For years, the City of Malibu has claimed septic systems are not contributing contaminants to near- shore waters in Malibu.
But, according to a recent Los Angeles Times article, current evidence would seem to indicate this is not the case. Septics are, in fact, the culprits for high bacterial levels in the surf zone near Malibu, especially in the Civic Center area, said sources in the article.
“That was a pretty inflammatory article and the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) is making strong allegations, saying we were the major pollutant,” said Rick Morgan, Malibu city engineer.
“Yet, the study prepared on behalf of the city did not show that,” he said.
“We are still trying to meet and get the RWQCB to review with our expert where their disagreements lay,” said Morgan, about the seriousness of septic pollution in Malibu.
“We completed our report in May and nobody seemed to react to it,” said Morgan. “All of a sudden, the RWQCB staff made a report for the Coastal Commission that didn’t seem to agree with ours.
“We were disappointed because it was supposed to be a joint study.”
Yet, Dennis Dickerson, executive officer of the L.A. RWQCB, said, “We differ dramatically on how serious we believe the city’s septic problems are.”
The RWQCB’s reviews find that septic systems are a source of contaminants to Malibu Lagoon.
While the city acknowledges that septic system sewage is entering the lagoon, their conclusions are less clear. The board believes sewage discharge into such a valuable habitat is a serious concern.
Meanwhile, Surfrider Beach continues to score Fs and Ds on a recent end-of-the-year beach report card published by Heal The Bay, a watchdog organization looking out for Santa Monica Bay water quality.
Mark Gold, executive director for Heal the Bay, emphatically said, “Our organization is in no way, shape, or form in favor of a sewer system in Malibu.”
However, he said, “We have to do whatever we can to make that beach [Surfrider] safe for swimming and surfing, so we’re tough on all sources.
“This is about ensuring that water quality and public health are protected.”
Cross Creek Plaza and the Colony have been determined to be areas with leakage, and that is something that has long been suspected, said Gold.
“Now there is pretty strong proof in Malibu’s own report,” he said.
Gold said the issue may be resurfacing because of Assembly Bill 885, which passed recently.
AB 885 would shift regulatory control of onsite sewage treatment systems from cities and counties to state and regional water quality control boards.
Though AB 885 is perceived as a hammer on Malibu’s head by most, Gold sees it differently.
“I think the bill has the best likelihood of preserving Malibu’s way of life,” he said, “because it says the State of California will develop uniform citing designs and performance criteria that apply to all on-site systems in the state.”
AB 885 will have an indirect effect on septics in the future as it will require the State Water Resources Board and other state agencies to come up with rules and regulations to govern the regulation of septics statewide.
Eventually there will be rules and regulations passed by the state that will set a standard in all 58 counties in California, said Larry Young, Malibu city environmental health specialist.
But at the moment, the city does not know if those rules will be tougher.
“This may not happen until 2004,” said Young.
Having lived in Malibu for 26 years, and understanding people’s perspectives regarding sewers and the possible problems with them, Madeline Glickfeld, former Coastal Commissioner and Malibu resident, sympathizes with local residents and businesses.
“But from the outside, the heavy commercial users who are on septics amaze people who have knowledge about sanitary systems,” she said, speaking about businesses that use septic systems usually designed for smaller usage.
“Usually the basic plumbing code recommends a full acre for these types of lots,” said Glickfeld.
The beach lots in the Malibu Colony are smaller than that, with some having only 40 feet of beach frontage.
And the colony has been determined to have septic leakage by the RWQCB.
However, Glickfeld agrees, putting in a city wide sewer system would be incredibly costly and impractical.
People may have to make a significant investment and some areas are just not suitable for septics at all, she said.
“We can’t be ostriches and stick our heads in the ground,” said Glickfeld, who understands she may be in a minority opinion on that matter.
Meanwhile, the city continues to say that pollution comes from many sources, admitting, during certain conditions, Malibu septics can also be a source.
But since the surf zone is polluted year-round, Morgan concludes that the culprits are diverse.
“We will take measures,” said Morgan. “There are options to require people to elevate their septic systems, or use high-tech septic systems.
“We are also looking at the Civic Center having a package treatment facility,” he added.
“If it’s dealing with public health, it’s going to have to be resolved,” said Morgan.
The RWQCB feels it has an obligation to protect water quality, therefore, they will make decisions based on data provided and act on the basis of that data to protect water quality, according to Dickerson.
He said the board suggests the city should require septic systems to be used in a manner that ensures the integrity of water quality.