Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
August 24, 2007
4. Water Quality
URBAN WATER ISSUES:
Water mistake at business complex fixed; Stores that closed allowed to reopen - San Diego Union Tribune
New River Committee says river has implications for Valley - Imperial Valley Press
URBAN WATER ISSUES:
Water mistake at business complex fixed; Stores that closed allowed to reopen
By Anne Kruger, staff writer
Two of the 17 stores in
They had been closed since last Friday, when officials at the Otay Water District discovered the complex was hooked up to recycled water, or treated sewage, instead of drinkable water.
Angela Mason, co-owner of the Candy Bouquet, said she was glad to be open again, even as she and co-owner Amy Wise worried about the business they lost.
“We're thrilled there's a light at the end of the tunnel,” Mason said.
Wise said she and other business owners had long suffered from stomach and intestinal problems they now suspect were caused by the tainted water. She and Mason plan to visit their doctors.
Otay General Manager Mark Watton said yesterday's results showed the recycled water met federal standards for drinking water, except for the presence of coliform bacteria, which indicates contamination but is not necessarily harmful, and higher levels of nitrates and salts. The water did not have high levels of heavy metals, as some store owners had feared.
“I don't know if that will ameliorate their concerns,” Watton said.
He said Otay officials are still analyzing how the error occurred, and he will make a report to Otay's board at its Sept. 5 meeting.
A store owner complained to Otay on July 27 about the funky smell, taste and look of the water. An initial test by Otay workers showed no problems. Watton said the test was conducted on the main water line leading to the center, not a lateral line carrying the recycled water.
After the shop owners continued to complain, the center's property manager had a private lab test the water. The results came back a week ago and showed the presence of coliform bacteria. That's when Otay officials ordered the businesses not to drink the water.
Officials discovered the complex had been receiving recycled water since it opened in 2005. The problem became more noticeable this spring, when Otay began pumping 100 percent recycled water in its irrigation pipes instead of a 4-to-1 blend of drinkable and recycled water.
Watton had said Tuesday the incident was the first time the district mixed up recycled water and drinkable water.
Yesterday, he said he learned it happened once before.
Watton said pipes carrying recycled water and pipes carrying water to a drinking fountain in Otay Ranch's
The water district sent notices to nearby residents and posted signs in the park, he said.
Watton said there were no reports of anyone getting sick from the water. #
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070824/news_1m24otay.html
New River Committee says river has implications for Valley
By Victor Morales, staff writer
CALEXICO — The Calexico New River Committee said last week that county support is vital to its efforts to persuade federal agencies to clean up one of the nation’s most polluted rivers.
Committee members will seek to secure grants and proposed federal allocations for the cleanup. They may file claims to force federal agencies to take responsibility for the
But the New River Committee anticipates requiring
New River Committee Executive Director Miguel Figueroa discusses why county residents should care.
Q: Who should clean up the
A: We believe the federal government should clean up the
Q: Why should
A: Because it passes through
An example of this was an invitation the CNRC received from Supervisor Victor Carrillo to meet with (Rep. Bob) Filner. This acknowledges the importance of the
Q: You mentioned Imperial,
A: Because we have a very diverse community in our county that commutes to almost all of our cities. A resident that lives in Calexico may work in
They may not be in direct contact but they may be at a place where it passes by. Maybe they are not aware. Maybe they smell the stench and they don’t know what it is, but they come in contact with it.
Q: In terms of clean up measures, construction and improvements, do your plans go beyond the city limits of Calexico?
A: Yes, they do. The New River Committee is proposing to encase the river up to Highway 98. But the project does not end there.
We are looking to install wetlands like the wetlands that are in Brawley and that have produced significant improvement to the water quality.
We have seen that it has had a very positive result. So we want to implement wetlands and other green belts to bring back the life into the river.
Q: The
A: (It would) not completely solve the problem because the county itself can only do so much and provide so much funds for the clean-up. In this case, the funds from the county would not be as powerful as their political impact that can represent us at a higher level. The county needs to express a united voice. We believe that’s more powerful.
Q: This is a border region. Some people might say that conditions like the
A: Yes, we are a border region. But we are
A privilege of being a
But I think we are at a point where we can get people to hear them.
None of the millions of people in this country deserve to have a sewer in their backyards. #
http://www.ivpressonline.com/articles/2007/08/24/news/news04.txt
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