San Diego Council Objects to Costly Sewage Treatment Plan

The San Diego City Council on Tuesday moved toward scrapping a multibillion-dollar sewage treatment plan that would sharply increase sewer and water rates, arguing that the proposal makes neither environmental nor economic sense.

Although the city lacks the authority to unilaterally ignore the federally mandated program, that is the temporary effect of the council’s 5-2 vote against proceeding with the initial financial steps in the $2.5-billion water-treatment and reclamation project. At a meeting next Monday, the council plans to begin examining possible adjustments in the program.

Before the council’s Tuesday night vote, which followed years of debate over how San Diego can most efficiently comply with federal clean-water standards, City Manager Jack McGrory warned that failure to approve the steps could jeopardize the city’s ability to comply with a federal court order outlining timetables for the program.

However, some council members appeared to welcome the prospect of a showdown with U.S. District Judge Rudi Brewster or the Environmental Protection Agency. They viewed the confrontation as a possible opportunity to alter a project that they argue is costly and inefficient, and which might damage the environment rather than improve it.

Urging his colleagues to “just say no,” Councilman Bob Filner argued that approval of the financial recommendations would not be wise.

EPA administrators could not be reached for immediate comment, but they have long maintained that San Diego officials are dragging their feet on compliance with the Clean Water Act.

The proposed plan, which city officials price at $2.5 billion but which critics argue could cost as much as $10 billion with inflation, financing and other expenses, has been embroiled in controversy virtually since its inception.

Currently, the city daily discharges about 180 million gallons of sewage effluent that has undergone “advanced primary” treatment several miles off Point Loma. The EPA, however, argues that the Point Loma plant must be converted to a so-called secondary treatment facility, which would remove a slightly higher percentage of suspended solids from the waste water.