Supes Pass LO Water Resolution

Voting five to zero in the affirmative, the Supes approved a water conservation implementation plan this afternoon for the Los Osos sewer project. The few Los Osos citizens and interested parties still left, who have disparaged the County's sewer plan for years and attend the BOS meetings regularly to voice that disapproval, went away disappointed once again. They wanted delay and didn't get it.

It was carefully explained to Supervisor Mecham by John Waddell (County engineer in charge of the wastewater project) that the idea pressed by one of the disparagers, to make the payments go directly to plumbers rather than to the homeowners for the retrofits, would be problematic and Mr. Mecham got it. The reasons were prevailing wages, public contract costs, administrative costs and if damages occurred in the home, who would be responsible. Possible conflicts between property owners and renters need to be avoided. Rebate checks to owners will be issued within two weeks, so plumbing bills could be paid with the rebates before the bills are due.

Turnkey solutions have been discussed by vendors and the County where a public/private agreement could be made to handle all of the points outlined in the conservation program, from using local "green certified" plumbers, licensed and insured to install toilets, to doing the water audits and marketing the necessary steps to the community. No decisions have been made.

The program will be outlined by the County with the necessary steps for homeowners to be able to hook up to the sewer. The main idea is to get water conservation going as soon as possible with dollar incentives to retrofit early, as early as 2013. The program will be under review and open to adjustments if any components of it are not living up to expectations. The County will be back before the BOS before November of 2013 with a progress report.

What is required by the CDP (Coastal Development Permit) for this plan is:
1. Recycle cleaned water to schools and other users.
2. A conservation plan.
3. Monitoring of the plan.
4. Adaptive management for change if parts of the plan are not fulfilling requirements.

Another step completed by the County and I could not be more thrilled! You can access the video of the meeting here http://slocounty.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=1372 and you will find the this hearing at about the 2 hour and 18 minute part into the video.