Higher Quality Water on Tap by 1997

A perfunctory public hearing has all but cleared the way for the 56,000 residents of Port Hueneme and neighboring communities to receive significantly higher quality drinking water by 1997.

The Calleguas Municipal Water District board heard virtually no opposition Thursday to a proposed annexation of the region that will enable a $15-million water quality improvement project to be built.

About 30 people--at least half of whom worked the past three years to complete the project--sat through a meeting that lasted less than an hour to hear about the water district annexation, expected to be formally approved Feb. 21.

“It’s a done deal,” said Doug Breeze, Port Hueneme’s public works director.

The board received a mere five letters and telephone calls from opponents, but heard no new protests at the meeting.

Dick Velthoen, Port Hueneme city manager, attributes the meager opposition largely to the region’s unquestionably awful drinking water that makes people eager for an alternative. And while the project will double water rates, the current fees are already the county’s lowest. Also, customers will no longer have to buy bottled drinking water or use expensive softening systems, he said.

The annexation will reduce the area’s reliance on poor quality ground water and allow the importation of state water.

Construction of pipelines and a desalination plant is expected to begin later this year and be completed next year.

The annexation affects residents of Port Hueneme, the region’s two Navy bases and customers of the Channel Islands Beach Community Service District.