Los Osos sewer and Paso Robles water basin problems have self-serving county in common

Supervisor Bruce Gibson’s Viewpoint comparing Paso Robles’ basin management plans with the Los Osos sewer saga (Feb. 6) failed to clarify a couple of major points. The only similarity is the county’s late failure to address the endangered, overpumped aquifer drinking supply when the signals were clear.

Los Osos first had warnings of increasing seawater intrusion in the early 1970s. Ignoring the signals, in 1983, after the Regional Water Quality Control Board called for a growth moratorium due to increasing levels of nitrate pollution, in the five years leading up to the 1989 Resolution 83-13 implementation, the county issued 1,750 new building permits, and a building frenzy ensued. This created an additional 30 percent draw on the water supply and increased nitrate contamination.

The current $200 million sewer project does little to address the 45 years of county water basin neglect in Los Osos, creating our current Level III severity and dying water supply. Gibson continues to oppose the release of the remaining $2.5 million water conservation funds available and supports the $32 million Basin Management Plan, millions of dollars of legal, consultant and oversight expenses. And there’s no guarantee of results.

Angry dialogue? The county’s management negligence and self-serving support for expensive bureaucratic fixes can be frustrating indeed. Good luck to Paso Robles.

This story was originally published February 15, 2016 at 3:24 PM with the headline "Los Osos sewer and Paso Robles water basin problems have self-serving county in common."