Water board will put money to use elsewhere
Re “State Cuts Loan for Sewers in Los Osos,” Dec. 13
The state Water Resources Control Board withdrew funding for a lowinterest loan to Los Osos, Calif., because the town’s new sewer board refused to deal with 30 years of pollution, not despite the pollution.
The Los Osos Community Services District chose to cancel work on its fully permitted (and presently only) site for a sewage treatment plant.
It had construction contracts in place and work underway to protect groundwater and its only drinking water source from further contamination. It has no other site and is unlikely to have a new one for years, if ever.
It would make no environmental or fiscal sense to tie up valuable taxpayer funds while Los Osos stalls.
By withdrawing funding from Los Osos, the state water board has freed up $129 million for other communities that are ready to improve California water quality.
WILLIAM L. RUKEYSER
State Water Resources
Control Board
Sacramento
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