HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-84 - Relating to Discharge of Wastewater into the OceanRESOLUTION NO. O 1 - '34
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, RELATING TO THE
DISCHARGE OF WASTEWATER INTO THE OCEAN
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) is a special district
that provides wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal services to 21 cities
with about 2.35 million residents in central and northern Orange County; and
WHEREAS, OCSD uses a 10' diameter Ocean Outfall to discharge
approximately 236 million gallons per day of wastewater from OCSD's 2.35 million
customers; and
WHEREAS, 50% of the wastewater discharged out the Ocean Outfall is
wastewater treated to a primary treatment level and 50% is wastewater treated to
a secondary treatment level; and
WHEREAS, the Ocean Outfall that sits 190' below the ocean surface about
4.5 miles offshore from the Santa Ana River mouth between Huntington Beach
and Newport Beach; and
WHEREAS, this discharge creates a wastewater plume in the ocean that can
be up to 6 miles long, 2 to 3 miles wide and 100 feet thick; and
WHEREAS, OCSD's 20 Meter Fecal Coliform Study in 1996 showed that the
wastewater plume may - under certain wave, tidal and current conditions -
approach the shoreline where it may contaminate the beaches and swimming
areas of Huntington Beach and Newport Beach; and
WHEREAS, the 1972 Federal Clean Water Act requires most Publicly -Owned
Treatment Works (POTW's) to treat all wastewater to full secondary levels before
such wastewater can be discharged from a treatment facility; and
WHEREAS, the Act authorizes POTW's to request a waiver of this full
secondary requirement from the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
under Section 301(h) of the Act as long as the POTW can show that the less -then -
full -secondary discharge does not harm the environment or harm public health; and
WHEREAS, OCSD requested and was granted a waiver under Section
301(h) by USEPA in 1985, with an extension granted in 1998; and
WHEREAS, the current waiver (as extended) expires on January 1, 2003;
and
WHEREAS, as projected by a 1999 Environmental Impact Report associated
with OCSD's Strategic Plan, full secondary treatment of wastewater reduces
nearly all parameters of ocean pollution including levels of fecal coliform bacterial
and viruses; and
WHEREAS, sanitation agencies in Los Angeles County have not applied for
new waivers under Section 301(h) and are in the process of treating all
wastewater at full secondary levels; and
WHEREAS, all or a significant portion of the additional expense of
constructing and maintaining facilities associated with full secondary treatment at
OCSD will likely be borne by the ratepayers of OCSD including the residents and
businesses of the City of Costa Mesa; and
WHEREAS, The City of Costa Mesa relies upon a safe, clean ocean to
sustain its quality of life and its tourism base; and
WHEREAS, the residents of Costa Mesa use the ocean and its beaches for
health, recreation, and swimming;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City
of Costa Mesa that it hereby opposes any extension of or application for a waiver
of full secondary discharge requirements under Section 301(h) of the Federal Clean
Air Act by OCSD; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Costa
Mesa that it hereby supports the full secondary treatment of all wastewater
discharged into OCSD's Ocean Outfall; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Costa
Mesa that it hereby urges its resident and business population to join with the
Council in advocating for safer, less environmentally impactful wastewater
discharge into the Pacific Ocean and in recognizing and accepting the community-
wide obligation and financial costs that lie herein.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 19th day of November, 2001.
ATTEST:
Deputy City Cl4k of the City of Costa Mesa Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa
STATE OF CALIFORNIA)
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA)
APPROVED AS TO FORM
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CITY/AYTOhNEY
I, MARY T. ELLIOTT, Deputy City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk ..of the City
Council of the City of Costa Mesa, hereby certify that the above and foregoing
Resolution No. o% $4 was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said
City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the 19" day of November, 2001.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of
the City of Costa Mesa this 201h day of November, 2001.
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Deputy Ci y Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of
the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa