DON'T DRINK THE WATER…

By John D. Bowler

AND THE REBUTTAL FROM THE CAPISTRANO BEACH
WATER DISTRICT

& THE FOLLOW-UP OF JOHN BOWLER

News reports reveal the ocean off the south coast is contaminated, again! Nearly 600,000 gallons of sewage have been unleashed by recent sewage spills off South Orange County. One county environmental health official was quoted, "It's like swimming in a toilet!"

A spill from the controversial Moulton Niguel Water District sent a torrential Valentine to Dana Point, of 41,000 gallons of partially treated, but not disinfected, sewage into the ocean at Doheny and Salt Creek beaches on February 14.

The biggest spill was caused by a power failure at the Trabuco Canyon Water District when 500,000 gallons of sewage ran into Aliso Creek. Capistrano Beach Water District dribbled only 45,000 gallons of sewage into the Pacific on Valentine's Day.

Further, we have water, water, everywhere, but nary a drop to drink! Media reports going back to 1983 reveal an overabundance of cancer-causing agents in our drinking water. This may account for the ever-increasing epidemic of cancer treatment demands at our local hospitals. Now that (the City of) Dana Point has pushed for the merger of sewer and water supply (under city control), there is no telling what may fly out of your faucet.

Dana Point has much bigger water problems than have been reported. All the development since incorporation, for years, has caused the already over-burdened water infrastructure to become a disaster of contamination. Anyone familiar with operating a business on Coast Highway knows the sewer pipes are so old that tree roots have grown right through them, causing back-ups and acute underground seepage all the way down into the marina.

The bluffs and marina are continually increased with contamination caused by the heavy flush of visitor-serving hotels and business. A health and safety moratorium on all new development is needed so these conditions can be responsibly evaluated and repaired. Until then, like the guy who fell into his own cesspool was found screaming, "Don't make a wave," or better yet, just don't go near the water!


REBUTTAL FROM THE CAPISTRANO BEACH WATER DISTRICT

By Dennis McLain
Manager, CBWD

Any sewer spill is bad news. Incorrect reporting of a sewer spill is also bad news. Mr. John D. Bowler stated in his letter to the editor of Thursday, February 26th, 1998, that "...Capistrano Beach Water District dribbled only 45,000 gallons of sewage into the Pacific on Valentine's Day." The District did have a sewer spill on Valentine's Day during a heavy rainstorm, but the amount was only estimated at 4,500 gallons.

Even though the amount was only a tenth of that quoted in Mr. Bowler's letter, the District responded quickly to the incident. Within 15 minutes of the reported incident, District personnel were on site. They quickly barricaded the spill area and did what was possible to stop the manhole causing the spill from overflowing. This all occurred during one of the heaviest local rainstorms in recent years.

Because the District has not responded to incorrect allegations in the past, much misinformation has circulated about the District. The District's water and sewer systems have been designed, built and are operated according to the best engineering standards. Even so, mishaps occur. The District has a dedicated, highly trained staff that quickly responds to such mishaps. Often in as little as 10 minutes. In fact, the District's response times are much quicker than any of the surrounding agencies or for that matter, most other water and sewer agencies.

No excuses. We had a spill. We took it seriously. We reacted quickly. The public was protected and we are investigating to make sure the facility was properly designed and maintained. We will continue working hard for you.

Dennis McLain
Manager, Capistrano Beach Water District

DANA POINT ON-LINE EDITOR: We respect the fact that the District manager accepts responsibility for the spill. But the fact that news about the spill had to come from an unofficial source bothers us. Why didn't the District disclose the spill, so that the public was informed of what was going on?



Follow-up
REBUTTAL FROM JOHN D. BOWLER
12 March, 1998


In attacking my letter of concerns regarding recent reports of sewage spills that have again contaminated our beaches, Capistrano Beach Water District manager Dennis McLain made a "we're just a little bit pregnant," ten percent admission of responsibility for the Valentine's Day sewage spill massacre of our local Pacific Ocean.

This politically correct retort gurgles on about "the district's response times are much quicker than any of the other surrounding agencies or for that matter, most other water and sewer agencies." Hey, that's an advertisement made for TV, "We spill your sewage but, we pull you out quicker!" It appears none of the culprit local water district(s) that reportedly spilled almost 600 thousand gallons of sewage into our local beaches on Valentine's Day, came forward to warn us of this pollution danger. It was only through the "best" local daily newspaper reporters digging and the Orange County Environmental Health officials that seemed to cause awareness of this disaster. It's as if all the managers of these local water district agencies turned their lights out and hid under their desks.

In most recent years, we have seen reports of the Grand Jury investigations, the deliberate illegal dumping, lawsuits, padded expense accounts, and continued devastating pollution to our beaches by the same agencies charged with the responsibility for our water and sewer health and safety. Its fiascos like these that inspire me to want the whole system overhauled and all the current water district managers and board members thrown out on their ears. This should be a consideration for the new Super Agency. Now we get bureaucratic blarney such as "we are investigating to make sure the facility was properly designed and maintained."

Gee, don't you already know if the facility was properly designed and maintained? That spin alone floats among the other reported 40,500 gallons of sewage spill attributed to the Capistrano Beach Water District that manager McLain fails to admit! I stand by my sources... away up on the "High Ground!"

Mr. John D. Bowler
DANA POINT, CALIFORNIA


RELATED STORY: BEACHES MIRED IN POLLUTION DESPITE SUNSHINE


SOURCE: Letter from John Bowler reprinted from the Letters to the Editor in the Dana Point News 26 February, 1998. Letter from Dennis McLain reprinted from the Letters to the Editor of the Dana Point News 5 March, 1998. Reprinted in the public interest. Follow-up reprinted from 12 March, 1998, issue of Dana Point News.

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