Water Plant Opponents Urge New Technology
ENCINO — Homeowners fighting the construction of water filtration plants at Encino and Stone Canyon reservoirs have persuaded city officials to examine a new purification technology that could cut costs and avoid new construction.
City Council members Mike Feuer and Cindy Miscikowski said Tuesday that they favor the alternative if tests show ultraviolet light will make the water safe to drink for 500,000 water users in the San Fernando Valley and Westside.
State health officials were not impressed with the latest gambit in a battle that has waged for years over the proposed construction of the $170-million plants.
“We are skeptical that that’s going to accomplish that we need,” said Cliff Charpe, head of field operations for the state health department. “I don’t think there’s any clear and strong evidence that you can depend on UV to protect you 100% against these organisms.”
Feuer will lead a delegation to Sacramento on Dec. 17 to ask state health officials to consider the new ultraviolet technology as an alternative to filtration methods currently required by state rules.
Water in the city’s open reservoirs in the Santa Monica Mountains is subject to contamination by birds and animals.
Filtration plants use chemical disinfectants and screening to purify water. The less costly ultraviolet system uses high-intensity light to disinfect the water.
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