Photo courtesy of Heal the Ocean
Photo: Seventy-two Rincon Point homes will convert to a new low-pressure force main sewer system.

Four beachside communities will undergo conversion
A conversion project that will switch the plumbing infrastructure system from septic to sewer-based for four Carpinteria beach communities—Rincon Point, Sandyland Cove, Sand Point Road and Padaro Lane—was approved in a 4-0 vote by the Carpinteria Sanitary District at its Tuesday meeting.

In conjunction with the approval, the board certified a final version of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR), outlining effects the project poses to the area, for five communities, including Beach Club Road.

Seventy-two Rincon Point homes will convert to a new low-pressure force main sewer system, while 37 homes at Sandyland Cove, 21 at Sand Point Road and 47 at Padaro Lane will all convert to a gravity-fed system.

The Beach Club Road project will not be implemented at this time due to homeowners’ lack of interest, although the board approved the project.

The board, minus member Douglas Treloar, also approved commencing the annexation of the neighborhoods under the auspices of the sanitary district, and forming assessment districts for them. Previously, none were district-serviced.

Construction of the proposed wastewater conveyance system for all the areas includes public sewer lines constructed mostly underneath roadways, gravity-fed and low-pressure force mains, six pump stations, 47 manholes and up to nine cleanouts.

About 50 people, spilling onto the district building’s outdoor patio and lining the walls, came to participate in the hour-long public hearing and listen to the board’s decision.

Most speakers were in support of the project, though three presenters were unconvinced about claims that the septic tanks cause water pollution, believing that the sewer project will stimulate residential growth.

The SEIR, used to help the decision makers approve (or deny) the projects, specifically analyzed impacts of the new, improved low-pressure project at Rincon Point; the previous EIR was adequate for the other four communities, according to staff.

According to Simon Poulter of Padre Associates, who authored the SEIR, the document defines “class one impacts,” those that cannot be avoided or mitigated. The growth inducement, a class one impact, applies to the potential building on 10 vacant lots and 20 undeveloped acres that could result if sewer connections were available.

“I cannot in good conscience sit still and say nothing about the proposed project,” said resident Marilyn Olvaeus “(It) will increase the total footage of dwellings at Rincon Point plus open up many more acres between Carpinteria and Rincon Point for development … I call it an environmental catastrophe.”

Board member Pat Horowitz offered back, “As far as (the issue of) ‘mansionization,’ I really believe that is a zoning issue and I encourage all of you to properly take that to the (appropriate) agencies and express your opinions there.”

Eight years ago, Mara Tucker, a nurse, and several of her fellow surfers suffered non-specific illnesses as a result of surfing off Rincon Point around 1998, the time of the El Nino storms. She further stated that their investigation led to the founding of CURE (Clean Up Rincon Effluent). CURE combined with the efforts of nonprofit Heal the Ocean, have been the key players in moving “septic to sewers” forward.

“What a long strange trip it’s been … it’s not just this generation that will be affected,” Tucker said.

The project is supported widely by government agencies, individual beach users, and environmental organizations. Surfers and Heal the Ocean have been active in perceiving effluents and human pollutants entering the ocean in the Rincon Point area.

Residents Steve Halstead, Ronald and Peggy Gouge, Al Clark, Glen Henning and Richard Nahaus, to name a few, all supported the project and thanked the board for their efforts.

Board member Michael Damron stated that the septic to sewer plan is “obviously the right thing to do.

“I am certainly not going to stand by and let some residents hold the greater community hostage over an issue like this,” he said.

Septic tanks leak and break down, according to the staff report. It has been disputed by some Rincon Point residents that human fecal matter has been polluting the ocean; it could have been from birds, fish, animal runoff, they note.

DNA testing is very expensive but did indeed show that Rincon Creek Lagoon contained human feces, whereas upstream there were none. Detergent has been found in the water which, according to district general manager Craig Murray, is a good indicator of overflowing septic tanks.

While disagreements as to the need for sewer connections rages on, the CSD thinks there is enough evidence to warrant the change to sewers.

Construction of the wastewater system will be easier in some communities than others—Rincon Point being the biggest challenge due to size and physical constraints. Actual construction should take about six months, according to staff, including system design and the acquisition of permits.

Encroachment approvals from the City of Carpinteria, state transportation division CalTrans and Union Pacific Railroad to dig along Highway 101 at Rincon Point are required before any construction can commence. According to staff, the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) must approve annexation of the five areas to the Sanitary District. Assessment districts or other financing agreements within each area, must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the affected homeowners.