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MyspaceSurfrider is concerned that Santa Barbara County’s wastewater and waste-management programs and policies are not as environmentally friendly as they could be. The City of Santa Barbara’s El Estero sewage plant, for example, takes in over 10 million gallons of industrial toxic sewage daily. Of those, less than 1 million are recycled. The remainder is discharged as partially treated toxic sewage into the ocean.
A more sustainable option, financially and environmentally, would be for the City of Santa Barbara to install zero-discharge wastewater treatment systems in local businesses. The benefit would be reduced treatment load to El Estero, and reduced toxic pollution into the marine and beach ecosystems.
There are many examples of other cities successfully managing their wastewater and solid waste for over 15 years, including Sweden’s city sewer plants, which produce net profits each month by converting sewage to fuel and electricity, recycling almost 100% of the water, and producing zero pollution. In addition, there are Portland, Oregon’s successful efforts to compost organic waste, as reported by the Wall Street Journal in June.
We support wastewater treatment and reuse as an option to discharge, and oppose any plans to extend the life of Tajiguas landfill, which will encourage further industrialization of the Gaviota Coast.
Sandy Lejune is chair of Santa Barbara Surfrider, and James Smallwood is a committee member.
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Comments
Hey Sandy. Are you going to come up with the money required to make these upgrades??? Are you that clueless as to the fiscal realities in this county? It's people like you two that almost made me give up surfing. Having freaks at the beach try to lecture me about an assortment of reasons to join surfriders who know absolutely nothing about fiscal consequences or impacts to regular folks for their extreme views. Sure, we can do better, but the money has to be there, not going to Cop pensions, or being given away to billionaire developers (thanks Salud).
BeachFan (anonymous profile)
September 13, 2012 at 8:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've had the same interactions with these folks. There are a ton of things I would like to have as well if only we could start printing money.
italiansurg (anonymous profile)
September 13, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Where there is a will there is a way. If we don't make clean water a priority we will never find the money. In the long run these advanced and environmentally preferable methods can actually save money. The previous posters were awefully quick to criticize but obviously didn't notice the fact that "Sweden's city sewer plants produce net profits". It can be done if the will is there.
Noletaman (anonymous profile)
September 13, 2012 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Making money the priority will one day leave us with no water to drink, no fish to catch, no trees to shade us. If they are building an underground metropolis with clean air, water, all the provisions you need, would you go? One condition, microchip in your neck. The evolution will be colorized.
spacey (anonymous profile)
September 13, 2012 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
noletaman-having spent an inordinate amount of time in Sweden any revenue positive sewer plants are subsidized by both the public development and the incredibly high private rates, so please check YOUR facts.
We can make anything revenue positive if we charge enough for the service.
italiansurg (anonymous profile)
September 13, 2012 at 9:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To those preaching "Hey, don't worry about the money", have their heads very far up the nether region. I'll explain using words of 3 syllables or less so that Spacey and Noleta and those with the same mindset get it.
Money pays for plant.
County broke.
No money.
No plant.
Easy to complain and yell for fixes.
Harder to deal with reality.
Can you understand that???
BeachFan (anonymous profile)
September 14, 2012 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Water is a valuble commodity. The economics of water recycling make sense.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reclaime...
Georgy (anonymous profile)
September 16, 2012 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BeachFan: Fewer words, fewer syllables:
County not broke
Two much spent on pensions
No change in sight
14noscams (anonymous profile)
September 17, 2012 at 5:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)