Los Osos CSD wont take on Cabrillo Estates sewer project

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This month the board of Los Osos CSD voted four to one not to take on what could be a $9 to $13 million sewer project at Cabrillo Estates that still uses septic tanks to process their wasThe board decided to take the advice of CSD General Manager, Greg Kwolek that the project would require more staff time and expense than was available considering the number of large projects the CSD has taken on recently. Those projects include the Inertie pipeline, the development of Sunnyside school and the remodeling of the fire station in town.Kwolek advised the group that “we’re just not built for that” adding this burden to the workload.

Commenting from the audience, Cabrillo Estates resident and chair of LOCAC Deborah Howe agreed the county needs to be the lead agency for the project. “The county owns the sewer and wastewater treatment plant” and it was the county that originally decided not to include Cabrillo Estates homes in the community sewer project – a decision everyone on the CSD board has decried.

Cabrillo Estates residents were disappointed recently when the County refused to take a lead role in moving the project forward. The Board of Supervisors decided four to one against any role in the project. But newly elected Supervisor Jim Dantona has told Kwolek that he would take the issue up again once he is seated in January.

“it is a good project and needs to be done” all agree.

Supporters point to the fact that the Cabrillo septic system appears to be contributing nitrate problems downstream. Also, adding new volume at the wastewater treatment plant would help it run it more efficiently, officials say.

Sierra2thesea.net