Sewage-Discharge Issues to Be Aired at Meeting
Health and environmental concerns about the discharge of moderately treated sewage into the ocean are the topic of a public meeting today.
The Orange County Sanitation District holds a federal waiver allowing it to dump effluent with higher concentrations of bacteria and human waste than sewage piped offshore by other public agencies. Environmentalists and some coastal officials are demanding an end to the waiver, citing the rash of recent beach closures and public-health warnings.
The exemption is up for renewal late next year, and many coastal cities are expected to lobby against it. Without the waiver, the district would have to spend as much as $400 million on additional treatment.
The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the sanitation district offices, 10844 Ellis Ave., Fountain Valley.
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