Don’t Throw Money Down the Storm Drain

Re “Monitoring of Coastal Waters Is in Question,” Aug. 15:

The story was proof that much of what local activist organizations use for ammunition is not based on sound science. How else can one account for the Natural Resource Defense Council’s allegation that there has been an 81% increase in beach closures over the last year, even though this new study verifies that water quality has continued to improve over the previous four decades in Huntington Beach?

This misinformation has served as the foundation for strict new storm water permits, which have been proposed by the local regional water quality boards. As a member of the Orange County Regional Chapter of Community Assns. Institute, I am well informed of the financial burden these regulations will place on homeowner associations across the county.

The proposed storm water regulations will cost south Orange County $1.4 billion, with homeowner associations paying much of these costs. The regulations would force associations to spend thousands of dollars for capturing, treating, monitoring, testing and performing maintenance of on-site storm water facilities--all to create tiny, hardly measurable improvements in water quality. Why should we have to do this, which will raise the cost of housing, if water quality is improving under old regulations?

Fred Mellenbruch

Mission Viejo