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Water board, city of Malibu struggle over septic permitting issues; Malibu city officials say the city is not entirely responsible for the poor water quality of its local ocean and lagoon waters, and should not have to front the full cost to mitigate pollution problems

Posted by: Maven on June 25, 2009 at 7:20 am

From the Malibu Times:

A palpable tension existed last week when Malibu city officials and Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board members met at City Hall to renegotiate their memorandum of understanding for the management of onsite wastewater treatment systems, commonly known as septic systems, within the city. The tension is the result of continuing problems over water quality in Malibu’s ocean and lagoon waters, and who is responsible for the pollution.

The MOU authorizes the city to issue discharge permits to developments that generate less than 2,000 gallons of wastewater per day, and was issued by the water board five years ago due to staff shortages (still an existing problem).

The water board may decide to curtail the city’s permitting authority after recently issuing notices of wastewater discharge violations to more than three dozen businesses in the Civic Center area, some of which are not permitted.

Attendees at last weeks’ meeting also included representatives from environmental groups Heal the Bay, Santa Monica Baykeeper and Surfrider Foundation, which insisted that the water board forbid all development in the Civic Center area until a centralized wastewater treatment facility is implemented.

Read more from the Malibu Times by clicking here.

June 25, 2009 · Filed Under Southern California

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