Districts Neglect Sewage Lines

* Re “The Ocean Is Not a Sewer” (Orange County Perspective, Sept. 3):

As pointed out in recent articles by The Times’ writers, the custodians of the sewage lines and treatment plans must disagree with your editorial. Two months ago, Joel Bishop, a board member of South Coast Water District, claimed in your opinion pages that urban runoff was the culprit. Beach closures have been the result of sewage spills--spills directly related to the aging and faulty infrastructure. The agencies that oversee sewage collection are multimillion-dollar operations, with tax-exempt status, yet in most cases they refuse to maintain or upgrade despite reports of imminent calamities.

Moulton Niguel Water District (MNWD) in South County leads in its continual infractions and subsequent beach closings. MNWD has over $100 million in assets and accrues around $10 million in interest on its investments. It was fined a measly $83,000 by the regional water board for chronic sewage spills from January 1999 to June 2000. One can readily understand that fines are cheaper than compliance. Aliso and Doheny beaches were closed for 44 days due to MNWD ineptitude and stingy maintenance schedules. Who will pay for the lost riparian/marine habitat, or for the days when no one could enjoy recreation at our beaches?

MICHAEL HAZZARD

Mission Viejo