Sludge Watch ==> Barstow California - Plant Spilled 1.5 million gallons of sewage into Mojave R.

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

June 13, 2006

   Report: Plant spilled 1.5 million gallons of sewage into Mojave River


       By GUS LAMBERT Staff Writer
Desert Dispatch, Barstow California



BARSTOW — The city wastewater treatment plant spilled 1.5 million gallons of 
raw sewage into the Mojave River, according to a report filed with the 
Lahontan Regional Water Control Board.
Lahontan spokesperson Cindy Mitton said the May 20 spill extended more than 
a mile and was blamed on a Southern California Edison power failure.

Patrick Lenway, Barstow’s sewage plant project coordinator, said that the 
facility has experienced various problems with the present electrical 
systems and said that the most recent contractor did not leave blueprints 
and other wiring information after electrical upgrading in 1997, a situation 
that results in extra long delays when troubleshooting problems, he said.
According to the recent Lahontan report the local facility had a 1,000 
gallon spill on May 6.

That backup reportedly extended 20 feet into the riverbed and occurred 
because of a pump failure.
The effluent from that incident overflowed from the same manhole cover on 
Riverside Drive that was involved in the May 20 spill. According to the 
report, this spill was cleaned up by removal of the contaminated soil and 
treatment of the area with chlorine. But Mitton said she did not know what 
remedial actions were taken regarding the most recent and more extensive 
spill. Barstow spokesperson Jeanette Hayhurst said the sewage plant is 
operated by Aquarion, an independent contractor. “Comment about the incident 
from city officials is pending receipt and analysis of the operator’s 
reports,” she said.

Hayhurst also said that Barstow has contracted a engineering firm — HDR 
Engineering — to evaluate the entire facility and they recently
recommended upgrading and other improvements to the existing facility.

HDR officials said the improvements will cost more than $30 million but 
address the nagging problems of old and obsolete equipment, as well as the 
ongoing electrical design deficiencies.
They also recommended that city officials consider installing a moder n 
membrane bioreactor — a system manufactured by GE that uses carbon and ionic 
filters in a reverse osmosis system — that purifies the treated water so it 
can be used for secondary purposes such as car washes and other non-potable 
uses.

This part of the plan addresses the high nitrate contamination that is the 
subject of a lawsuit filed by the Soapmine Road area residents.

The suit challenges a proposed new housing development there for 
environmental reasons, noting that the existing high nitrate levels will be 
increased with additional septic systems.

Resident Chuck Monds said, “Several private wells have been tested in the 
area and the nitrate level results vary in relation to their proximity to 
the field that Barstow previously watered with sewage plant wastewater.”

Monds also said his water results were 3.8 parts of nitrate per million 
gallons which is below the federal recommended amount of 5.8 ppm.

But one resident’s result was 29 ppm, according to Monds.

And according to Mitton, that result is consistent with Lahontan test well 
results in the immediate area of the field used by the wastewater treatment 
plant.

Although lab testing is not considered valid by the water board, Mitton said 
that Barstow has been ordered to conduct more extensive water well testing 
in the area.

High nitrates in water can reduce the blood’s capability to carry oxygen in 
some infants resulting in cyanosis, a condition in which the skin turns 
blue. It can be fatal if not treated.