Ventura, Oxnard settle separate water treatment issues
By Shane Cohn 12/15/2011
Santa Clara River Estuary
The Ventura City Council took a $55 million step forward in protecting the environment, in a move that avoided litigat ion but will cost citizens a slight bump in sewer rates.
The council voted 6-1 to settle a lawsuit with the Wishtoyo Foundation and its Ventura Coastkeeper Program, as well as an administrative challenge filed by Heal the Bay, alleging the city’s sewage treatment plant releases an excessive amount of tertiary treated water to the Santa Clara River Estuary, harming the sensitive habitat.
Councilman Jim Monahan was the dissenting vote, saying he would rather the city contest the lawsuit.
But City Attorney Ariel Calonne thought otherwise, telling the Council that the city’s chances of prevailing in litigation were dim.
The agreement calls for up to $55 million in renovations to the sewage treatment plant by 2025, and for the city to reuse 50 percent to 100 percent of its treated wastewater. Currently, the city recycles only 3 percent of its treated wastewater, while releasing 9 million gallons into the estuary, an amount that the lawsuit alleges is damaging to the river’s ecosystem. The cost of the new infrastructure will come from an estimated $3.50 increase in Ventura residents’ monthly sewer bills, beginning in a few years, but the sale of reclaimed water can generate revenue and eventually offset that cost.
“There are so many demands on our water supply, and this agreement sets Ventura in motion to help satisfy a lot of those demands,” said Jason Weiner, staff attorney for Wishtoyo Foundation/Ventura Coastkeeper Program. “It was an outstanding and important decision, precedent setting. It was responsible, sustainable planning and we commend it.”
El Rio Sewer Project
The El Rio Sewer Project, under way since 1999, is finally completed. The $35 million project connected 1,400 parcels in El Rio to the Oxnard sewer system, abandoning the septic systems.
“It’s really exciting, not only for residents, but for the public works staff that has worked so hard to obtain so many grants for the project,” explained Sue Hughes, deputy executive officer at the County Executive Office.
In 1999, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Support Board prohibited the discharge of septic systems into the Oxnard forebay. If property owners in El Rio didn’t comply by 2008, they were to be fined up to $10,000 per day.
The county began looking for solutions to switch property owners from septic systems to a sewer system. Needing to construct underground sewer pipes, and connect to the city of Oxnard’s system, the county, during the next decade, secured $26 million of federal, state and local grant money, and negotiated a low-interest, 40-year loan to fund the remaining portion of the $35 million project.
“This area where El Rio is situated is near the Oxnard forebay, which is a very shallow groundwater level,” said Reddy Pakala, the county’s director for the water and sanitation department. “Since the septic tanks were so concentrated in this area, the nitrate level was so high, so by converting to a conventional sewer system we are able to improve the water quality in this groundwater basin and make it less contaminated for water users in this area.”
Along with improved water quality, the completion of the project also signified enhanced public health and safety, and higher property values for the low-income area.
Fifth District Supervisor John C. Zaragoza will host a ribbon-cutting event to commemorate the completion of the project. The event will be held Thursday, Dec. 15, 9:30 a.m. at the Roger Jones Community Center, 2864 Jourdan St., Oxnard.
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