Burbank USD Switches to Reclaimed Water, Saving the Drought-Stricken Region Millions of Gallons Each Year

BURBANK, Calif., June 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- During their June 4, 2015 Board Meeting, the Burbank Unified School District announced that it had completed a conversion of its irrigation systems at eight more school sites to reclaimed water, saving the region an estimated 26,000,000 gallons in potable water each year—enough to service nearly 200 homes annually.

Measure S for Sustainability
The conversion to reclaimed water is one of the first milestones in a series of capital projects that will improve the District's environmental and fiscal sustainability and provide financial relief to its $110 million Measure S bond program.  

"As one of the largest water users in the city of Burbank, it is the District's responsibly to take a leadership role in reducing its use of this critical resource, not just during California's historic drought, but also well into the future," said Dr. Jan Britz, Superintendent of the Burbank USD. "With my retirement on the horizon, I am proud to be part of a community sending a message about the importance of environmental conservation and long-term sustainability."

Awareness and Action for the California Drought
The District has completed the water conservation measures at 10 schools, which now feature signs alerting the public that reclaimed water is being used to irrigate fields and landscaping. Through signage and awareness, the District aims to assure neighbors that the District is complying with State-mandated water restrictions triggered by the prolonged drought plaguing communities throughout California.

The extensive water conversion project kicks off the broader, district-wide sustainability program happening in partnership with OpTerra Energy Services. OpTerra helped complete the conversions to reclaimed water at four sites since the beginning of May.

Moving beyond solutions solely targeted at water use, the District will also focus on upgrading infrastructure with more efficient technologies that enhance the learning environment for students and teachers. Improvements to HVAC, lighting and control systems will not only save money on operations and maintenance, but will vastly modernize classrooms across the District.

"This year, our community will begin to see an enormous amount of construction at all our campuses as a result of voters' support for Measure S," said School Board Member Roberta Reynolds.

OpTerra, one of the country's largest sustainable energy companies, is supporting Burbank Unified's vision of transformation—guaranteeing the energy savings used to finance the infrastructure upgrades as part of the long-term sustainability program. Together with District leaders, the local OpTerra team based out of Southern California will collaborate through the summer to explore the installation of solar photovoltaic systems at several campuses to further reduce ongoing energy costs and provide long-term savings that can be redirected to support and enhance student learning.

About Burbank Unified School District: For more information about Burbank Unified School District, visit www.burbankusd.org, or contact Kimberley Clark, District PIO, at 818-729-4422.

About OpTerra Energy Services: OpTerra Energy Services is a national energy company that partners with school districts, cities, and counties to implement comprehensive sustainability solutions that save money, generate revenue, improve assets, and protect the environment. Learn more at www.opterraenergy.com, or contact Lani Wild, Communications Manager, at 415-735-9080.

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SOURCE OpTerra Energy Services