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ORDER ISSUED TO UPGRADE SEWAGE TREATMENT In historic victories for clean water, two separate water-quality agencies in California have determined that Orange County and the City of Goleta must both upgrade their sewage treatment facilities to secondary systems, ending decades-long efforts by the facilities to avoid compliance with 1972 Clean Water Act. On Wednesday, July 17 the 25-member Orange County Sanitation District voted 13-12 to discontinue efforts to secure yet another five-year 301(h) exemption from the Clean Water Act. The result is that Orange County will now spend as much as $450 million in order to increase treatment of 240-million gallons per day of sewage it sends 4.5 miles offshore. Huntington Beach, California's famous "surf city," has been plagued and ravaged in recent years by routine beach closures related to foul water pollution. Scientific data show that it is likely the partially treated raw sewage circulates back toward bathers. More than 350 people attended the hearing, which had become a rallying cry for coastal environmentalists throughout Southern California. The Orange County determination will resolve issues at one of the two largest partially treated sewage facilities in the entire United States. The other, San Diego, still steadfastly refuses to increase treatment, no matter what the impact on the economy, tourism, or the health and safety of residents and coastal resources. San Diego is seeking to have the federal government overrule the Coastal Commission's recent determination requiring that the county begin to utilize modern treatment for its sewage. The City of Goleta is a much smaller system, treating 4.8 million gallons per day of sewage generated by Goleta's 80,000 residents. Goleta, however, only discharges waste one-mile offshore. Goleta faces approximately $42 million in needed upgrades. On July 12 the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board voted to require the water district improve sewage treatment. While Goleta may still appeal the decision to the State Water Board, such a determination has not yet been made. Hillary Hauser, President of Heal the Ocean, hailed the order as a "victory for clean water" that "reflects the philosophy of many Santa Barbara citizens who are tired of the ocean being used to dilute waste." Up to Top |
