Reycled Water

Fox6News.com

November 14, 2007

Mayor Jerry Sanders today vetoed a recent City Council action that authorized a pilot program to use recycled wastewater to supplement San Diego's drinking water supply.

Sanders said his decision was a financial one.

"Putting aside the public's historic objection to `toilet-to-tap,' one of the primary factors for my veto was economics," Sanders said. "The water enterprise fund simply does not have the money to pay for a pilot project or the public outreach campaign the council is requesting."

The mayor said the project would cost $10-$15 million.

Marco Gonzalez, a local attorney who represents San Diego Coastkeeper and the Surfrider Foundation, disputed the mayor's arguments during a City Council committee hearing this morning. He accused Sanders of playing politics and demonstrating a "total lack of leadership."

"Enough of the politics. Water supply is too important an issue, and quite frankly, we need it too badly to make it a political football," he said.

Councilwoman Donna Frye said the City Council will consider overriding the mayor's veto in its Dec. 3-4 session.

The City Council voted 5-2 last month to initiate a one-year reclaimed water demonstration project by next July.

Councilmen Tony Young and Kevin Faulconer cast the dissenting votes, and Councilman Brian Maienschein was absent.

Proponents said using treated wastewater to bolster San Diego's reservoirs was critical to ensure that the city has a reliable source of water into the future amid potential shortages.

The project would essentially be a small-scale test of how the technology would work and determine its cost. The results would be used to determine whether the city ultimately initiates a potable water reuse program.

The council needs five votes to override the mayor's veto.

If that happens, Sanders said he will submit to the council a notice that would require it to increase water rates to pay for the pilot project. It would be the third rate increase in the past year.

Sanders, who has repeatedly stated his opposition to infusing treated sewage into San Diego's reservoirs, argued today that it is not a "silver bullet for our water supply needs."

"It is a costly process that does not hold promise for substantial amounts of usable water," the mayor said.

Sanders has instead called for increased conservation and the exploration of new sources of water, like desalination and the exploitation of groundwater.

Recycled water is now being used in San Diego for things like irrigation of landscaping along roadways and in parks through a program known as "purple pipe," but it is not pumped directly into the drinking supply.

"It makes total sense for non-potable uses," Sanders said.

Concern over San Diego's water supplies has heightened in recent months in the wake of a federal judge's ruling that may limit the amount coming from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in order to protect an endangered fish species, called the delta smelt.

San Diego imports about 90 percent of its water, primarily from Northern California and the Colorado River.

About Coast Law Group

Coast Law Group LLP is a community-conscious law firm which provides innovative solutions to best achieve clients’ goals and objectives.  To learn more about the firm and its broad range of legal services, log on to www.coastlawgroup.com.

COAST LAW GROUP LLP

169 Saxony Rd., Ste. 204

Encinitas, CA 92024

(760) 942-8505