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PUMPING GROUNDWATER FOR PROFITPUMPING DOWN THE GROUNDWATERSince the late 1970s, the RWQCB had suggested the county pump down the groundwater in and around the bay in Baywood Park approximately 14–16 feet. This was because some of the ground was actually below sea level, thereby allowing for annual flooding, septic wastewater backup during the rainy seasons and salt water intrusion. The groundwater in Baywood Park had never been pumped down. High groundwater levels interfere with the ability of leach fields to properly do their job and allow waste water to build up rather than being naturally cleaned and recycled. During winter rains, floods occur and wastewater overflows into the streets. By not pumping down the groundwater, the health and safety of residents is endangered, the purity of public water is reduced and the consequences to property due to flooding during a heavy rainy season are seriously increased. Unfortunately, the County continued its ongoing practice of doing nothing. Los Osos was not economically important, just a small rural backwater community. Consequently, as predicted, each year the flooding and wastewater back-up continued and, in some instances, increased in intensity. Because of this County neglect, residents in the area were continually subjected to flooding, health issues, offensive odors and waste materials littering the streets. In addition to pumping down the groundwater, the RWQCB suggested the installation of a Cluster Plant, a mini-sewer, to service the homes in and around the bay as well as meet the needs of future growth. This is a very cost-effective and safe waste disposal means that would eliminate any potential future wastewater back-up problems. The installation of a Cluster Plant in Baywood today is still the most cost-effective and viable method of disposing of any potential wastewater back up problems. The cost could be 100% offset through a grant as detailed in the Federal Clean Water Act and California Water Codes. Cost to Los Osos and Baywood property owners: nothing. Since its inception in 1999, one of the statements made by the LOCSD and the RWQCB in support of their deadly pathogen-producing factory was that the only way to save and preserve the integrity and safety of the homes in and around the bay in Baywood Park was with a central sewer. FREE, PROFITABLE SOLUTION FOR LOS OSOSDuring the Total Recall Movement in 2002, the leaders met with Dr. John Alexander who detailed a tried and tested solution to the groundwater issues that would not only end the annual flooding and wastewater back-up in Baywood Park and other low areas of Los Osos, but would produce hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in revenue. It began with pumping down of the groundwater to a level determined by qualified engineers, estimated to be at least 16 feet. The estimated cost was $2 million–$4 million. Rather than wasting the water by pumping it into the bay it would be made available to local farmers for use in crop irrigation. Farmer participation would be on a voluntary basis. Their initial cost would include the cost of a valve and pump system on their property that would allow each to turn on and off the groundwater flow as needed. Estimated cost per farm, $3,000-$7,500. Under the Clean Water Act, this cost may be 100% offset by grants. There would be no cost for the groundwater, making the total cost to the farmer: zero; the annual benefit, free groundwater for crop irrigation. All irrigation water not used by the crops drains back through the soil and is naturally purified before entering the groundwater. The sand and clay in and around Los Osos has been verified by state, federal and independent experts as some of the best for water purification in the world. The end product is millions of gallons of pure, clean drinking water available for Los Osos. Both incoming and outgoing pipelines would be installed at each pump location. One for the incoming groundwater from Los Osos, controlled by the individual farmer, the other for pumping clean, fresh water from each aquifer, controlled by Los Osos. During the Total Recall in 2002, many local farmers were contacted regarding the idea and all were in favor. Los Osos could set aside small parcels of land in strategic areas and construct emergency water storage tanks that would always contain hundreds of thousands of gallons of pure, fresh water for any emergency use including drought and fire. The cost of the pipelines and storage tanks could be offset or eliminated through the same Clean Water Act and California Water Code grants, thereby costing Los Osos nothing for an unlimited supply of pure, fresh water. ANNUAL REVENUE FOR LOS OSOS: FISH HATCHERYThe Clean Water Act and certain state laws encourage the installation of projects that involve the use of public water that return income to the community. Grants are available for many of these projects. In 2002 the Total Recall Committee proposed a viable, cost-effective revenue project that would guarantee annual revenues to Los Osos of many hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of dollars, while providing recreation for thousands that would produce additional revenue. The project was a fish hatchery fed by the clean waters from the farmers aquifers. It would require the purchase of approximately 200–300 acres along Los Osos Valley Road. The hatchery would be divided into three or four areas to accommodate the raising of certain fish species. The world demand for these fish is high. China, Japan, India and other nations have a high demand for the product and are always seeking reliable suppliers. The preferred condition of the fish is unaltered which means there would be no need to clean or filet any of the product. The fish would be shipped frozen and intact. Experienced engineers are available to design and manage the construction of the project. The cost to build the hatchery would be offset up to 100% by federal grants. Even if there were initial costs to construct the hatchery, those costs would be recovered within a reasonable period of time. The annual cost of the hatchery to Los Osos would be nothing as they would be offset from annual revenues of the sales and recreational fees. A separate area would be available for the public to pay to fish. Depending on the particular species, recreation fishing would be available year round. Public and private groups such as Boy and Cub Scouts, churches, Lions Club, etc., as well as private individuals, would be able to use the facility year round. This would also increase revenues from tourists. All profits would be returned to the community to fund projects, reduce or eliminate water costs to residents and eliminate the need to increase taxes. Additional benefits to Los Osos would be the permanent elimination of flooding and wastewater pollution in the Baywood Park and other low-lying areas. It would allow the leach fields to function properly, eliminating any future potential problems. The groundwater would be used to irrigate crops, thereby lowering costs to farmers and consumers of certain crops, and pure, clean water would be recycled for the benefit of Los Osos residents. The cost to Los Osos would be minimal, if nothing at all, and the economic, social and ecological benefits perpetual. BENEFIT SUMMARYBy pumping down the groundwater, Los Osos would benefit from the elimination of annual flooding, salt water intrusion and wastewater back-up around the bay in Baywood Park resulting in a safe and healthy environment for residents. By partnering with the farmers, Los Osos would be guaranteed a perpetual supply of clean, fresh drinking water, the safety of a sufficient supply of emergency water, pure, fresh water for the hatchery and a safe, healthy environment for the community. By constructing a fish hatchery, Los Osos would harvest annual revenues of hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of dollars to be used to pay for community projects and reduce or eliminate certain taxes. Farmers would benefit from a perpetual supply of free irrigation water which could translate into lower costs to consumers for locally grown fruits and vegetables. The total cost to Los Osos would be little or nothing. The federal government has made the preservation and conservation of fresh water a number one priority. In addition, any project that protects and preserves fresh water and that returns revenues to a community is encouraged. A number of grants are available for the Baywood groundwater pumping, the proposed pipelines and related costs and the proposed fish hatchery. The acquisition of cost-effective land is currently available. Grants can be easily applied for by the LOCSD. Because of the unaffordable hundreds of millions of dollars in costs to property owners to build a central sewer, the lack of necessity and benefits from a central sewer and the serious dangers to the public caused by the ever increasing numbers of vaccine-resistant, deadly pathogens bred in those central systems, the USEPA and other responsible agencies have condemned any further installation. These agencies are also encouraging the decommissioning of central sewers in favor of on-site septic and Cluster systems. Under California Water Code, there are annual grants of up to $5,000,000 available for individual on-site septic systems through the State Revolving Fund. If you have a 501(c) (3), you are entitled to apply to the State Water Board. There are a limited number of annual grants available so early application is advised. Contact the State Water Department in Sacramento for information. Because of the availability of safe, tested technology, responsible federal agencies are encouraging the use of on-site septic systems over centralized sewers. Because of the water shortages and increased populations, they are making the intelligent, safe reuse of public water a top priority. CONSEQUENCES OF THE CENTRAL SEWERNot only eliminating the serious health and safety issues related to a central sewer are a priority, the economic impact to a community is as well. The proposed deadly, pathogen- producing factory for Los Osos is the most expensive (per capita) sewer system in the history of the world. The estimated cost to construct a central sewer in Los Osos will be close to or exceed one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000). That equates to at least $200,000 per property in the Prohibition Zone. That is just the estimated construction costs. Because of the irresponsible acts of the current president and the leaders in Congress today, the American dollar is rapidly being devalued. According to engineers, the dramatic increases in demand for concrete and other related building materials by China and India are also determining factors that are unpredictable and incalculable. There is no way to accurately estimate the costs to construct this unneeded, unaffordable, deadly pathogen-producing factory. The estimated annual cost to run the proposed dinosaur central sewer in Los Osos will exceed $5 million-$7 million. It has already been acknowledged by the County that as of July, 2009, each property will be charged a minimum of $400 per month or $4800 per year just for the privilege of being forced to use a deadly pathogen-producing factory and placing the community in serious health and safety dangers. By the beginning of 2010 those fees could be higher and will continue to escalate each year. All property in the Prohibition Zone will be further liened to guarantee the repayment of interest on additional bonds and loans and any additional costs as they arise. Property owners are already being forced to pay the interest on illegal Obligation Bonds issued by the LOCSD. The LOCSD had liens placed on all properties in the Prohibition Zone after illegally issuing Obligation Bonds in 2003. Each property owner had their property tax increased by approximately $350 per year, per property. ADDITIONAL COSTS AND PENALTIES OF A CENTRAL SEWERAny spills, no mater their cause, will result in automatic fines upwards of $50,000 per day -- that is California Water Code law. A spill would contaminate any and all land and water it reached. If the proposed deadly pathogen-producing factory is built on the Tri-W site, any spill would send thousands of gallons of contaminated, deadly pathogen-ridden water into Sweet Springs Nature Preserve and the Bay. The damage would be catastrophic to all wild and plant life. If a toxic substance such as a jar or can of MTB should enter the sewer system, the law requires the main tank be shut down, all contaminated wastewater be pumped into a separate tank for purifying, the main tank cleaned then re-opened. A third tank will have to be available to handle the daily wastewater until the main tank is reopened. Under the law, when the main tank is shut down (for any reason) there are between 12 and 15 separate offenses, each carrying mandatory fines of thousands of dollars a day that will eventually be paid for by residents. Each day the plant is shut down the fines could easily reach $50,000. This has happened to Morro Bay a number of times. In addition to the daily ongoing costs of the sewer are the ever increasing costs for the disposal of tons of deadly pathogen-ridden sludge that will increase in quantity significantly each year. As the population from the planned massive build-out explodes, so will the amount of deadly toxic waste by-product. There is no way to avoid this deadly byproduct of a central sewer. Landfills that accept toxic waste are quickly filling to capacity. As they fill, this toxic waste will have to be trucked further and further from Los Osos at ever increasing costs, all born by the property owners. The health and safety of the community will be in constant jeopardy from the ever- increasing vaccine-resistant strains of deadly pathogens not only from the ongoing sewer plant but from the tons of deadly sludge byproduct that will be trucked through the community on a daily basis. Each year thousands of Americans die due to pandemics caused by these deadly, vaccine-resistant pathogens that are increasing in types and numbers on a regular basis. One by-product is the deadly E-coli 0157-H7. The CDC has been working with a number of private concerns, including Dr. John Alexander, seeking viable solutions to eliminate these threats. (*See “Deadlier Than the Bomb” link). The massive build-out of Los Osos that will occur with the installation of a deadly pathogen-producing factory will devastate the community and forever end and destroy the beautiful, safe and healthy environment we all enjoy. There is no benefit to the community of Los Osos of a central, deadly pathogen-producing factory, as is being forced on the community by the local, county and state terrorists. There is only the guarantee of devastation, social cleansing, higher taxes, over crowding, higher crime, deadly health and safety issues and an end to the beautiful environment. *“DEADLIER THAN THE BOMB!” LINK
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