Summary
In 2018, the city of Santa Monica, California adopted an ordinance to manage groundwater resources within the city, furthering its 2013 Sustainability Rights Ordinance recognizing rights of nature. The city receives a majority of its drinking water from groundwater supplied from potable water production wells. The ordinance says “city wells and their aquifers must be protected against overdraft, pollution and contamination so that the City may continue to provide potable water to its citizens and comply with the health and welfare guidelines promulgated by the various state and federal regulatory agencies.” The ordinance prohibits new private wells and expansion of private wells unless they’re permitted by a groundwater sustainability plan and is still in effect.
Related Initiatives
Suggested Citation:
Kauffman, Craig, Catherine Haas, Alex Putzer, Shrishtee Bajpai, Kelsey Leonard, Elizabeth Macpherson, Pamela Martin, Alessandro Pelizzon & Linda Sheehan. Eco Jurisprudence Monitor. V2. 2025. Distributed by the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor.https://ecojurisprudence.org/initiatives/santa-monica-ordinance-sustainable-groundwater-ordinance/.
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