The San Benito County Water District and Farm Bureau have
opposed a plan the city of Hollister has considered to expand
wastewater percolation ponds to an area near Wright Road because
they think it will further pollute the environment.
San Benito County – The San Benito County Water District and Farm Bureau have opposed a plan the city of Hollister has considered to expand wastewater percolation ponds to an area near Wright Road because they think it will further pollute the environment.
Over the past several years, underground water tables increasingly have become too high and salty, and have degraded crops and orchards in the San Juan Valley and the San Benito River, Farm Bureau President Tom Tobias said.
In an attempt to fix the overflow problem, the city is looking at plans to expand its wastewater percolation ponds into the Wright Road area, which would divert some of the water flow out of the San Juan Valley into the Bolsa area, he said.
But the city’s plan will only solve the problem of too much water without addressing the degrading water-quality issue, according to Tobias. “It’s a Band-Aid to the problem,” he said. “All they’re doing is turning a spigot spurting out dirty water and aiming that spigot in a different area.”
The city’s ultimate goal, which the Farm Bureau and Water District agree with, is to be able to recycle the treated wastewater, said Hollister Mayor Tony Bruscia.
But that takes time, and until then, the city needs a place to percolate the water, he said. The location at Wright Road is not the only location the city has been looking at, and Bruscia said he expects a fight regardless of where the ponds are built.
“No matter where we choose to put it, somebody’s going to be unhappy,” he said. “Nobody wants it in their backyard.”
However, putting the ponds at the Wright Road site raises agriculture and drinking water issues that haven’t been addressed yet, said John Gregg, director of the San Benito County Water District.He said there needs to be a more open and transparent process for selecting a disposal alternative and sites.
“There has not been in my view,” he said. “Just ask the Wright Road land owners.”
The city has had problems with wastewater planning since the ponds were first built many years ago, Bruscia said.
But Tobias said attempting to fix those problems by polluting farmers’ ground and the wells of homeowners who live near the proposed pond site is not acceptable.
“They can’t just deposit salty water on farms or homeowners and say it’s not their problem anymore,” he said. “Until they clean up the salty water, they should not be allowed to percolate in a different area.”
Bruscia said the city is working with the farm bureau and water district to get their input on where they think the city should build the ponds.
“We want to do what’s right,” he said. “We asked them to tell us some parameters, but the bottom line is that we’re going to do what’s right for the whole community.”
There are ongoing meetings between the water district, farm bureau, county and the city, Gregg said. All parties agree that the issue is greater than simply where the ponds will be placed, and they’re willing to work together to find a solution.
“There are issues… in terms of water supply and wastewater disposal that need to be addressed, and it’s something the city can’t do by themselves,” Gregg said. “All the agencies need to work together to get that done. It’s a work in progress.”
City Manager Clint Quilter said he agrees with the farm bureau and water district that it’s important to protect the ground water for the long-term, and that the city is in the process of figuring out an appropriate way to do that.
Quilter said the city is doing an Environmental Impact Review. The Wright Road site was chosen as an option after studies were done on the soil and how water effects it.
Decisions on where the ponds will go are on hold right now while more studies are completed and more discussions take place, Quilter said.
“We’re trying to get the issues resolved,” he said.
