[Water_news] 4. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: WATER QUALITY - 12/20/07

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

December 20, 2007

 

4. Water Quality

 

RUNOFF ISSUES:

Board approves plan to cut bacteria at creeks, beaches - San Diego Union Tribune

 

WATER QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE:

Guest Column: Water worries keep worsening; U.S. needs a better plan for infrastructure - Stockton Record

 

 

RUNOFF ISSUES:

Board approves plan to cut bacteria at creeks, beaches

San Diego Union Tribune – 12/20/07

By Terry Rodgers, staff writer

 

A mandatory plan to reduce bacteria contamination in the region's creeks and beaches over the next decade has been approved by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board.

 

The new regulation requires cities from Laguna Beach to Imperial Beach and as far inland as the Cleveland National Forest – watersheds that comprise 1,730 square miles – to work together to make waterways and beaches safer for public recreation.

 

“This is a huge step for the San Diego region, including southern Orange County,” said board Chairwoman Susan Ritschel of San Clemente.

 

No cost estimates were available on how much local governments will have to spend to comply with the new bacteria limits. Most already are working on measures to reduce bacteria contamination under a regionwide storm-water permit issued earlier this year by the water-quality board. But local governments are worried that they won't have enough money or technological solutions to reduce bacteria levels beyond what is already required, making them vulnerable to fines under state law.

 

At a public hearing in San Diego last week, Cindy Lin of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said the board's original deadline for adopting the bacteria limits was three years ago. She urged the board to resist more delays.

 

Currently, surfers and swimmers are at risk for illnesses unless they stay out of the ocean for three days after a storm because of high bacteria levels in urban runoff.

 

“That's patently unacceptable,” said Marco Gonzalez of San Diego Baykeeper. “Quite frankly, we can't wait any longer.”

 

Local government representatives said they were pleased that drafters of the regulations recently inserted compromise language giving them greater flexibility.

 

The board approved a major concession that largely exempts local governments from responsibility for reducing water-borne bacteria generated by birds or other “natural” sources that are unlikely to cause human illness.

 

Mark Gold, president of Heal the Bay, a Santa Monica-based environmental group, said the compliance schedule was too lenient. Bacteria during dry weather should be reduced in less than five years, he said.

 

“The bottom line is that people will have to wait 10 years for the beaches to be safe,” Gold said.  #

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071220/news_1m20bacteria.html

 

 

WATER QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE:

Guest Column: Water worries keep worsening; U.S. needs a better plan for infrastructure

Stockton Record – 12/16/07

By Sylvia Kothe, Concerned Citizens Coalition of Stockton; Wenonah Hauter, Food & Water Watch, Washington, D.C.

 

America's Clean Water Act turned 35 this year. Now we need to establish a national clean water trust fund.

 

We've made tremendous progress since 1972 but have begun losing ground because of insufficient water infrastructure funding.

 

Some sewer systems are 100 years old, and pipes under our homes and streets are deteriorating rapidly. Our decaying water systems could lead to a public health crisis.

 

Stockton's wastewater treatment facility is in desperate need of improvements.

 

The utility's privatization was driven in part by the need for investment. It hasn't been desirable for maintaining and upgrading infrastructure.

 

As the Concerned Citizens Coalition of Stockton documented in three annual contract reviews, OMI/Thames deferred maintenance and neglected repairs.

 

A recent report found that in 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency documented 50 violations regarding ammonia discharge at the plant.

 

Not only is California's infrastructure crumbling, but most of our waterways are considered dangerous for swimming and fishing.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the U.S. is falling short on water infrastructure spending by $22 billion a year.

 

The federal revolving fund that administers money for clean water projects has reached some of its lowest levels ever.

 

Without sufficient federal money, state officials must pick and choose among hundreds of maintenance and improvement projects.

 

While Californians attempt to meet clean water requirements, the problem is too big to handle without federal assistance. Given fickle federal funding and the urgency of the situation, a new solution is needed.

 

We must plan ahead and create a dedicated source of public funding so communities can keep water clean, safe and affordable.

 

A clean water trust fund would provide a steady, reliable and equitable revenue source.

 

We have federal trust funds for highways, harbors and wildlife habitats. Clean water warrants federal support and deserves the same protection. #

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071216/A_OPINION02/712160311/-1/A_OPINION

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