OAK VIEW : Hearing to Discuss New Water Plant

The Casitas Municipal Water District wants to hear the public’s concerns about its plans to build a water-treatment plant and power-generating station below Casitas Dam.

A public meeting to discuss what should be included in an environmental impact report will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Oak View Community Center, 18 Valley Road.

“We’re aware that a lot of groups are interested in this,” said Richard Barnett, Casitas’ chief engineer. The district has mailed 400 notices to its largest customers and other interested parties.

The treatment plant will filter the lake water to bring its sediment levels within state standards and will disinfect it to meet new state and federal water-quality regulations. Casitas must meet state turbidity levels by early 1992.

The plant could emit smog-causing pollutants or discharge chemical wastes, and its construction could temporarily disrupt traffic and sensitive plant species, the notice states.

Water rates and property taxes for district residents throughout Ojai Valley and western Ventura County are expected to rise to help pay for building and operating the plant.

Casitas officials are also considering putting a $22-million bond measure on the April ballot to raise most of the projected $25 million in construction costs. The utility also applied for a $5-million low-interest state loan and a $400,000 state grant for the project but will have to wait until next summer to hear if they are approved.

In February, the board awarded James M. Montgomery Consulting Engineers a $117,000 contract to develop the project’s environmental report.

Of four possible plant sites, the preferred one is occupied by the dam-tender’s house, just below Casitas Dam at the south end of Lake Casitas.