Water officials seek to fine sanitation districts over chloride

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Los Angeles water board officials are seeking to fine the county sanitation districts more than a quarter of a million dollars for allegedly discharging excessive chloride into the Santa Clara River from two Santa Clarita Valley treatment plants, agency officials said Monday.

According to a statement issued by the L.A. Regional Water Quality Control Board, an administrative civil liability complaint has been issued to the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts charging “alleged violations of waste discharge requirements” at its Valencia and Saugus water reclamation plants.

The total maximum daily load of chloride allowed in the Santa Clara River is 100 milligrams per liter, but the sanitation districts submitted chloride discharge plans for a maximum of at least 117 milligrams per liter, according to the complaint.

Water board officials are seeking $280,250 in fines from the districts for failing to properly complete waste-water facilities plans and environmental impact reports by a required date last year, the statement said. The county’s sanitation districts are required to submit these documents and conduct other tasks designed to ensure that reclamation plants don’t violate the load of chloride allowed in the Upper Santa Clara River, water board officials said.

Adopted in 2005 and updated in 2010, the maximum daily chloride load for the river is designed to protect the river, which provides irrigation water for agriculture and serves as a habitat for rare and endangered species, officials said.

The public has until Dec. 26, 2012, to comment on the complaint.

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-- Ann M. Simmons in Santa Clarita