Water-The Third Rail Part XI

Good editorial and the headline in today’s UT San Diego editorial is
certainly true in more ways than one. SAN DIEGO’S WATER FUTURE AT STAKE.

But not one single sentence or paragraph about the USEPA waiver for the Pt. Loma
WWTP expiring on July 31, 2015 that places San Diego in the precarious
position of non-compliance with the 1972 Clean Water Act. Potable recycling
and the waiver are conjoined at the hips. No waiver, recycling is necessary.
Waiver, and recycling is not required.

It is extremely puzzling why there appears to be a news blackout about the
expiring waiver where the City could be exposed to fines up to $25,000 per
day. There are a little over 200 working days remaining before the USEPA
waiver expires. Is there anyone out there who can answer why San Diegans are
being left in the dark?

This blog has covered this issue multiple times, including a letter to Mayor
Faulconer that was copied and posted in Water-The third Rail Part IX after a
month passed with no response from the Mayor’s office.

A substitute bond measure provides $500,000,000 “for both groundwater
projects and recycling and desalination.” Let’s say those on the 11th floor
of City Hall are still asleep as July 31, 2015 rolls around.

[By the way that is not out of the question. The history of these waivers include one
where dishonored Congressman Bob Filner had to step in and pass a bill to
allow San Diego time to get a waiver together.]

So if the 31st comes and goes and the waiver expires, at $25,000 per day in penalties,
$9.1 million dollars a year is a good start on paying the interest on San
Diego’s part of the water bond.

There must be a good reason why no one is talking about the USEPA waiver.
Maybe it’s just, SSSHHHHH. Be quiet. Maybe it will just go away!

Milt Burgess