HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-12 - AGENDA REPORTS - SCRIVER CHLORIDE STANDARD (2)CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approi
Item to be presented
October 12, 1999
ADJUSTMENT OF CHLORIDE STANDARD IN THE SANTA CLARA
RIVER
Planning & Building Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council approve the Regional Water Quality Control Board's Option #2 to accept
current chloride levels and monitor ground and surface water quality to ensure continued
protection of water quality in the Santa Clara River.
BACKGROUND
On August 24, 1999 the City Council received a report from the Los Angeles County
Sanitation Districts regarding the process that is underway to evaluate water quality in the
Santa Clara River and to consider increasing the water quality standard for chloride from
100 mg/liter to 143 mg/liter. The Sanitation District presented a detailed explanation of
the water quality research that has been completed to assess historic and current chloride
levels in the River.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that high chloride levels
are impairing certain reaches of the Santa Clara River. This enables the Regional Water
Quality Control Board (RWQCB) to establish and enforce lower chloride discharge
limitations for all waters entering the Santa Clara, including discharges from the Water
Reclamation Plants (WRP), stormwater discharges from municipal stormdrains and
irrigation run-off from agriculture. Meeting these limitations will cost all dischargers a
great deal of money. The cost for wastewater treatment to meet the current receiving water
chloride objective at the WRP's in Santa Clarita is approximately $80 million in one time
costs and $7 million annually for maintenance. This will triple the cost for residential
sewer service.
On July 14, 1999 the Board of the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts 26 and 32 voted
to support the authorization of District Counsel to provide a notice of intent and to institute
litigation against the EPA to challenge the determination that the Santa Clara River is
impaired by chloride. This decision was based on the fact that studies have shown that the
water quality level for chloride was set too low. Mayor Darcy and Councilmember Jan
Heidt are members of the board and voted to support this action.
A r_'
PPROWED Agenda Item:
The RWQCB has requested that the City of Santa Clarita inform them of our preference
regarding which of two alternatives we favor in addressing the issue of chlorides in the
Santa Clara River. The two alternatives are:
1. Limit the amount of chloride that can enter the river to specified pounds per day and
return chloride levels to historic levels with new wastewater treatment.
2. Accept current chloride levels and monitor ground and surface water quality to ensure
continued protection.
Option #1 will result in reductions of chloride by the establishment of legal limitations on
the amount of chloride that can enter the Santa Clara River from all sources, including
municipal storm drains. This will result in costly upgrades to the two WRPs in Santa
Clarita and will require construction of a 30 -mile brine line from the WRPs to the ocean.
The cost of these improvements will triple residential sewer rates.
Option #2 will maintain current levels of chloride entering the River and will cost residents
and the City a small amount in additional monitoring and assessment costs.
Studies conducted by the Sanitation District show that levels of chloride in the Santa Clara
River have not changed since the water quality standard was set in the 1970s. What has
changed is the location of the collection of the water samples. Sampling locations used for
the determination that chloride levels have increased were closer to the outfalls of the
WRPs. The location of the water sample taken to set the original standard was well down
stream where more mixing of the water with natural flows diluted the level of chloride.
Upon review of the data there does not appear to be a threat to water quality.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
None identified by Staff.
FISCAL IMPACT
Significant fiscal impact will result if the RWQCB chooses to keep the water quality
objective for chloride at 100 mg/liter. A lower fiscal impact will result if the RWQCB
chooses to increase the objective to 143 mg/liter.
ATTACHMENTS
None
AJR:
S:\PBS\ENVSRVCS\COUNCtL\chloride.doc