Burbank awarded for increasing reclaimed water capacity

Burbank was honored this week for a major project completed in 2010 that increased the capacity of the city wastewater treatment facility from from 9 to 12.5 million gallons per day.

Burbank received the “Project of the Year” award from the American Public Works Assn. Southern California Chapter at a ceremony on Wednesday, according to an announcement from city officials.

By expanding capacity, the so-called Two-Million-Gallon Equalization Basin captures peak daytime flows for treatment during lower demand times at night, which makes more reclaimed water available for irrigation and other reuse, according to the city.

As a whole, the project decreases Burbank’s dependence on more expensive imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of California, a goal most cities, including Glendale, have been pursuing as utilities seek ways to cut down on costs.

-- Jason Wells, Times Community News

Twitter: @JasonBretWells