Unfortunately, these rates are being blamed on the decision by OCSD Board to eliminate the waiver and go for full secondary treatment. As we all know, however, most of the OCSD Capital Improvement Program (CIP), $2.3 billion worth, is going to upgrading their facilities and would have been spent anyway, despite the full secondary decision. Only $152 million is due to the increase in secondary treatment, which is less than 6% of the CIP. The total cost for secondary is said to be $423 million, but secondary had to be added to their facilities anyway to keep their 50/50 secondary/primary plan in place anyway, even with the waiver. The increase in residential rates for the full secondary alternative was projected to be only $30 a year, which is 14% of the $217.73 annual charge in five years. Total secondary cost of $423 million is still only 17% of the $2.4 billion CIP. Therefore, no way should the public be misled into thinking that the increase in sewer rates is due to the decision to treat the sewage more thoroughly and have a cleaner ocean. 83% of the rate increase is due to upgrading the sewer system in general, which is still laudable, but only 17% of the rate increase is to have a cleaner ocean. By the way, the secondary facilities won't even start to be built until 2007-2008.

Moreover, the Board of OCSD elected to increase the rates by 20% for five years, from $87.50 now to $217.73 in 2008, while the actual agenda item on April 23, 2003, called for only a one year increase from $87.50 to $100.50, a 15% increase. The Board did this to save money in the long run, which is ultimately the wise thing to do. However, the backlash is now occurring, and it may be more palatable to the public to go for a smaller increase in rates, while looking for other sources for funding.

Also, it should be noted that even with the rate increase, Orange County residents currently pay half of what the rest of California residents pay for sewer rates. Even after the rate hike, OC residents will pay 75% of what the rest of Californians pay. Therefore, we're getting a better deal than the rest of California.

So I strongly suggest you write a letter to the editor to the Register. Address is: letters@ocregister.com

Sample Letter below.

Thanks.

Jan Vandersloot (949) 548-6326

Address to: letters@ocregister.com

Subject Line: Letters To The Editor, Sewer Rate Increase

Body of email:

Re: Hike in sewer fees runs into opposition, sewer fees stirring anger

To The Editor:

The recently announced hike in sewer fees is wrongly being blamed on the decision by the Board of Directors of the Orange County Sanitation District to increase the level of sewage treatment to full secondary standards before sewage is discharged into the ocean. Most of the rate increase, fully 80% of the total increase, is due to the sanitation district's upgrades of its aging sewer line and facilities, still a laudable and necessary goal. Less than 20% of the rate increase, or $30 of the ultimate $217 bill is due to cleaning the sewage more thoroughly so as to have a cleaner ocean without a waiver from the Clean Water Act standards.

I think most people accept a $30 annual charge, or only $2.50 a month, to ensure a clean ocean, that will be less contaminated by discharged human sewage. Let's be accurate and fair in detailing the actual cost for a cleaner ocean.

Sincerely,

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