Jet Jam’s Water Waste Appalling

The Pond of Anaheim officials should be ashamed of themselves for making a temporary man-made lake for Jet Jam ’96.

I was astonished to learn they were going to waste 15 million gallons of drinking water for this three-day event, when water demand is at its summer peak. This is ridiculous considering how many established man-made lakes are already in this area.

Southern Californians are constantly urged to conserve water and use water-saving devices in their homes. Apparently the officials holding this event think they are above that policy. Their wasteful, selfish attitude is appalling. I did not and will not ever support this outrageous event.

RICK GREEN

Mission Viejo

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* As a regular weekend user of the Santa Ana River bike trail, I was curious to watch the construction of the makeshift plastic-lined lake for the Jet Jam.

The capacity of the temporary lake was reported to hold a mere 15 million gallons, but my calculations were confirmed by one of the construction officials that the actual capacity was closer to 20 million gallons, with an additional 25% of that amount allowed for leakage.

The plastic seams were “sealed” with the placement of approximately 1,500 sandbags, which did such a poor job that a 6-foot fill line had to run for the entire duration in order to keep the water level up.

Everyone connected with the organization of the event seemed so surprised that the water, which was supposed to be reused, was so contaminated with spent motor oil and gasoline residue from the recreational watercraft that it had to be pumped down the sewer.

Is it not obvious to everyone that the nature of any gasoline engine (especially a two-cycle engine, where the gasoline and oil are mixed) is to spew out a mixture of unburned engine hydrocarbons and oil as it runs?

Not only did this three-day event cause the loss of valuable drinking water, has anyone given thought to the waterfowl and other animals that live in the riverbed?

Does this signify the end of the drought?

STEPHEN C. KILIAN

Placentia

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* The Pond of Anaheim discharged 15 million gallons of contaminated gasoline-filled water into the sewers of Orange County and thereafter into the sea.

Before the event, in order to pull this off, the Orange County Water District and the Pond put out the story that, after the event, the water would be recycled back as drinking water and should be totally reusable by the community.

Now, after the event, this artificial pond is a cesspool of gasoline contaminants not suitable for human consumption.

What is pitiful is the Pond putting out a story that it “discovered” (to its amazement) that the water contained high levels of gasoline-related chemicals and that it is “absolutely puzzled” how the contaminants got there in the first place. What a surprise!

What is even more pitiful is the Orange County Water District giving the Pond a permit in the first place. What happened to common sense, or does it always have to give way to fast-buck artists who slip another one over on the gullible public. And remember, don’t eat the fish.

R. PERKINS

Huntington Beach