Something’s smelly here!
Jonathan Friedman tells us that the new “storm water” treatment facility will treat storm water and dry weather flows from Civic Center Way, Cross Creek Road and Malibu Road. The 15 or so storm drains on and under the two-plus mile length of Malibu Road currently dump directly onto the beach and there is virtually no curbing on this roller coaster road to direct water flow into these drains so most rain water flows at will.
It would be a massive engineering and construction project to re-direct this flow from these pipes to the Legacy Park treatment plant. Cross Creek and Civic Center also have little curbing to direct flow with the exception of drains in front of the Civic Center which currently flow into the creek. Friedman’s article starts by calling it a storm water treatment facility. However, later in his article he refers to it as a “wastewater treatment system” which is a politically correct term for a sewage treatment system paid for, in part, by developers.
The two sewage storage and the oxidation ponds, a standard configuration for sewage plants, will be located next to business establishments and right behind one of our upscale restaurants. Maybe the chef can catch tasty bottom feeders for the sushi bar. Has the health department reviewed this scheme? These treatment ponds should be dry most of the year unless “first flush runoff” is used to top them off and we know what “first flush” is. The view of scum and algae covered treatment ponds from the Civic Center will be delightful not to mention the odor wafting over the area. And how about the diseased mosquitoes?
I notice that the artist’s conceptual plan for Legacy Park shows no visitor parking. Hmmm, maybe this is not a park for people but a place to park our sewage.
Malibu Current also refers to these 15 acres as “coveted vacant land” and a “quality of life opportunity.” So this coveted land is where the city plans to treat our sewage?
Jack Singleton
Malibu Road