Water Agencies Lose Senate Fight to Install Covers on Reservoirs

Water officials in San Diego County and other parts of Southern California lost a bitter fight Monday, when the state Senate approved a measure that would restrict the covering of open reservoirs because the tarps would ruin the scenic view of nearby residents.

The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles), was inspired by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s plan to put rubberized covers over six small neighborhood reservoirs, while building new water filtration plants at several larger lakes.

But his measure includes all of Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties, where modifications to open reservoirs could only be undertaken after a lengthy hearing process or in the event of an emergency, such as an earthquake.

Motives Questioned

Roos’ legislative foray has caused considerable debate, not only on its merits but for its possible motives. As it happens, the DWP is considering a new filtration plant at Silverlake Reservoir in the Los Feliz area, where Roos is building a home with a commanding view of the water, which serves as a focal point for the neighborhood.

After attending a community meeting to protest the filtration plant--as well as plans to cover the smaller lakes, such as the adjacent Ivanhoe Reservoir--Roos decided to write the bill preserving the aesthetic and recreational values of reservoirs.

Roos said Monday that the reservoirs are “cool oases in the middle of our crowded cities. We should not lose these recreational and scenic resources that have long been an integral part of many neighborhoods by helping to shape their character and, in some cases, even their climate.”

Yet water officials argue that Roos’ bill is a public health gambit on behalf of a lucky few--like the Democratic assemblyman--with vistas of the water. They underscore that the bill, if passed, would tie their hands at a time when the state and federal government are considering new, tougher, drinking water standards.

‘Knee-Jerk Reaction’

“It’s a knee-jerk reaction to a problem that affects a very small number of people and could have a costly result,” said Lester Snow, general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority.

The authority dispatched its lobbyist, Ben Clay, to Sacramento on Monday to join forces with the city of San Diego and water officials from Los Angeles to attempt to deep-six Roos’ measure.

Clay said the Roos bill effects two problems: how to keep treated water clean as it sits in open reservoirs, waiting to be piped to water users, and how to reduce evaporation from reservoirs filled with untreated water, which is being stored before heading to water filtration plants.

The cheapest answer to both problems, say Clay and water officials, is the use of rubberized covers, which operate on the same principle as floating covers in swimming pools. Not only would the cover keep out small animals, bird droppings and debris, it would also cut down on the evaporation that dissipates 10% of what a reservoir holds each year, they say.

“A large amount of water is lost to evaporation,” Clay said. “If we could control that, that means less water we would have to get from Northern California and the Colorado River.

“All that water that evaporates, that’s just money going up in the air,” he said.

Clay said the Roos measure would pretty much veto the covers and leave water agencies the more expensive option of building filtration plants to clean the water a second time before sending it through the pipes.

9 San Diego Reservoirs

This would have the greatest effect on the city of San Diego, which operates nine treated and untreated water reservoirs. But even the smallest of the 22 member water agencies would feel the pinch, he said.

For instance, the Valley Center water district in North County has contemplated covering its one reservoir. But, if the Roos measure passes, it would be forced to build a $25-million water filtration plant, which would add $15 to $50 a month on bills to residential and agricultural users, he said.

There are seven reservoirs for treated water in San Diego County. Shunning covers and building new treatment plants would require an additional $105-million.

Armed with their arguments against aqua-elitism, water officials have mounted a furious lobbying campaign against the Roos measure.

In Los Angeles, the DWP had planned to put the covers over six small neighborhood reservoirs--in Santa Ynez, Upper Stone Canyon, Upper Hollywood, Ivanhoe, Elysian and Rowena. Ron McCoy, DWP’s assistant chief engineer, said covers are being used at the Eagle Rock and Franklin reservoirs, and one is being built for the Green Verdugo reservoir.

Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) on Monday said estimates of what it would cost to not use the covers were exaggerated, and he urged his colleagues to support the Roos measure on behalf of residents who use or live near the man-made lakes.

The Senate responded by voting 21-16--a bare majority--to approve the bill, sending it back to the Assembly for a final vote. It must then go to Gov. George Deukmejian to be signed.