Editorial

The first word that comes to mind is: yuck.

The news from Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau last week that

80 homes in the Bluffs may have been affected by a back flow of reclaimed

water sounded disgusting.

Yes, research shows that reclaimed water isn’t dangerous. And city

officials are pretty sure none of the treated waste water contained any

parasites that can cause illness. But the thought is enough to turn

stomachs, and the thought ought to be enough to provoke action.

And this mishap is just one of several regarding reclaimed water that

the city has been deluged by.

In considering selling its small share of the San Joaquin Reservoir to

the Irvine Ranch Water District, council members are debating whether to

require the district to sign an agreement that it will follow state laws

governing the release of reclaimed water into the Back Bay.

Environmentalists want such an agreement. As Councilman Gary Adams

said, there’s no telling who will be running the district in 20 years.

But the council can make sure whoever it is has to abide by the rules

regarding reclaimed water.

The council wisely has delayed its decision until the Environmental

Quality Advisory Committee can review the district’s plans for turning

the reservoir into a basin for reclaimed water.

Turning the reservoir into a storage area for reclaimed water should

be an environmental boon. It will hold water that otherwise would spill

directly into the Back Bay and provide reserves for use during dry

months.

But there is cause for worry if an agreement isn’t made.

In 1996, many will remember that the water district wanted to dump 5

million gallons of reclaimed water a day into the Back Bay throughout

much of the year. A lawsuit by Defend the Bay put a stop to it. An

agreement would protect against any possible attempts by future boards to

flout the laws.

The city is in a position of strength and should take advantage. The

money is a barely an issue as its 1.18% share in the reservoir would only

bring the city $13,000, a drop in the city’s own cash reservoir.

So there’s no reason for the council to rush into a deal.

But there’s every reason to make sure the deal is the right one.