Burbank Leader: Friedman Finds Federal Funds for Reservoir Project
Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) announced on June 15 that she had secured about $1.1 million in federal funds to help cover the $24-million rebuild project to replace Burbank's Reservoir 2.
At this time the nearly 100-year-old, sub-standard potable water reservoir can only be filled halfway. The investment will help Burbank Water & Power to demolish the reservoir and build a modern replacement.
On Monday Friedman held a press conference alongside officials from Burbank Water & Power and Mayor Tamala Takahashi.
“Right now, Burbank is relying on a 100-year-old reservoir that can only be filled halfway, in a city that has to buy every drop of its water," Friedman said. "I secured this federal investment so we can replace it with a reservoir built to last another century and do it without putting the full cost on Burbank families... Clean, reliable water is the baseline every family deserves and every business depends on.”
The state’s Division of Drinking Water has determined the reservoir needs to be replaced. Because Burbank has no naturally occurring water rights and purchases all of its water from the Metropolitan Water District, maintaining reliable storage is critical, including as an emergency water supply for wildfire response.
The new reservoir will be built to current drinking water standards and the latest seismic codes, eliminating the outdated mitigation measures BWP staff currently rely on to keep stormwater out and stay compliant. The total project cost is approximately $23.8 million, with construction expected to be completed late 2027 or early 2028.
Because the reservoir, which was built in 1933, is cracked above the centerline, it can only be filled halfway. Officials said that because of its old design it does not meet modern seismic codes and remains vulnerable to earthquakes.