The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the mutual goal of promoting water conservation, respective efforts and support in the development of technological innovations and the green plumbing industry. The collaboration also will provide support to LADWP and its partnership with the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) for more sustainable building operations and the green economy.

LADWP will provide workspace in a laboratory for an IAPMO project engineer at the La Kretz Innovation Campus (LKIC), a new LADWP facility created to promote the development of sustainable emerging technologies — including those with a focus on water conservation and energy efficiency — to assist with furthering the development of water conservation efforts and to support emerging technological innovations.

IAPMO will advise, assist and support LADWP in expanding water conservation and the use of local water resources in order to meet water supply plans in a more sustainable manner. These efforts are designed to decrease the demand for imported water with the development and installation of innovative water conservation technologies. IAPMO will help LADWP meet regulatory requirements for the installation of such equipment. One such example is increasing such sustainable local water efforts as the onsite re-use and distribution of recycled non-potable water.

“IAPMO is thrilled to continue our close and mutually beneficial collaboration with our friends at the LADWP,” said IAPMO CEO GP Russ Chaney. “IAPMO has always been proud of our Los Angeles lineage and we are delighted to assist in demonstrating ways to reduce water and energy consumption.”

IAPMO’s relationship with Los Angeles goes back to the early 1900s, and continues to be an integral part of the city's ability to reduce per capita water consumption. In 2012, the city’s total water consumption was lower than that of 1970, despite a population increase of more than 1 million people.

In 2008, Los Angeles adopted High Efficiency Plumbing Fixtures Ordinance No. 180822, then the nation’s most aggressive water efficient plumbing fixtures ordinance, through collaborative efforts with IAPMO. More than 600 LADWP-owned buildings were retrofitted through a partnership between the department and United Association plumbers. These changes and mandatory implementations will save L.A. residents more than $2 billion from 2009 to 2029.

“I would like to first thank General Manager and Chief Engineer Marty Adams; Senior Assistant General Manager Nancy Sutley; and Director of Efficiency Solutions David Jacot for their continued and unwavering support for the work performed at the La Kretz Innovation Campus and this partnership between LADWP and IAPMO,” said Amir Tabakh, manager of Efficiency Solutions Engineering & DWP La Kretz Labs. “IAPMO CEO Russ Chaney has been an amazing partner by demonstrating support for our initiatives and goals at LKIC as well as the city of Los Angeles for the past quarter century.

“The partnership between LADWP and IAPMO is unique, in that LADWP is the first utility in the country to spearhead and realize that our responsibility does not end at the meter. LADWP realized that we, as a water purveyor, have additional responsibilities downstream of the meter. Those responsibilities include, but are not limited to, protecting our water infrastructure, reducing water consumption per capita, and implementing technological innovations in the buildings to make our infrastructure smarter and more sustainable than ever.

“In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this collaboration is highly valuable to the residents of Los Angeles,” Tabakh continued. “This partnership with IAPMO will provide LADWP access to its industry resources worldwide. This collaboration will produce water-saving benefits to not only the city of Los Angeles but to every city in the nation. IAPMO was born in the city of angels; LADWP is proud to be a partner in its first 100 years of sweeping technological advancement.”

LADWP water conservation incentive programs and other ordinances (e.g., emergency water conservation and retrofit on resale) have resulted in the city's per capita water consumption of 112 gallons per day in fiscal year 2017-18, one of the lowest of any major U.S. city. Such ordinances and incentives have made it possible for the LADWP to meet customer demand without having to increase the amount of water being delivered. They have saved city residents billions of gallons of water, allowing Los Angeles to grow while maintaining quality of life and economic development.

LKIC is the home of LACI and LADWP Efficiency Solutions Engineering Group, which are co-located there. LACI is a clean technology incubator dedicated to developing new startup companies in myriad sustainable areas that include, but are not limited to, energy efficiency, water conservation, electric transportation, and renewables, to name a few. LKIC represents a public-private sector joint venture that provides the workspace for research, development, manufacturing, training, and education to LACI member portfolio companies. LADWP operates a number of public displays at LKIC to showcase sustainable living, water conservation and energy efficiency, customer engagement lab, lighting technology, graywater treatment for reuse, a vacuum plumbing system, and a micro-grid with battery energy storage. LADWP also operates a Plumbing Testing Demonstration Laboratory and a Lighting Laboratory at LKIC.

An ecosystem created for companies in the clean technology space, the La Kretz Innovation Campus engages entrepreneurs, inventors, business leaders, and students to work together in one environment. The campus features LADWP laboratories for both customer engagement and energy efficiency and technology.

“This MOU creates a partnership to utilize the strong combined expertise of both organizations in serving the plumbing and manufacturing industries and the general public,” said Ken Wijaya, executive vice president of the IAPMO R&T Lab.

Photo taken during IAPMO Board of Directors visit November 2018