Airport to reduce water use

The second stage brings the airport more closely in line with Glendale, and Pasadena by limiting the irrigation of landscaped areas to three days a week — Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays — April through October, and on Saturdays November through March. The Crescenta Valley Water District and Los Angeles Department of Water & Power have already limited irrigation to just two days a week.

Bob Hope, as part of its conservation efforts, is nearing its goal of fitting all bathrooms and airport facilities with low-flow plumbing fixtures and appliances.

“Fortunately, we’ve been able to make some inroads,” Hardyment said. Over the last year, we’ve refitted all of the bathrooms with aerators and we’ve been aggressive about installing hand’s free units so someone doesn’t walk off and leave the water running.”

The airport has also stepped up its outdoor water savings by adding drip sprinklers and xeriscaping, and uses recycled water in Parking Lot D. Lot A awaits conversion, he said.

Plans for a proposed $100-million regional intermodal transit center that would link the airport with passenger trains, shuttles, buses and taxi cabs include a compressed-natural gas refilling station for airport shuttles to accommodate a bus switch from diesel. Plans are also in the works to line the roof of the parking and storage facility with a photovoltaic solar panel system and include a water-saving car wash facility.

The Burbank ordinance, effective Jan. 1, 2010, requires all commercial laundry and car wash systems to have operational re-circulating water systems.

“At that time it will be all self-contained recycled water,” Commissioner Don Brown said. “I think we are now ahead of the city coming in and requiring us to do certain things.”