… Without urgent and immediate action, Los Angeles could be trapped in its own version of “The Twilight Zone.” Will it be a fiery landscape where sizzling sidewalks cause second-degree burns, wildfire smoke blots out the sun, and water flows only sometimes, and mostly not at all? Or will California’s penchant for innovation be our salvation, transforming Los Angeles into a place where every drop of water is recycled and every resident has enough shade and cooling to survive? … When you turn on your tap, about 90% of that water comes from far away: the Owens Valley, Northern California and the Colorado River. Only 8% comes from local groundwater, and even less — a paltry 2% — comes from recycling, or wastewater that is cleaned, repurposed and reused. … When you turn on your faucet in 2035, at least 70% of the water will be sourced locally, and even more by midcentury.

Related heat and wildfire articles:

• Los Angeles Times: Lightning, hail, strong winds, flash flood warnings: SoCal has a serious case of fire weather
• CNN: Residents flee as California and Nevada wildfires get dangerously close and forecasters warn of record heat
• San Diego Union-Tribune: Fifth day of heat wave sends temperatures soaring, knocks out power to thousands
• Fox 5/KUSI: South Bay residents urged to stay indoors as heat worsens sewage smell, creating health risk
• The New York Times: It’s the hottest neighborhood in all of Los Angeles. (Bring water.)