City: reservoir sale safe for bay under old pact

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- Environmental activists said Monday that a previous

agreement between the city and the Irvine Ranch Water District to prevent

the release of reclaimed water into the Back Bay isn’t strong enough to

support the sale of the city’s share in a reservoir.

“For those of use who will stay here, it’s unacceptable to have a

10-year plan,” said Bob Caustin, the founding director of Defend the Bay.

“This does not solve the problem. It merely postpones the inevitable.”

Before letting go of its 1.18% share of the San Joaquin Reservoir --

six other agencies have already sold theirs -- the City Council sought a

binding agreement to ensure that the water district would not dump

treated waste water into the Back Bay.

Tonight, the council will discuss the possible sale to the water

district, which plans to turn the unused reservoir into a storage basin

for reclaimed water.

At a Sept. 26 council meeting, residents and council members expressed

concern about the water district’s refusal to sign a binding agreement.

However, city officials are now suggesting that a 1996 agreement between

the city, the Irvine Ranch Water District and the Orange County Water

District should eliminate concerns.

Under the 1996 “no discharge” agreement, the Orange County Water

District accepts excess flows of reclaimed water.

State water quality control officials allow the water district to dump

reclaimed water into the San Diego Creek Channel -- which feeds into the

bay -- after serious rainstorms.

In order to prevent the Irvine Ranch Water District from releasing

reclaimed water into the Back Bay, the city agreed to find several areas,

such as the Newport Beach and Big Canyon country clubs, that would use

the water for irrigation instead.

While Deputy City Manager Dave Kiff said the 1996 agreement will

protect the bay through 2011, he added that it was unclear what would

happen after that date. Kiff said an increasing demand for reclaimed

water in Irvine, more users in Newport Beach, or a better way to treat

the waste water could solve the problem at that time.

Councilman Gary Adams, who has objected to selling the city’s share

without a binding agreement, said there was still time to come up with a

solution.

Caustin said a long-term solution should be in place before the sale.

“The city can be part of the solution,” he said, “by requiring Irvine

Ranch Water District to build a pipeline to get rid of treated sewage. Or

[the city can] approve something that is shortsighted and a short-term

avoiding of reality.”