Escondido sewage plant continues to pollute
San Diego Union-Tribune
October 18, 2007In “State board overturns sewage settlement” (Oct. 3), it was reported that an October 2006 decision of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board was appealed to the State Water Resources Control Board and remanded back to the region for reconsideration.
For over 16 years, The Escondido Creek Conservancy has been working to preserve, enhance and protect the Escondido Creek watershed. The 26-mile-long, 75-square-mile area that is served by the creek supports five cities, county unincorporated land and the San Pasqual Reservation. Escondido Creek provides many important benefits, ranging from water transport to support for natural plant and animal communities. The residential communities along the creek benefit from a healthier, higher quality of life as a direct result of a clean and healthy Escondido Creek.
The health of the creek is directly related to the health of our local beaches, one of our most precious regional assets. What flows out of Escondido Creek ends up in San Elijo Lagoon and is discharged onto the beach in Cardiff.
As one of the two parties, along with San Diego Coastkeeper, that participated in the appeal, we wish to make clear our concerns.
While monetary penalties are an important deterrent, they do not result in corrective action. The settlement agreed to by the regional board and the city of Escondido did not contain provisions for fixing the problems that apparently exist at the city's sewage treatment plant, which resulted in the non-detection of the plant-damaging discharges. The plant has a long history of sewage spills – not merely a single isolated incident – which points to an operational or capacity problem that is systemic in nature.
The sewage treatment plant needs a permanent fix to its problems, and that fix needs to happen as soon as possible. Escondido Creek, San Elijo Lagoon, the Pacific Ocean and our public health deserve better. To the extent that any penalty fees are assessed, the Escondido Creek Conservancy and San Diego Coastkeeper are not interested in having more money going to some state fund; monies should be used locally to benefit the watershed and its communities.
GEOFFREY SMITH
Executive Director
Escondido Creek Conservancy