The City Council overwhelmingly approved support Tuesday of Mayor Jerry Sanders’ decision to apply for a five-year waiver to bypass an upgrade to secondary treatment at the Point Loma Wastewater Plant.
While the waiver would save the city money in the near term, a potentially costly legal battle may be looming with environmentalists over the wastewater upgrade and water reuse issues.
Councilmembers voted 7-1 to seek the waiver, with only councilmember Donna Frye opposing the action.
The city must file its waiver application with the California Environmental Protection Agency in December to qualify for the permit to bypass the upgrade.
The upgrade to secondary treatment could cost anywhere from $300 million to $1.5 billion, according to Bill Harris, a representative from the mayor’s office.
District 2 Councilmember Kevin Faulconer said he supports Sanders’ decision to pursue the waiver.
“From a cost standpoint and science standpoint, the waiver is the best action for the city,” he said.
The action also raises questions about what is to be done with the City Council’s plans to implement water recycling and reuse programs.
Faulconer said he agrees with Sanders’ position to shelve water recycling and indirect potable reuse plans that were approved by the council in October.
Whether or not the city of San Diego moves forward with an indirect potable water reuse program ” sometimes referred to as the “toilet-to-tap” program ” depends on how the City Council reacts to Sanders’ recent veto of its vote to implement the program.
Sanders’ cited economic reasons for not endorsing the council’s action ” a plan that would launch an estimated $10 million to $15 million pilot program.
According to Harris, the city cannot afford the additional cost right now.
“First and foremost, we don’t have the money,” he said. “We need to concentrate on conservation and supplying [water].”
The City Council voted 5-2 to adopt the final draft report of the 2006 Water Reuse Study on Oct. 29.
The action calls for a study and report to the City Council regarding opportunities to start a pilot water-recycling program.
While Sanders reiterated his rejection of the toilet-to-tap program earlier this month, the council needs the same number of votes ” five ” to override Sanders’ veto.
Harris said the mayor will try to lobby City Councilmembers to his side.
While the council has previously approved both the Water Recycling Master Plan and the Water Reuse Study, the ratepayers will be stuck with the bill, Harris said.
“We [the city] would have to return to the ratepayers,” he said. “We’ve raised the rates twice and would not enjoy going back.”
The City Council voted to approve water and wastewater rate increases in February and in October as a result of lawsuits over water and wastewater services, infrastructure and capital improvements.
Sanders’ decision sparked response from environmental groups that recently settled a lawsuit resulting in the city being required to pay several hundred million dollars through 2013 to replace old sewer pipes.
Marco Gonzalez, an attorney representing San Diego Coastkeeper and the San Diego chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, said the mayor’s decision presents the City Council with an opportunity to upgrade the Point Loma Wastewater Plant while starting a water-recycling program at the same time.
Gonzalez said the environmental groups he represents would sue the city if Sanders applies for the wastewater plant waiver.
Sanders has said he would pursue the waiver based on a scientific study he commissioned in October.
Researchers found that the Point Loma wastewater outfall 4.5 miles off the coast presents no significant harm to the surrounding marine environment, according to the report.
For more information on the water reuse study, or to view rate increases and other water related issues visit www.sandiego.gov/water/.