3.2B Gallons Of Rainwater Saved For LA County Recharge Basins

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — After the first onslaught of El Niño-stoked storms hit Southern California, the National Weather Service is reporting record rainfall totals.

Downtown Los Angeles got more than 2.5 inches of rain since Sunday, leaving the drought-stricken city barely more than an inch below normal since the start of the water-year on Oct. 1.

This week's storms flooded several intersections and filled the L.A. River flood control channel nearly to the brim numerous times, but not all that rain water washed out to sea.

The L.A. County Public Works Department diverted more than three billion gallons of water into recharge basins to be used to replenish the groundwater supply.

That amount is enough water for some 78,000 people for an entire year, according to Public Works officials.

A good amount of snow also fell on Southern California. The Mountain High ski area in the San Gabriel Mountains reported receiving 20 to 28 inches of snow.

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