Board of Directors

Following is some brief information about the organizations represented on the Think Earth Foundation Board of Directors, describing what each organization does, how it is related to environmental issues, and what tours, talks, or other educational opportunities it offers.

Paul Gomez, City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works

The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works is responsible for building and maintaining the City's infrastructure. One important function of the Department of Public Works is handling stormwater and wastewater generated in the City of Los Angeles and a few other neighboring communities.

Stormwater, usually consisting of rainwater, is collected in storm drains and conveyed through underground pipes to our rivers and the ocean. Since this water goes directly into the ocean without being cleaned, it is important to keep trash and chemical pollutants from being washed into our storm drains. Wastewater consists of sewage from homes, businesses, and industries. Wastewater is collected in a separate system of pipes and conveyed to treatment plants to be cleaned before it is returned to the ocean or recycled and used for irrigation or industrial purposes. The City of Los Angeles's four treatment plants can treat 550 million gallons of wastewater per day. Tours are offered at Hyperion Treatment Plant in Playa del Rey (call 310-648-5217) and at Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys (call 818-756-8175).

For more information contact Paul Gomez at (213) 978-0316  in Public Affairs, City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works or visit the web site at www.lacity.org.

Joe Haworth, Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County

The Sanitation Districts provide environmentally sound, cost-effective wastewater and solid waste management, and in the process, convert waste into resources such as reclaimed water, energy, and recycled materials.

The Sanitation Districts are a partnership of 24 independent special districts serving about 5.2 million people in Los Angeles County. The Sanitation Districts’ service area covers approximately 800 square miles and encompasses 78 cities and unincorporated territory within the County.

The Sanitation Districts’ 1,300 miles of main trunk sewers and 11 wastewater treatment plants convey and treat approximately 510 million gallons per day (mgd), 200 mgd of which are available for reuse in the dry Southern California climate. Three active sanitary landfills handle approximately 20,000 tons per day (tpd), of which 16,500 tpd are disposed (approximately forty percent of the County-wide disposal capacity) and 3,500 tpd are recycled. The agency also operates four landfill energy recovery facilities, two recycle centers, and three transfer/materials recovery facilities, and participates in the operation of two refuse-to-energy facilities.

The Sanitation Districts offer many free programs to elementary, middle, and high school students in our service area, including:

For more information on the Sanitation Districts’ education and outreach programs, please contact Rupam Soni at 562-908-4288, ext. 2303 or e-mail .

Ron Ketcham, South Coast Air Quality Management District

South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) is the air pollution control agency for a four-county region including Orange County and the non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. The AQMD develops the Air Quality Management Plan, which includes rules and regulations to reduce emissions from industries, businesses, and public facilities, and it maintains a network of 31 station air monitoring stations that monitors air quality 24 hours a day.  AQMD also has a technology advancement program that provides funding for the development of new technologies for mobile sources such as cars, trucks, ships, and trains.  Finally, AQMD provides major funding to both the public and private sector to help replace polluting vehicles with clean alternative energy vehicles. 

To arrange a tour of the AQMD facility, send a written request, providing information on the age or grade level of the students and the topics you are interested in. Send to: Tour Organizer, SCAQMD, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765.

High school students interested in volunteering can join AQMD's Clean Team as summer interns. Interns help in the community by staffing information tables at community and school environmental fairs and working in various departments at AQMD's headquarters in Diamond Bar. To learn more, go to the website at www.aqmd.gov.

Elsa Lopez, Water Replenishment District of Southern California

The Water Replenishment District of Southern California manages groundwater for nearly four million residents in 43 cities of southern Los Angeles County, including the Central and West Coast Basins. The 420 square mile service area uses about 250,000 acre-feet of groundwater per year, which equates to nearly 40% of the total demand for water. WRD ensures that a reliable supply of high quality groundwater is available through its clean water projects, water supply programs, educational programs, and effective management principles.

As the regional groundwater management agency for two of the most utilized groundwater basins in California, WRD plays an integral role in overall water resource management in southern Los Angeles County. As the population of the region continues to increase, it becomes even more important to maximize the use of both imported and local water sources. WRD is working hard to make the region into a water independent network by increasing water storage and lessen imported water. 

For information on tours and education program, please visit the website at www.wrd.org.

Mark Moss, Central Basin Municipal Water District

Central Basin Municipal Water District was formed in 1952 and is a public agency that wholesales imported water and recycled water to cities, mutual water companies, investor-owned utilities, and private companies in southeast Los Angeles County. Today, Central Basin serves a population of more than two million in its 227-square mile service area consisting of 24 cities and unincorporated county areas. Central Basin is a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), an agency that provides the region with imported water. The five, publicly-elected Central Basin Directors appoint two representatives to the 37-memeber MWD Board of Directors. Central Basin is one of the largest member agencies of MWD.

For more information and to learn about the Central Basin’s education programs, contact their website at www.centralbasin.org.