Environmental Engineering for Los Angeles County

Alex Mena & Mike Sullivan- Los Angeles County Sanitation DistrictsAbstract:
The Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (Districts) lead a regional movement towards environmental sustainability in California by converting waste to vital resources such as water and energy. The Districts have been providing wastewater and solid waste management since the late 1920's, and have been expanding renewable energy recovery options at every opportunity. The Districts currently provide these services for over five million people, and have an average annual budget that exceeds $1 Billion. Facilities include: over 1,300 miles of sanitary sewers; eleven wastewater treatment plants treating over 500 MGD; a reclaimed water reuse program serving over 500 sites directly, as well as replenishing groundwater; three active sanitary landfills handling a total of approximately 20,000 tons per day, including the largest landfill in the nation; three materials recovery facilities/transfer stations; and multiple energy production facilities, generating over 127 Megawatts. Energy recovery operations provide enough renewable energy to power 150,000 homes. The Districts are consistently nationally ranked in the top 3 of the "Top 10 Local Government" Green Power Partners selected by the EPA and are the 20th largest producer of electrical power in California.
If you have more space....Innovative projects in progress include design and construction of a regional 2,800 acre landfill that will accept 100 years of solid waste via rail transport, and the largest indoor and outdoor biosolids composting facilities in the country. The Districts are currently investigating the environmental benefits of constructing a new ocean outfall. If constructed, the $1-2 Billion outfall project would represent one of the most challenging and high profile public works projects in the nation. Engineers are involved in all phases of our work, from conception to operation. Almost all engineering is performed in-house, and the majority of Districts engineers have graduate degrees in civil/environmental engineering. Over 250 Districts engineers work in areas such as: research, air and water quality monitoring, design, geotechnical engineering, hydrogeology, planning, construction, operations, industrial waste, and financial management as well as the specialty areas of electrical, instrumentation, mechanical, and structural engineering.

Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Evangeline Reyes