality, well pumps, centralized treatment alternatives, pipelines and treatment technologies including ion exchange and granular activated carbon. It also developed capital, operating and life-cycle cost estimates and examined potential future treatment for 1,4-dioxane. Tetra Tech’s proposal describes the current project as implementation of two regional PFAS treatment facilities intended to provide Downey with a reliable long-term groundwater supply while protecting drink-
2028. THE COLORADO RIVER CRISIS California will reduce its use approxiThere is less water in mately 12%. Arizona faces a 31% reduction the Colorado River, and Nevada approximately and the reductions 28%. And those may not be ahead may be greater the last cuts. If reservoir levels conthan anything we have tinue falling, the federal faced before. government’s new 10-year strategy allows mandatory - JB HAMBY
See WATER, Page 4
ABC Unified Moves to Borrow Final $64.5M Under Bond Measure BB, Taxpayers Face $120M Repayment Final bond sale is projected to require nearly $120 million in principal and interest payments as district completes $258 million voter-approved borrowing program. By Brian Hews
• $8.04 million contract • Two regional treatment facilities • 18 wells studied • 13,900 GPM combined capacity • Design/construction support through 2029
ing-water quality. The firm’s work includes engineering and design as well as permitting coordination and construction-reSee DOWNEY, Page 5
California Colorado River Commissioner
ABC UNIFIED — Nearly eight years after voters approved a $258 million school construction bond, ABC Unified School District is preparing to borrow the final $64.5 million — a transaction currently projected to require approximately $119.6 million in principal and interest payments over its life. The ABC Unified Board of Education is scheduled to consider authorizing the Series D general obligation bonds at its Aug. 18 meeting, completing the district’s Measure BB borrowing program. Voters approved Measure BB in November 2018 with more
than the required 55% support, authorizing the district to issue up to $258 million in bonds for construction, modernization and improvements at district schools. Rather than borrowing the entire $258 million at once, ABC divided the authorization into four equal $64.5 million bond issues. Series A was issued in July 2019, Series B in October 2022 and Series C in September 2024. Together, those three issues accounted for $193.5 million of the voter-approved authorization. Series D would bring the district to the full $258 million authorized by voters. $64.5 Million Borrowed, Nearly $120 Million Repaid Preliminary financing documents included in the Aug. 18 board agenda provide taxpayers with a detailed look at how the final borrowing is expected to work. Under current estimates, ABC would issue $64.5 million in Se-
See ABCUSD, Page 5