State Delays Decision on Waste-Water Plan

For the third time in three months, the state Regional Water Quality Control Board has postponed a decision on a controversial proposal by the Irvine Ranch Water District to discharge recycled waste water into a tributary of Newport Bay.

Gerald J. Thibeault, executive officer for the state control board in Santa Ana, said Thursday that he had received requests from Newport Beach officials, the citizens group Defend the Bay and Assemblywoman Marilyn C. Brewer (R-Irvine) to postpone the meeting.

Also, he said, a board member had had a death in the family and would not have been able to attend the session, which was rescheduled for May 20.

For nearly two years, the water district has been at odds with Newport Beach residents over the Wetlands Water Supply project. The proposal is to channel reclaimed water through duck ponds that would empty into a tributary of the bay during nonsummer months.