In 2003, the City Council rejected Poseidon’s...

In 2003, the City Council rejected Poseidon’s environmental report

and identified three issues the company needed to resolve.

Nearly two years later, Poseidon officials argued that they’ve met

those demands and city staff has signed off on the report, but

concerns linger from nearby neighbors and environmentalists.

Here’s an update on the three issues that might come up during the

desalination debate:

Marine life

o7The Issuef7: The original report didn’t adequately address the

impact of Poseidon’s use of AES’ intake pipeline on marine life. AES

uses a massive pipeline that sucks in seawater to cool off its

boilers, killing any fish that get its path. Environmental groups are

worried Poseidon will lead to more dead sea life.

o7New Responsef7: Poseidon officials argue that a recent study

found that all the ocean organisms were already dead by the time they

reached the Poseidon plant. Since no marine life would be alive by

the time it reached Poseidon, the plant wouldn’t be responsible for

killing any more animals than had already been killed.

o7Lingering Concernsf7: Environmentalists argue that Poseidon

might increase the operation of the intake pipeline, causing more

water to be used and essentially more marine life to be killed.

Growth

o7Issuf7o7ef7: There was no accounting of how the new water

supply would encourage growth and development in the original report.

o7New Responsef7: Most new water developments have already

unaccounted for their water supplies and a new state law requires

that developments of 500 units identify their water supply in

advance.

o7Lingering Concernsf7: Even if developments are still accounted

for, why should Huntington Beach have to bear the burden of providing

space to produce water?

Water Quality

o7Issuef7: Original report didn’t address how new water supply

would be compatible with regional distribution system.

o7New Responsef7: New report includes language about

disinfection and corrosion prevention.

o7Lingering Concernsf7: Will residents in Huntington Beach have

to endure more digging on city streets for another pipeline to

deliver desalinated water into regional distribution system.

Residents on Bushard Street are at their wit’s end over a 9-foot

sewer pipe project that has allegedly damaged some homes.