Areas near Winter Canyon and Malibu Colony cited as problem areas.
By Mark Bassett
Special to The Malibu Times
A yearlong study has found that the Civic Center area most likely does not contribute to pollution in the Malibu Lagoon. However, areas near the Malibu Colony, and land area surrounding Malibu Creek and Winter Canyon Road are cited as problem areas as far as pollution in the creek and beaches.
In the study, scientists found that excessive TDMLs in Malibu Lagoon are caused by natural factors and storm run off in low lying areas resulting in a significant effect on water quality. TDMLs (total daily maximum loads) are the federally mandated maximum bacteria level allowed in recreational or drinking water.
Funded by the California Coastal Conservancy and administered by the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, the study determined that from onsite treatment systems near the Civic Center, it could take between 15 and 50 years for ground water to reach the lagoon-bacteria life span rarely exceeds six months.
Norm Haynie, chairman of the Wastewater Advisory Committee, asked if any of the city’s systems are contributing to the lagoon pollution
“Likely, they are not,” responded Bruce Douglas from Questa Engineering, the firm which collected and studied the data. “One potential source of bacteria could be storm water pipes are not water tight.”
Haynie made a quick assessment of Civic Center onsite wastewater treatment, stating that he was all for having the best water quality in the country, but if community spends money on treatment systems that don’t produce results it would be an embarrassment.
The project included installing 20 monitoring wells in the region of the lagoon from Sweetwater Canyon to Bluffs Park. Data was then logged and interpreted, and models were built that determined the amount of pollution and estimated the speed that subterrain septic seepage travels toward the lagoon. Douglas said the study was initiated as part of a 1997 national mandate from the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up dirty water. The EPA edict focuses on local solutions rather than broad reaching and inefficient national efforts, which include sewer systems that can result in more pollution. Douglas’ group also took surface samples from Surfrider Beach, which is considered a TDML hot spot.
“On site systems can treat [effluent] if installed and maintained properly,” Douglas said.
The study found that problem areas include the eastern tip of Malibu Colony, and the land area surrounding Malibu Creek and Winter Canyon, just south of Pepperdine University. In these areas, the soil composition allows for groundwater to move much more quickly-less than six months as opposed to 50 years. Douglas stated during his presentation that bacteria counts increase in the eastern edge of the Colony during the breach of the lagoon, and that the Winter Canyon area saw a four-fold drop in aquifer water quality over the year. This can be directly attributed to human, fertilizer, and onsite wastewater treatment systems.
Douglas explained that warm blooded mammals such as horses, dogs and birds could be to blame for the bacteria in the area of Malibu Creek, and that the samples gathered will be analyzed to determine what species made the bacterial contribution. He suggested continuing inspections and maintenance in non-problem areas with renewable operating permits for single-family, multifamily and commercial treatment systems.
In problem areas, in an effort to “match the solution to the nature of the situation,” he suggested the “modification” of onsite treatment systems serving commercial or multifamily structures
During public comment, Dr. Jeff Harris put the results into perspective, reminding the committee and Douglas that that pollution impacts human health, and calling into question current acceptable levels of bacteria in recreational waters.
The final risk assessment study will be completed by June 1, and per the EPA, Santa Monica Bay including Surfrider, must meet summertime bacteria water quality standards by July 15, 2006.