Differing Views of Losing Sewage Waiver

Re “County’s Sewage Waiver Targeted,” Feb. 15:

Crying “Treat all the sewage fully now!” makes great headlines for politicians in beach cities and Sacramento. Wow, citizens think my guy is great; he is an environmentalist. However, unlike politicians in Sacramento, the board of directors of the Orange County Sanitation District wants evidence, before voting, that the expenditure of tax dollars will yield benefit. This issue risks a capital expense of $400 million and an annual operating cost of $15 million.

Scientists are testing the ocean to find a link between the bacteria on the beach and the outfall pipe four miles offshore. A definitive link between the two has never been found. The district is spending $5 million on research. A report will be completed in March. Should any link be found, the board will immediately institute the proper policy to solve the problem. Positive evidence of the environmental benefit needs to precede any taxpayer expense.

There is no documented improvement in ocean water quality tests in the South Bay since full secondary treatment was instituted by the city of Los Angeles. A more likely culprit of bacteria in the surf is urban runoff from the storm drains, Talbert Marsh and Santa Ana River. Presently all the sewage is fully treated. Half is treated once and blended with the other half, which is treated twice. Fully treating all the sewage twice will have a significant adverse impact on the environment. More sludge will be hauled to inland counties for agricultural use. This will require more energy to process and increase truck traffic and air pollution.

The Orange County Sanitation District is in compliance with all state and federal laws. The State Water Resources Control Board and the Environmental Protection Agency must approve the discharge permit renewal. Professionals whose job is to protect the marine ecosystem and water quality at our beaches accomplish this oversight. This is not the accounting firm Andersen overseeing Enron.

Russell Patterson

City councilman

Villa Park

Member, board of directors

O.C. Sanitation District

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Assemblyman Ken Maddox shows political leadership in his proposed legislation requiring full secondary treatment of sewage discharged into the ocean. Many city council members are also showing their concern for both the health of their constituents, the ocean environment and the economic health of Orange County, by also opposing the 301(h) waiver renewal.

Sanitation District General Manager Blake Anderson is distressed that “very few people are willing to talk to us.”

Hello! The public and their elected officials are talking to you. They are saying, “Get rid of the waiver and treat the sewage to at least full secondary levels.”

Anderson personally presented the district’s position to the Seal Beach City Council. That council then voted 4 to 1 to oppose the waiver, becoming the first city to do so.

It’s time to do us a favor. Get rid of the waiver. We can then move on to address the other major source of pollution: urban runoff.

Dennis Baker

Corona del Mar