[Water_news] 4. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS -WATER QUALITY- 4/06/09

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

April 6, 2009

 

4. Water Quality –

 

Water officials fine Stockton

The Stockton Record

 

Santa Monica Pipe Dream Takes Shape

The LookOut News

 

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Water officials fine Stockton

The Stockton Record – 4/05/09

 

SACRAMENTO - State water officials have fined the city of Stockton $60,000 for violating wastewater quality standards at the city's treatment plant, which discharges into the San Joaquin River.

 

The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board fine is for 20 alleged violations from 2000 through 2008, according to board documents.

 

For perspective, Mark Madison, director of Stockton's Municipal Utilities Department, said Thursday that the city's wastewater was tested about 40,000 times over those eight years. He said he believes the treatment plant is effective.

 

Also, Madison said, eight of the violations in question took place under the watch of OMI-Thames, the private company that operated Stockton's water works for several years until 2007. Madison said the city would seek compensation from the company for those violations.

 

Oil and grease, coliform bacteria and ammonia were among the contaminants that exceeded standards, board documents show. Treated wastewater has been pinpointed as one cause for the decline of the Delta ecosystem.

 

Stockton is not alone in facing wastewater fines. In March, the board fined Tracy $78,000 and the Mountain House Community Services District $30,000 for violations.#

 

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090405/A_NEWS/90404005/-1/rss02

 

 

 

Santa Monica Pipe Dream Takes Shape The LookOut News – 4/3/09 By Lookout Staff   The City is taking a major step towards cleaning up one of California’s most polluted beaches by laying the first lengths of pipe to divert dry weather runoff under the Santa Monica Pier.   Bankrolled with funds from Proposition V -- a 2006 parcel tax approved by Santa Monica voters to help clean up Santa Monica beaches -- the Pier Storm Drain Improvements and Dry Weather Diversion Project will replace a decaying drain that carries runoff from the thriving Downtown business district.   The leaky drain, which doesn’t reach the surf, has contributed to high levels of bacterial pollution that has made the water around the pier unsafe for swimming and earned it repeated F grades on Hel the Bay’s End of Summer report card.   By comparison, new diversion systems installed at other beaches along Santa Monica’s coastline have contributed to near-perfect grades.   The new 60” diameter high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe replaces a corrugated metal pipe that was installed during the 1950s, according to City officials.   “Over time the metal pipe had severely corroded in the marine environment, leading to unintended discharge and pooling of urban runoff,” City officials said.   The new storm drain – which will capture all dry weather runoff and divert it to a nearby sewer in Ocean Front Walk -- is expected to last for more than a century, officials said.   The dry season runoff comes from residents and businesses who routinely water down paved areas, wash cars and water lawns and gardens, according to City officials. After the pipe is laid, a concrete “outfall structure” will be installed to collect the water from the pipe. Water running through the corroded half-century-old pipe was pooling and stagnating at the end of the line and infiltrating into the sand. Construction is expected to be completed by June 1.   Another project funded by Measure V, which was narrowly approved by voters in November 2006, will install facilities to pump the runoff back up to the SMURRF facility during the rainy season, officials said.   The water would then be used for irrigation and other recycled uses. The project is currently in the concept phase.#   http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2009/April-2009/04_03_09_Pipe_Dream_Takes_Shape.html   ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DWR’s California Water News is distributed to California Department of Water Resources management and staff,  for information purposes, by the DWR Public Affairs Office. For reader’s services, including new subscriptions, temporary cancellations and address changes, please use the online page: http://listhost2.water.ca.gov/mailman/listinfo/water_news . DWR operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs. Inclusion of materials is not to be construed as an endorsement of any programs, projects, or viewpoints by the Department or the State of California.