AN INTERVIEW WITH LILLIAN KAWASAKI
Showers to Flowers
"Then I realized that climate change and drought are not the same thing."
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Q: Describe an "Aha!" moment when you realized the level of impact climate change has on western water.
A: Like so many people, I had assumed that the water crisis was the result of a drought, and as such it might be a
short-term and cyclical situation. Then I realized that climate change and drought are not the same thing. The
impacts associated with climate change are long term and have implications with much greater impact, and they are
accelerating. My real "Aha!" moment was when I realized the impact of climate change on western water had to be looked
at in the light of both climate mitigation and climate adaptation.
I work on groundwater and California water issues but got very interested in the work of the Carpe Diem Project
because it has lots of smart and committed people working toward holistic solutions to western water and climate.
Q: What are, in your opinion, the biggest challenges in the field of water, energy, climate change?
A: A big challenge is not to be overwhelmed. What we've known in the past about water and the
relationship with energy and climate is not a very good predictor of what we can expect in the future. Due to
climate change, we will need to make the best decisions we can with incomplete information. For practitioners
who are used to getting the best science and the best data, making high-risk decisions that require tradeoffs
is something that we are not generally educated or trained to do. We will have to learn to manage uncertainty and
how to make decisions given that uncertainty.
Q: What do you think are the most relevant issues to consider when thinking about the water, energy,
climate change connection?
A: Climate change is forcing us to transform our thinking. We can't just engineer our way out —
to continue to move water via pipes from one place
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to another. The best way for us to deal with the combined impacts
of water, energy and climate change is to move toward regional self-sufficiency and stop relying on imported water.
This will require us to offset water demand by aggressive conservation and developing local water resources
mindful of water supply, water quality and ecosystems
and watersheds. We will have to focus on groundwater sources, conjunctive use (managing surface and groundwater
together), advanced recycling projects (showers to flowers instead of toilets to tap), stormwater capture,
and low impact development (LID) to meet supply side demand. And it works! In the MWD service area of Southern
California, the largest source of "new water" last year came from conservation. In California, where nearly 20%
of the total statewide electric use is for the treatment and distribution of water, there are many opportunities
for multi-benefit solutions.
Another issue on the nexus between water energy and climate is the often unintended consequence of water demand
for energy development including for renewables like concentrating solar and hydropower. Certainly these
challenges will require holistic and integrated solutions.
Q: What do you think is Carpe Diem's most valuable contribution to the field?
A: Carpe Diem plays an important educational and convening role toward successful outcomes. Because our
regulatory systems and legislative systems are old institutions and very siloed, Carpe Diem bringing together
diverse stakeholders to look at these issues has been a great contribution. Bringing people together to build
relationships and develop trust has been key when thinking about how we need to make tough decisions in an
uncertain world.
Lillian Kawasaki is a Director of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California. Previously, she was a
senior manager with the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power and was General Manager of the Community Development
Department for the City of Los Angeles. She is a vice president of California Groundwater Coalition and co-chair of the
Friends of Manzanar.
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