MAILBAG:

EDITOR’S NOTE: The editorial will return next week.

As owners of a Huntington Beach house built in the 1960s with copper pipes under a concrete slab, we, among many others, had a leak that destroyed part of a room. We re-piped above the slab. What was once a small waste of water turned into a large waste of water as a result of the longer distance from the hot water heater to our master bath shower: Waiting for hot water to get to the shower and watching gallon after gallon of water go down the drain. We installed a re-circulating pump in that bathroom, and now when we turn on the hot water for a shower we get hot water immediately with no waste down the drain.

For energy conservation, we removed the gas-fired hot water heater and installed a gas-fired tankless water heater. Our natural gas usage has been reduced significantly.

Water conservation is important and the ideas in your editorial (“Every drop counts,” May 22) are wise ones. But conservation, while it is necessary, will not solve this and future water shortages in this growing area. New water sources are going to be needed whether we like it or not.

Weather patterns are not dependable and political winds do not generate any new water. It is amazing to me that we refuse to take advantage of the abundant “new” water source off our coast by moving toward desalinization.

Our fair City Council said no to one next to our power generating station that would use the already siphoned ocean water. Why? Well, that company isn’t perfect (and golly! they might make money), neighbors didn’t want the plant in their back yard, environmentalists predicted devastation to ocean life, and the water wouldn’t be for Huntington Beach anyway.

I guess we would rather drink Coke, take only one bath a week, pave our lawns over with concrete (if we can find the water, that is), and fill in all the private and public swimming pools.

I guess that until we are paying more for water than for gasoline we will remain in denial. Hopefully, it won’t be too late when that happens.

Forrest Bonner

Huntington Beach

Neighbors of Islamic school should educate themselves

I’m very disturbed by the ignorant comments from neighbors in your article on the Islamic school eviction (“Bankruptcy filed to fight eviction,” May 22). One neighbor says he worries about Muslim students being taught science and math. Why? And what would he rather they be taught? Other neighbors are uncomfortable with having a Muslim school in the neighborhood. Would they be similarly uncomfortable with a Catholic or Jewish school? What is this world coming to when this type of discrimination is expressed? Quit with the fear mongering, people. Educate yourself as to what the school is about. Look at the girls in the photo. They’re just like any of our children, except they wear head scarves.

Huntington Beach

Make sure Dane Williams isn’t forgotten in Huntington Beach

I very much appreciate the well-written article by Chris Epting in the May 15 “In the Pipeline” section of the Independent. I, too, am shocked at the lack of media coverage regarding Dane’s death.

I can’t help but think that if Dane died here in Huntington Beach the media coverage would be continuous; if for no other reason than to criticize our own police department for the undetermined cause of death, minimal evidence, lack of suspects or “persons of interest,” and shaky-at-best- theories as to what may have happened that fatal weekend in January.

And if Dane were a local 23-year-old kid from San Diego who died in San Diego, the coverage in that city, and perhaps dedication and commitment to solving this mysterious death, would be far more evident. But the problem is that two hours south of Huntington Beach in the city of San Diego, nobody cares. Dane did not live there, he did not play there, he did not have family, friends, a job or a support system there. He has been forgotten there.

We cannot let him be forgotten here, where he lived, where he played, where he had family, friends, a job and a support system. I believe it is the responsibility of every parent, every sister, brother, friend, and neighbor who lives here to make sure Dane will not be forgotten and that his death will not go unsolved.

Roni Ellis

Huntington Beach