New direction for runoff

Paul Clinton

As another way to solve the nagging problem of urban runoff, the

Orange County Sanitation District is proposing to divert it for treatment

just like sewage.

District leaders have launched an effort to amend the agency’s charter

so it could accept polluted water flowing down the watershed into

tributaries that lead to the ocean.

Instead, it would be pumped through the district’s Fountain Valley

plant along with the 241 million gallons of sewage treated each day.

“It is one of many things that has to happen,� District spokeswoman

Lisa Murphy said. “One of the primary things that has to happen is

education of the community because I don’t think people think

over-watering their lawn is urban runoff.�

Assemblyman Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach) is readying a bill that

would give the agency the power to treat the runoff. As an agency

constituted by the state Legislature, it would need an amendment to its

operating rule book.

Harman has until Feb. 22, the deadline for new legislation, to

introduce the bill.

There are still many questions that must be answered, including how

much runoff could be treated, how it would be treated and who would pay

potential cost increases.

Right now, the district accepts about 2 million gallons of runoff per

day. The plant could handle up to 4 million gallons at no more than the

current cost of $225,000 per year, Murphy said.

However, coastal cities want more. Huntington Beach officials, in a

Dec. 26 letter, asked the district to accept between 10 and 20 million

gallons per day.

The district has also been accepting about 1,000 gallons a day from

Newport Beach, a drop in the barrel, said Assistant City Manager Dave

Kiff.

The new method of treating car oils, pesticides, lawn water and other

everyday waste, officials said, would help to cut down on the number of

postings by the Orange County Health Care Agency of area beaches.

The district would need to separate those toxic compounds before the

waste water could be pumped out the district’s outfall pipe and into the

ocean.

“Newport Beach will always be a bit player� in the agency’s new plan,

Kiff said. “You’re putting two different components and mixing it. It’s

not a bad thing. It’s a different thing.�

Many of the beach postings caused by runoff have angered

environmentalists who want to protect the ocean and city officials who

want to protect businesses damaged by a loss of tourist revenue.

Nancy Gardner, the president of the Newport Beach chapter of

Surfrider, said she also supports the district’s plan.

“If what they put out there is cleaner, it’s an advantage,� Gardner

said. “That’s a plus.�

* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

[email protected] .