[Water_news] 4. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: WATER QUALITY - 5/19/08

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

May 19, 2008

 

4. Water Quality –

 

 

County money down drains: Consultant tapped for water cleanup

Whittier Daily News- 5/18/08

By Jennifer McLain, Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES - The county this week took a $4.8million step that could lead to increased taxes for the cleanup of the region's polluted storm water.

 

On Tuesday, the county awarded a consultant contract to Moore Iacafano Goltsman, which will explore options, including a ballot measure, for funding water quality improvements.

 

"This is not just a coastal issue. This is an issue that will impact the entire county of Los Angeles," said county CEO William Fujioka. "This is not something we can ignore."

 

As untreated water continues to dump into the ocean from storm drains in the San Gabriel Valley and across the county, the hiring of the consultant initiates the beginning of a cleanup process that has long been ignored, Fujioka said.

 

But some supervisors questioned why the consultant costs should fall exclusively in the lap of the county.

 

"If the action benefits the other 84 cities within the flood control district, why is it that the county is the only one putting up the $4.8 million to fund (it)?" said Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich.

 

Property owners who live in the county flood control district would vote on a tax if the board approves a ballot measure that will be prepared by the consultant.

 

County officials said that they have not asked other cities to pitch in, nor have they requested grant funding, for the consultant costs.

 

"It's kind of a natural debt," said Mark Pestrella, assistant deputy director of public works. "The county, being a regional agency, should take the lead in a matter like this."

 

The consultant will conduct opinion research of property owners to gauge their understanding of storm drain pollution, and their willingness to pay for solutions.

 

The consultant will also develop a draft ballot measure, which is one of the options to pay for long-term funding for developing water quality programs.

 

"I would prefer to see this money used for additional public safety, foster children programs, libraries and other vital services," said Antonovich, who opposed the initiative, "...when there are other avenues that we could be seeking these dollars instead of raiding the general fund."

 

The county spends $84 million for "good housekeeping" for flood control projects, including $1 million a year in public education, Pestrella said.

 

Three years ago, the county approved a $625million San Gabriel River Master Plan, for 134 projects for flood protection, water conservation and storm water pollution from Azusa to Seal Beach.

 

Among the projects are 128-acre and 570-acre groundwater recharge facilities in Pico Rivera, as well as upgrades at Legg Lake in South El Monte, which is set to receive improvements to reduce the impacts of storm water and urban runoff pollution.

 

Storm drain water, which often carries contaminants such as pet litter, animal waste, car fluids and fertilizers, is not treated before flowing directly into rivers, such as the San Gabriel River and the ocean.

 

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said that for decades, "the county has turned its back" on storm water pollution that eventually dumps into the oceans.

 

Beaches from Ventura to Orange counties are occasionally closed because of pollution, and people are advised not to go swimming because they can get sick from it, Yaroslavsky said.

 

"It's the kind of thing we see normally in third world countries," Yaroslavsky said. "This isn't a Third World country." #

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