Drought Contingency Plan
BWP is developing a WaterSMART grant-funded DCP, focusing on key elements for long-term water resiliency.
With support from a WaterSMART grant from the Bureau of Reclamation, Burbank Water and Power (BWP) began the development of a Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) in 2023. The DCP focuses on key elements crucial for long-term water resiliency and is designed to align with the grant's requirements to promote enhanced drought resiliency for the City’s customers. The Plan is scheduled to be completed in early 2025.
BWP Proactive Approach to Drought Planning
The following steps outline Burbank Water and Power's process to create this plan.
Developing a Drought Planning Task Force:
Central to our strategy is the formation of a Drought Planning Task Force. This Task Force brings together a diverse array of community members, fostering regional collaboration and ensuring a multifaceted perspective in safeguarding our precious water resources.
Drought Monitoring Program and Vulnerability Assessment:
The Plan will incorporate a meticulous drought monitoring program and a vulnerability assessment tailored to assess threats specifically related to drought. These assessments are not only fundamental to understanding potential impacts to Burbank's water system from a supply and reliability perspective, but also the community from a socio-economic perspective.
Mitigation and Response Actions:
We will identify, evaluate, and prioritize mitigation and response actions. These actions will form the bedrock of our strategy, addressing potential vulnerabilities and enhancing our ability to navigate drought-related challenges effectively.
In a parallel effort, BWP will be working with the community to update its Sustainable Water Use Ordinance. This ordinance is designed to implement important City policies related to reducing water demands during times of drought-induced water supply shortages or unforeseeable emergency conditions.
City of Burbank DCP:
The culmination of our efforts will be the development of the City of Burbank Drought Contingency Plan. This document will outline actionable opportunities, incorporating modifications to policies, ordinances, recycled water usage, advanced metering infrastructure, and other innovative solutions.
Our collaborative approach involves active participation from the Task Force, our consulting engineer (HDR), BWP staff, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the community.
The table below outlines the key engagement roles for various stakeholders and public involvement to the DCP.
Together, we are proactively enhancing our long-term resiliency, ensuring that Burbank continues to thrive even in the face of challenging drought conditions.
Stay tuned for updates on our progress on this vital endeavor to secure Burbank’s water future.