Hemet Unified School District was one of eight organizations recognized for its commitment to recycle water and its participation in Eastern Municipal Water District’s (EMWD) Accelerated Retrofit Program. This conservation program allowed organizations to retrofit potable water sites to receive recycled water. This program is supported by EMWD to ensure we are using water responsibly.
Hemet Unified’s Maintenance and Operations Department used its Grounds staff to retrofit the irrigation system to allow reclaimed (recycled) water to Cawston Elementary School and West Valley High School. The Grounds crew worked tirelessly over the summer on this 10-acre project. The project allowed Cawston to have a reclaimed water meter and West Valley to use reclaimed water on its two baseball fields. The estimated total savings is 170,540 gallons of water per day.
“I am very proud we are able to save water at our sites and use our employees’ skillsets to complete this project,” said Anthony Pipkins Director of Maintenance and Operations. Hemet Unified was the only organization out of the eight recognized by EMWD that did not contract this project out.
This is not the first recognition the Maintenance and Operations Department was recognized for. In fact, this is the fourth recognition in the last six years. Among these recognitions was the State of California selected Hemet Unified to host a reclaimed water cross check connection demonstration. This demonstration allowed the Maintenance and Operations staff to explain how they were able to ensure drinking water did not intertwine with the recycled water.
Charles Pino, Grounds Supervisor, grew up in Hemet. He said whatever project he and his team are working on he wants to ensure the project will positively affect the schools and the city.
“When municipalities like EMWD recognize our efforts, it means a lot because these men take great pride in their work,” said Pipkins. He stated that the Maintenance and Operations team has been working on bringing reclaimed to some of the sites. As of December 2016 West Valley, Rancho Viejo, Tahquitz, Winchester, and Cawston all have reclaimed water. Pipkins said his team has future projects for eight school sites that will help save over 357,000 gallons of water per day.
Congratulations to the Maintenance and Operations Department for its recognition from EMWD and thank you for helping Hemet Unified school’s conserve water!