Identifying and addressing drinking water system sprawl, its consequences, and the opportunity for planners’ intervention: evidence from Los Angeles County

Gregory Pierce, Larry Lai and J.R. DeShazo

Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 2019, vol. 62, issue 12, 2080-2100

Abstract: Across the United States, poorly-performing, small drinking water systems operate under nominal public oversight in spatial patterns that neither cohere with other administrative jurisdictions nor conform to environmental, efficiency, or equity criteria. This study lays out the case for planning intervention to address the over-dispersion of drinking water systems, or water system sprawl. An analysis of data collected on every publicly-regulated drinking water system in Los Angeles County serves as a case study to illustrate the extent of sprawl and its consequences.To inform an understanding of feasible interventions to address sprawl, this study reviews development approval regulations and general plans, and conducts interviews with state and regional officials in California. Findings suggest that planning authorities that provide nominal safeguards against sprawl are not actively used to influence drinking water system boundaries, but both the tools of LAFCOs and novel governance authorities hold more promise for reform.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2018.1530889

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