ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE

It seems extravagant that adjoining water districts in South County would have their own sewage treatment facilities, literally across the creek from each other. In Dana Point, a proposal for such redundancy is being seriously considered. In the interest of regional cooperation and common sense, the idea should be scrapped.

The Capistrano Beach Water District says it needs to go ahead with plans to build a $6-million plant because it has reached its sewage capacity and must expand its old and outdated facility. It argues that its efforts to combine treatment with other nearby sewage districts have failed.

There is no dispute that something needs to be done, whatever is standing in the way. For example, nearby Doheny State Beach was closed during a sparkling weekend last June because raw sewage was found to be leaking into San Juan Creek. Since that time, the district attorney’s environmental protection unit has been conducting an investigation into the district’s disposal of sewage.

While Capistrano maintains that it runs its district facility properly and stands ready to make any needed fixes, the argument for getting to the bottom of the problem for the long term is compelling.

By way of background, Capistrano Beach and Dana Point joined forces and incorporated as a city in 1989, but the two communities always have had their own sewer plants on the opposite sides of San Juan Creek, near the often polluted state beach.

It doesn’t make sense for these two to continue going their own ways in sewage treatment, especially when there is additional capacity available in the Dana Point facility. Capistrano Beach Water District already has among the highest rates in the county, and spending $6 million for a new facility would be wasteful and would impose new financial burdens on customers.

Other nearby districts that do have capacity should not horde it or stand in the way of efficient consolidation. The argument that Capistrano Beach needs to move ahead with or without cooperation of nearby districts is strong. Consolidation of districts is worth looking into.

Local water districts can become fiefdoms. It’s important to consider the big picture. One of the great assets of Orange County is its public beaches. If they continue to be threatened by sewage problems, everyone will lose.