ATTACHMENT 1
RESOLUTION NO.
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 [Water] 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. |