Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District announces that the three remaining legal issues to the agency’s state-mandated Chloride Compliance Project, and recycled water program, have been resolved. This will allow the Chloride Compliance Project, which will save Santa Clarita ratepayers additional legal costs, to be completed.
The Affordable Clean Water Alliance, represented by Attorney Robert Silverstein, was the plaintiff in the litigation. ACWA has filed five lawsuits against SCV Sanitation District over alleged violations to California’s Environmental Quality Act since 2013. Two cases were settled many years ago. ACWA’s third lawsuit was decided by the SCV Sanitation District. ACWA however, pursued an appeal that ended in February. ACWA’s fourth- and fifth lawsuits were dismissed by the SCV Sanitation District on February 28.
The SCV Sanitation Districts’ efforts to comply with federal and state mandates on the amount salt allowed in cleaned wastewater (sewage) to the Santa Clara River, and to support the increased usage of recycled water within the Santa Clarita Valley were the subject of the lawsuits.
The Chloride Compliance Project and the 2008 SCV voter approval of a ban on home water softeners adding salt to the sewer system were meant to improve the water quality in Santa Clara River’s watershed. ACWA’s legal challenges delayed compliance by the state chloride mandate for two years, and cost SCV ratepayers almost $8 million. These legal issues also delayed the implementation of SCV recycled-water projects, which could have been especially helpful to residents during this drought.
It has been a long and difficult road to reach this point. Laurene Weste (chairperson of the SCV Sanitation District Board) said, “I am proud that we persevered for what was legal and right.” While I fully support the intent behind the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this series of lawsuits is a great example of how this law can be misused to delay projects intended to protect the environment and generate financial settlements.
The Santa Clarita Valley’s wastewater management needs are met by the SCV Sanitation District. The agency works to protect the environment and public health by operating, maintaining, and constructing a regional system that collects and treats wastewater from homes and businesses.
