Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
April 18, 2007
4. Water Quality
PERCHLORATE:
State water board postpones hearing on perchlorate plume - Riverside Press Enterprise
WASTEWATER ISSUES:
Editorial: Chemical soup; How much is too much when it comes to cleaning wastewater? -
PERCHLORATE:
State water board postpones hearing on perchlorate plume
Riverside Press
By Jennifer Bowles, staff writer
A hearing to determine those responsible for the Inland region's most significant water pollution problem has been delayed once again.
Tam Doduc, chairman of the State Water Resources Control Board, postponed the hearing for two months to give attorneys more time to file rebuttals. The hearing's aim is to assign blame and cleanup responsibility for a massive underground plume of perchlorate, a rocket fuel ingredient linked to thyroid ailments, that has tainted 16 wells in
The hearing, which was set to begin May 8, will now start July 9 and run an additional five days through the month, said William L. Rukeyser, a spokesman for the state water board. The hearing will be held in the
Regional water-quality officials, who have been investigating the case, say they believe the lengthy plume was mainly caused by three companies that have used a 160-acre industrial lot in northern
Community activists said they were disappointed to see another delay.
"As long as there is no cleanup plan, the water supply to the residents is in danger," said Davin Diaz, who is with the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice. "We were all looking forward to some type of closure, and it just keeps feeling like it's dragging on."
Rukeyser said the agency wants all parties to have a chance to present and defend their case so there will be no grounds to appeal any decision reached by the state board.
"We as well want an expeditious conclusion to this process," he said. "But, we also want to make sure that there are no arguments or claims that anybody was in any way deprived of due process." #
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_perch18.3bf7e41.html
WASTEWATER ISSUES:
Editorial: Chemical soup; How much is too much when it comes to cleaning wastewater?
Santa Rosa Press Democrat – 4/18/07
The thought of a salmon changing gender might be funny -- if the implications weren't so serious.
Studies from other areas suggest that chemicals from medications and beauty products that aren't fully removed before wastewater is released into streams and rivers can cause male fish to grow female organs.
The extent of the problem is unknown. We can assume, however, that for some species in some locations, this is not good news.
Locally, humans could be affected by these trace chemicals as wastewater replaces fresh water for irrigating crops, parks and school grounds.
But before overreacting, regulators must have a better understanding of the problem. For example, of the chemicals that remain in wastewater, which are potentially harmful and in what amounts? How much would it cost ratepayers to remove those chemicals and how great would be the public benefit?
These questions and others will guide the discussion at the Santa Rosa Board of Public Utilities meeting at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall. While answers won't always be available, it is important to address the issue before the city expands its wastewater reuse system.
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070417/NEWS/704170325/1043/OPINION01
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