Keeping Pasadena’s Business Community Connected

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Not only did state leaders move to restore the Sacra-mento-San Joaquin Delta, helping to improve water supply reliability for Pasadena, their legislative package may eventually provide funding for local water projects as well, said Engineering Manager Brad Boman. An $11 million water bond, set to go before voters next fall, would provide funding for water recycling, storage and cleanup projects throughout the state.

“If voters approve the water bond, Pasadena hopes to secure money for construction of Pasadena’s recycled water project,” Boman said. Design has begun on Phase I, which would bring treated water from the Los Angeles/Glendale Water Reclamation Plant to irrigate Brookside Park, Brookside Golf Course and the Rose Bowl, saving 1,000 acre feet of potable water each year. “We’re hoping to begin

construction in late 2011,” Boman said, “so the timing is perfect.”

Pasadena could also qualify for funding for a multi-million dollar partnership project with MWD that would store nearly 25 billion gallons of water in the underground Raymond Basin aquifer for drought years and emergencies.

Supported by city leaders, the projects will move forward as planned, Boman noted. “But additional funding would accelerate our progress and safeguard Pasadena’s water supply that much more quickly.”

December 2009

LIVE wIrE    DIaLOgUE

After years of wrangling and a marathon all-night session, the California Legislature approved a far-reaching package of bills last month aimed at reforming the state’s shaky water system.

“This is a tremendous moment in California water history,” said Metropolitan Water District (MWD) Board Chairman Timothy Brick. “The Legislature’s approval of this sweeping, bipartisan overhaul of the state’s water system reflects an unparalleled effort to move California into a new era of water reliability that will benefit the state’s residents and economy for generations to come.” Pasadena imports 65 percent of its water from MWD.

A key focus is ecosystem restoration in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a major source of the Southland’s water where pumping has been restricted to protect local wildlife. The legislation, which calls for a new seven-member oversight board, “carefully balances the need for Delta improvements with water supply reliability,” Brick said.

The legislative package also includes an $11 billion water bond for the November 2010 ballot, as well as new regulations for monitoring groundwater levels, higher penalties for illegal water diversions and a new water efficiency program to help California cities cut their water use by 20 percent by 2020 versus 2005 figures. Agencies that fall short of the goal would become ineligible for state water grants and loans.

“I am so proud,” said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, “that the Legislature, Democrats and Republicans, came together and tackled one of the most complicated issues in our state’s history.”

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Do the city’s new design guidelines for condos and neighborhood commercial centers affect landscaping rules?

Following up on a series of community meetings this year, the Pasadena City Council adopted new design guidelines this fall for neighborhood commercial centers and multifamily housing complexes with three or more units. The guidelines are meant to highlight Pasadena’s unique architecture and preserve the city’s character, support pedestrian friendly neighborhoods, ensure that any new or renovated buildings complement with their surroundings and promote sustainable building design. In short the guidelines are aimed at creating a harmonious look and feel for Pasadena.

As for landscaping, the guidelines call on developers to use trees, shrubs, hedges and vines not only to soften our streetscapes, but to help cool buildings in the summer and insulate in winter. The guidelines discourage the use of water-thirsty turf and favor “plants adapted to the local climate, soil and hydrology” instead. The guidelines provide a long list of drought-tolerant choices, from Acacia to Yarrow. Go online to www.cityofpasadena.net/planning to download the new guidelines.

What are the city’s plans for the old Broadway Power Plant?

The Pasadena City Council recently hired Power Engineers Inc. to assist staff with the multimillion dollar project. While ensuring a reliable, local source of power, the new plant will provide much higher efficiency, fewer emissions and more flexibility than existing equipment. Power Engineers will help oversee environmental studies and permitting, plus design and construction of a new 65 megawatt gas-fired combined cycle plant, control room, offices and maintenance shop. The company will also help with modification of the plant’s Gold Line crossing, demolition of outdated equipment and buildings, as well as the upgrade of two existing gas turbines. The project is expected to be completed in 2014.

How does a commercial water-saving ice maker work?

Older commercial ice makers use up to 270 gallons of water to make 100 pounds of ice; most of this is used to cool the system, and this water goes straight down the drain. Newer ice makers use air to cool the system instead, saving more than 200,000 gallons of water per year for some commercial models. Visit www.PWPweb.com/Rebates for a $400 rebate.

With an MBA from Loyola Marymount, PWP Customer Relations Manager Scott Ushijima has served the city of Pasadena since 1993.

Printed on Recycled Paper

While millions of foot-ball fans will be focused on the Rose Bowl’s emerald green field on New Year’s Day, behind the scenes the historic stadium is scoring some major water and energy savings with an assist from PWP.

As host to more than 12 major events that attract nearly a million visitors every year, the 87-year-old National Historic Land-mark has incorporated some of the latest technology to slash its energy and water consumption.

“The Rose Bowl is one of the city’s most visible attractions, so we have a unique opportunity to showcase conservation,” said Assistant General Manager & Chief Operating Officer Jess Waiters. “We’ve been very aggressive about running a tight facility and cutting waste.”

The stadium’s 75,600 square foot field, for instance, is irrigated by a high-tech automated system, designed by Toro, that adapts to weather and soil conditions. Mois-ture-sensing devices shut down the sprinklers on rainy days or when the field is damp. “Not only are we cutting costs,” Waiters noted, “less water is better for the grass, which has to be in pristine condition.”

Water-saving sprinkler heads were installed on the berm surrounding the concourse, which is planted with ground-cover, ivy and roses. The nozzles reach plant roots more efficiently, said PWP Account Manager Irma Cruz, cutting water use in half. In the stands, Waiters said, cleanup crews use dry brooms, spraying the area with high-pres-sure nozzles only periodically for hygienic purposes. The

Rose Bowl also pioneered the use of zero-water urinals a few years ago, which to promote their use at other large facilities.

More visible are the stadium’s energy-saving fixtures. An aging video board on the north end of the field was recently replaced with a 27-foot by 34-foot LED model that uses one quarter of the energy. “It’s bright, the resolu-tion is incredible, and it hardly produces any heat at all,” Waiters said, noting that the old board topped 120°F in summer.

Technicians also retrofit the iconic neon Rose Bowl sign on the south end of the stadium, carefully installing LED tubing behind the sign’s historic 60-year-old fascia. Retaining its vivid colors, the sign now uses two-thirds less power.

“Simple changes, fit into our daily operations, can result in big water and energy savings,” Cruz said. “We truly appre-ciate the Rose Bowl’s help in showing how it’s done.”

For more ideas and water and energy-saving rebates, visit www.PWPweb.com

The Rose Bowl’s Jess Waiters (L) works with PWP’s Irma Cruz (R) and other city departments to find new opportunities for energy and water savings.

The stadium’s new LED jumbo screen is not only more efficient than the old video board, it is crystal clear a football field away, even in daytime.

CUsTOmEr    sPOTLIgHT

Funding is getting low, so commercial customers are urged to reserve their rebates now for PWP’s popular “Save Water, Save-A-Buck Program.” In partnership with the Metropolitan Water District (MWD), the program offers generous rebates on a range of water-saving restroom, kitchen, cleaning and irrigation equipment.

Rebates include $50 for high-efficiency toilet replace-ments (or $30 for new construction) and $200 for zero or ultra-low flow urinals (or $60 for new construction). Restaurants can qualify for rebates of $485 for connec-tionless food steamers and $400 for efficient icemakers.

Outdoors, customers are eligible for rebates of $150 for water brooms, $25 per station for weather-based or central computer irrigation controllers, $5 each for rotating nozzles, $7 per set for high-efficiency nozzles and 30 cents per square foot for synthetic turf. Other rebates include $825 for cooling tower conductivity controllers (or $2,100 for a pH model), $1,900 for steam sterilizers and $125 for dry-vacuum pumps.

Rebate funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted. A rebate reservation is required prior to purchase. To reserve a rebate and for full details, visit www.PWPweb.com/rebates or call (888) 376-3314.

Keeping Pasadena’s Business Community Connected

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California Passes Landmark Legislation to Protect Delta and state water Project