Waste-Water Runoff Problems

* In “Tollway Debate Spills Into Ocean,” May 28, Mike Stockstill of the Transportation Corridor Agencies stated that “The No. 1 cause of beach pollution is human sewage. End of debate.”

The statement is a fallacy.

The primary cause of beach pollution and closures is in fact non-point source pollution, also known as “urban runoff.” This water carries with it oil, animal waste, refuse from illegal dumping and other toxins.

Stockstill should take note that the true cause of beach pollution is urbanization.

JOEL R. BISHOP, Director

South Coast Water District

* Re: The Battle of Aliso Creek,” June 7:

Water-quality experts know in their hearts that the diverting of storm drains into the sewage system for treatment is fatally flawed.

Wayne Baglin, chair of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, put it succinctly by applying the Band-Aid label to this approach. Our watersheds and creeks are overwhelmed by urban runoff--the very substances found in this toxic soup that flows to the ocean is laden with chemicals and detritus that can either lessen the efficacy of these treatment facilities or negate them altogether. Moreover, these diversions can only take place in low-flow conditions . . . when it rains you can’t divert at all.

What we have is a hemorrhaging body of contributaries ignored and overdeveloped. The temporary measures like diversion only keep the inevitable calamity at bay. Until we address the real dynamics, until we reach into our pocketbooks along with the water districts, we’ll slowly bleed what little quality of life we have left.

Water quality, whether it’s at the point of origination or at the beach, requires emergency treatment in Orange County.

ROGER VON BUTOW

Laguna Beach