NEWPORT BEACH : Group to Fight Putting Treated Sewage in Bay

A group of residents says it will attempt to thwart the Irvine Ranch Water District’s bid for state approval of a controversial plan to pump millions of gallons of processed sewage water into Upper Newport Bay.

“The next step for us is to raise money to begin litigation,” said Bob Caustin, who recently formed Citizens for a Sewage-free Bay and Defend the Bay in response to the plan. “I don’t believe [the water district] ever intended to look at residents’ concerns.”

The water district is proposing to empty 5 million gallons of reclaimed water--typically used for irrigation at parks--into the bay daily during nonsummer months for a trial period of two years. The district approved the plan Monday night amid protests by Newport Beach officials and residents. District officials also approved a plan to clean water from San Diego Creek before it reaches the bay during winter months.

Ultimately, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board will have the final word on the combined plans and will consider the issues Jan. 26.

Critics have said the project could damage the fragile ecosystem of the bay. Last month the Newport Beach City Council, which has no authority over the project, unanimously rejected the plan in a symbolic move.

District officials have defended the project, saying it would actually help the bay and save Irvine water users close to $20 million within 10 years.

State water quality officials have said the type of water the district is proposing to discharge into the bay is of higher quality than the water that comes normally from San Diego Creek. Biologists from the Department of Fish and Game, who were once opposed to the project, have agreed and now support the plan.

Regardless, Newport Beach officials and residents said they will fight it.

“Our primary concern is that the draft [impact report] did not express [the fact that] there are disagreements on a number of issues related to the project,” City Atty. Robert Burnham said Tuesday.