Water-The Third Rail

On May 28th, I wrote Mayor Kevin Falconer asking if he favored the EPA
waiver that would allow the Pt. Loma Wastewater plant to continue its
failure to meet the requirements of the 1972 Clean Water Act. The current
waiver expires in July 2015, exactly a year from now. Will those in charge
wait to see what way the political wind is blowing? Or will the City Council
decide to put it on the agenda and begin discussions?

Two weeks have elapsed since the letter was sent. Somewhere deep in the
mayor’s in-box lies my letter, likely not yet opened by a staffer. The
primary election has come and gone. Will I see any response to the letter? I
would like to think there would be at least a form letter in my mailbox that
thanks me for contacting the mayor’s office. If there is any response, this
blog will report on it.

In the meantime, the drought continues and millions of gallons of water are
treated to drinking water standards, used once and dumped into the outfall
from the Pt. Loma plant.

Peter Gleick and Kate Poole wrote Tuesday, Jun. 10, 2014 in Viewpoints in
the Sacramento Bee: “California can expand its water supply and reduce
demand”. Good article, but is anyone paying attention? We don’t have a water
shortage problem, we have a failure of the water policy makers and
implementers to take the action required.

Councilmember Sheri Lightner, who really “gets it” has commented on the
apathy surrounding the water supply issues saying until the taps are dry and
the toilets don’t flush, not much will happen. She is likely right, but by
that time it will be too late.

As the politicians stagger from one election cycle to the next, clamoring
for funds to support their campaigns take some time and listen to each one
to hear if they ever mention San Diego’s reliance on imported water. The
political issue is water rates will necessarily have to rise to fund
indirect potable recycling.

The third rail of politics nationally is the funding of the Social Security
System. Locally, in San Diego, the third rail is much more liquid. It’s
water.

So let’s see if Mayor Falconer is as willing to address the EPA waiver as he
is to fill potholes. Stay tuned.

Milt Burgess