Carlsbad

The state Regional Water Quality Control Board on Monday gave officials of the Encina sewage treatment plant in Carlsbad until March, 1990, to correct high levels of toxics detected in the sewage plant’s effluent.

The board voted to issue the cease-and-desist order against the North County plant after hearing a report that the Encina facility had exceeded its toxicity levels in six of the seven months between June and December, 1988.

However, board members praised Encina officials for acting quickly by hiring an outside consultant to find the cause of the problem. Encina officials have said that, although the toxics exceed state limits, the effluent does not pose a threat to public health or the environment.