Parallel pipes save water

“The bonds will be paid through the revenue generated by future recycled water sales,” he said. “There would be no increased rates and could be some positive cash flow to keep down rates for potable water users in the future.

“It’s really expensive because we’re building two parallel water lines, one for potable water, one for recycled water. But this reduces our potable water [reliance].”

The cost of the project could have been higher, Mace said.

“The steady flow of recycled water to [pump station one] . . . will reduce the need for recycled water reservoir storage,” he said. “Building another facility could have cost millions more.”

Water issues have dominated the landscape in recent weeks as Southern California toils through a record drought.

Last year, the city received 3 inches of rain, the lowest recorded rainfall in the 129 years of monitoring rainfall, Burbank Water and Power officials said.

Recently, the utility instituted a “20 Gallon Challenge” as a way to reduce water usage in homes by 10% per person per day.

That challenge, and other water-saving measures the city has recommended, deal solely with potable water, though recycled water could be directly tied to potable water usage, Mace said.

“Recycled water isn’t affected by the drought,” Mace said. “But using more recycled water lessens our dependence on potable water.”

Construction on the new lines is set to begin in 2008 for San Fernando Road and the Wildwood area; 2009 for pump station 1 upgrades; 2010 for the Valhalla extension; and 2011 for both the Studio District and northern Burbank extension.

Council members generally glowed about Water and Power’s expansion efforts.

“It’s great that we’re looking at significant expansion,” Councilman Dave Golonski said.