Water hearing is postponed

The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board has postponed the continuation of a public meeting on the Tapia Water Reclamation Facility operating permit to Nov. 3.

The regional board meeting was continued from Sept. 1, and initially scheduled to reconvene on Oct. 6. According to Las Virgenes Municipal Water District officials, the regional board needs more time to sort through evidence to determine whether proposed new water regulations for the Calabasas sewer plant would be sufficient to clean up the pollution in Malibu Creek.

At the Nov. 3 meeting, regional water board members will vote on whether a new “reverse osmosis” plant should be built at the cost of $160 to $200 million. Local water officials say the regional board’s solutions are scientifically questionable.

At issue is whether the reclaimed water that Tapia discharges into the creek five months out of the year contributes to pollution. Water district officials say the reclaimed water reduces bacteria in the creek, while environmental groups, including Heal the Bay, Santa Monica Bay Keepers and others, contend that the treated waste water contributes to excessive algae growth, which cuts off oxygen and kills fish.

The regional board also is proposing transporting the treated water to the Los Angeles River via a newly constructed, 36-inch pipeline from the Tapia plant to the Los Angeles River. Part of the dilemma for local water officials is that after construction of a pipeline to the L.A. River, the clean water standards could change again, costing additional taxpayer dollars.

The cost of a new facility would be passed on to the ratepayers, Tapia officials said.

Las Virgenes Municipal Water District and Triunfo Sanitation District will conduct a joint meeting in the future to discuss their final arguments to the regional board. The location of the regional board’s meeting has yet to be determined.

For further information, visit www.yourwater.org, or call (818) 251-2104.