Service Corporation International’s California Cemeteries Lead Change to Simplify Conservation Efforts
Article originally appeared on Market Watch
Service Corporation International SCI, -0.18% whose affiliates comprise North America’s largest provider of funeral and cemetery services, has been dedicated to reducing water usage at its affiliated California cemeteries with efforts to streamline water efficiencies for all cemeteries around the state for nearly a decade.
SCI’s Rose Hills Memorial Park, one of the largest cemeteries in the United States, began using recycled water in 1997 and has been instrumental in getting legislation to provide an incentive for cemeteries around the state to use recycled water for irrigation and landscaping.
Recent legislation cleared the way for all cemeteries to use reclaimed water with their existing irrigation pipes, sprinklers and hose bibs. The sprawling 1,500-acre cemetery has already seen a 75 percent reduction in drinkable water usage and is currently using recycled water on 70 percent of its property. Rose Hills will use 100 percent reclaimed water by year’s end, saving enough drinking water for nearly 3,000 homes annually.
“We all carry the responsibility of being good stewards of our natural resources, especially now that we have reached such a critical plateau in California,” said Jay Waring, SCI’s Senior Vice President of Operations. “Conservation is key, and we are pleased to be doing our part to help make a difference for the environment as well as our industry.”
The locations utilizing 100 percent reclaimed water include El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego; Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park in Coast Mesa; Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose and Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks in West Lake Village. Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park is currently working with the City of Burbank to use solely reclaimed water while Rose Hills in Whittier is scheduled to reach 100 percent by the end of the year.
About Service Corporation International
Service Corporation International SCI, -0.18% headquartered in Houston, Texas, is North America’s leading provider of deathcare products and services. At June 30, 2015, SCI affiliates owned and operated 1,550 funeral homes and 467 cemeteries (of which 262 are combination locations) in 45 states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Through its businesses, SCI markets the Dignity Memorial [(R)] brand which offers assurance of quality, value, caring service and exceptional customer satisfaction. For more information about Service Corporation International, please visit www.sci-corp.com. For more information about Dignity Memorial, please visit www.dignitymemorial.com. As used herein, “SCI” or the “Company” refers to Service Corporation International and all of its affiliated companies.
