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LOCAL CITIES URGE SAN DIEGO TO SEEK SEWAGE TREATMENT WAIVER

            Dec. 15, 2006 — The Metro Wastewater JPA (Joint Powers Authority) voted unanimously yesterday to recommend that the City of San Diego begin preparing to apply for a renewed permit waiving secondary treatment at its Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant.            San Diego currently is one of the few cities in the country permitted to use an advanced primary system for treating sewage, rather than the secondary treatment mandated by the federal Clean Water Act.
            The Metro JPA is a coalition of municipalities and other agencies outside the City of San Diego that use San Diego's wastewater system and pay for approximately 33 percent of its costs.  It adopted the recommendation on sewage treatment at its December meeting in Del Mar. The resolution called for San Diego to begin preparing the waiver application but explore other emerging technological treatment options at the same time.
            Installation of secondary treatment facilities at Point Loma could cost $2 billion or more depending on the technology used.  
            JPA members are Coronado, Del Mar, El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, Poway, the County of San Diego, and the Padre Dam Municipal and Otay water districts. Chula Vista participates on an ex officio basis and is expected to join soon.