Resources: Merits of Treated Sewage Water

All that glitters is not necessarily gold. Reclaimed tertiary water is an important component in Southern California’s water supply scheme, but it is not a panacea.

Your article: “Pitch Touts the Joys of Treated Sewage Water” (South Bay, Aug. 25) was Pollyannaish and ignored some serious problems with the development of the West Basin reclamation plant.

Responsible, well-planned and cost-effective reclaimed water development must be encouraged when there are pre-sold receptive markets for its use. This is not the case with the West Basin project. Your article states that only 5% of the water that will be produced has been sold to date, despite a $200-million capital expenditure for the plant.

Who is going to foot the bill for this? The property-tax payers of the West Basin district who are subsidizing the oil refineries’ use of this public resource. Furthermore, a more succinct examination of the pricing of the West Basin reclaimed water will reveal that it is not 30% cheaper than currently available potable supplies. In fact, the pricing of this water is a serious impediment to its use and the repayment of the capital and operating costs of the plant.

Reclaimed water--yes, but not at any price!

MARK S. DYMALLY

Inglewood

Dymally is president of the Robert Smith Water Institute Inc. in Inglewood.

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James Benning’s story on recycled water marketing (“Pitch Touts the Joys of Treated Sewage Water,” Aug. 25) overlooked a unique approach to reinventing government.

The West Basin Municipal Water District operates from a “demand side” perspective, which has helped it create partnerships with businesses, environmental groups and other governmental agencies. The sum total of West Basin’s efforts is to provide adequate water supplies to sustain businesses and jobs in the South Bay communities we serve.

The landmark West Basin Water Recycling Project was conceived, planned and constructed in only four years. The Clinton Administration has identified this water project as a “Presidential Priority Investment Initiative” and has committed to providing $50 million in federal grant funds. At full capacity, the project will reduce the South Bay’s dependence on expensive water from the Colorado River and the State Water Project by 50%, while assisting in the cleanup of Santa Monica Bay.

Since Benning’s visit, the Chevron refinery in El Segundo has committed to using 6,000 acre-feet per year of recycled water (one-third the demand in El Segundo). On Sept. 13, we expect to execute a similar agreement with the Mobil Refinery in Torrance. Combined with 50 other users and the Mobil Refinery, the Phase I plant capacity of 20 million gallons per day is nearly 100% subscribed. Because of this strong market demand for recycled water, the treatment facility will be expanded in 1996.

The West Basin water district shares a modest staff of 34 professionals and headquarter facilities in Carson with the Central Basin Municipal Water District. The combined population of the districts is 2.4 million, covering 10% of California’s cities. The district contracts with the private sector to provide for the engineering design and operation of its water facilities.

We appreciate the L.A. Times’ interest in water recycling. Clearly, conservation and more effective use of our existing water supplies is needed to sustain our economy.

RICHARD ATWATER La Canada Atwater is the general manager of the West Basin Municipal Water District.