WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Lois Capps hailed today’s passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), H.R. 1495.  This important legislation authorizes several projects, including projects in San Luis Obispo County, for the Army Corps of Engineers to carry out its mission of flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration.  Although the Water Resources Development Act is intended to be authorized every two years, Congress hasn’t enacted legislation since 2000. 

At the request of San Luis Obispo County officials, Congresswoman Capps obtained an authorization of $35 million for the construction of a wastewater treatment facility in Los Osos.  

“This is a great step forward for Los Osos,” said Capps. “I have worked tirelessly to help the community develop this much needed sewer system.  This authorization is the first step towards obtaining federal funding for the construction of the project.  It will be a long and difficult process to get federal funding for Los Osos for a variety of reasons, including the steep competition for federal funds and huge budget deficits.  But this project has to be built and I will continue to work with the local community and San Luis Obispo County to secure federal support for this effort.

Los Osos does not have a sewer system.  Instead, each household has an individual septic tank.  Due of its location next to the Morro Bay National Estuary and the absence of a centralized wastewater treatment system, Los Osos is being required by the Regional Quality Control Board and the State Water Quality Control Board to replace the current septic system, cleanse Los Osos’ groundwater basin to ensure clean and safe water for the residents of Los Osos and to protect the neighboring Morro Bay National Estuary. 

The bill also includes a $3 million credit authorization for the Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) to cover costs incurred in the design, permitting and environmental studies of its desalination project. 

“I am responding to Community Services District calls for federal assistance for its desalination project,” said Capps.  “The community of Cambria faces a serious risk to its water supply due to drought and MTBE contamination.  This project will ensure that the Cambria residents who depend on the CCSD will have access to safe and clean water.”

The CCSD is undertaking this major desalination project to mitigate the potential impacts of MTBE contamination and provide insurance against inadequate ground water supplies. Currently, the community draws its water from wells in shallow aquifers along the San Simeon and Santa Rosa Creeks, which are subject to seasonal rainfall and unable to provide a reliable water source. High levels of MTBE have been detected, threatening the water supply, since the discovery of a leaking underground tank in 1983.

The Senate is expected to consider its version of the WRDA bill in the coming weeks.

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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.