Time for serious water discussion

Water — where we get it, how much we pay, and how to use it (and save it) — is the most timely of topics.

A recent meeting lost a lot of its luster with the quick departure of the mayor early on.

After introducing the staff and taking a few questions, none relating to water, the mayor beat a hasty retreat to a prior engagement. Too bad.

The mayor’s influence over water policy and use in Huntington Beach is broad. Some of us had questions regarding the expiration of Poseidon’s Conditional Use Permit. We wanted to know where the Franchise Agreement stands and some of the magical benefits Huntington Beach can be expected to receive, and we wanted to question the lack of transparency we received from the city when those subjects are broached.

And, foremost, why the city continues to support the building of an ocean desalination plant that by the city’s own criteria does not fit.

The only real selling point of the whole desalination deal and its water (heard over and over again) is that it is a “reliable” source of fresh drinking water in the event of a disaster (but only for 10 days and at the going market price).

What is never mentioned is that even this major talking point for the city and its cohorts at Poseidon is a ruse. It may or may not be so reliable after all. Just like predicting the next big earthquake or damage to the delta.

Lt. Gov. John Garamendi withdrew his support of the use of Once Through Cooling (OTC) and all ocean desalination projects that use this process.

“This technology is contrary to state and national efforts to eliminate OTC and its impacts on the environment,” he said. “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California State Water Resources Control Board are working on new regulations to reduce and eventually eliminate OTC and its impacts.”

The plant is outdated before it is ever up. State regulations will render this plant obsolete. Why does the city continue to support an operation that replicates the very impacts we are working to eliminate? We need to look at conservation and reclamation for serious answers.

We need to have a serious dialogue about water soon.

MERLE MOSHIRI

Huntington Beach

Center should be in paved location

Watching all of the commotion about building in Huntington Beach Central Park and spending time with my son at the batting cages at the Huntington Beach Sports Complex, it strikes me that the city may be well served to evaluate the land use of the northwestern corner of the sports complex.

This area is currently a paved parking area that appears to have remained completely unutilized since the opening of the complex. The parking for the sports complex appears to have been grossly oversized for the utilization experienced at this site, from personal observation probably three times the size actually used at peak periods.

It would seem prudent to me that the city would do a parking study and evaluate the placement of the senior center in a location that is currently paved over (and not used) rather than build on one of the few green areas of the city.

One other benefit is that seniors could access the library without having to cross Goldenwest Street, a death defying act even for younger people.

BILL SMALLSHAW

Huntington Beach

Cambro is all over the world

I enjoyed “H.B: City of plastic?,” In The Pipeline, Aug. 27. I worked at Cambro Manufacturing Co. for 15 years as the cost accounting manager, and really enjoyed my time there! It was challenging work, and the people were great. You not only see their products in restaurants, but on TV — Alton Brown, on “Good Eats” seems to really like them, for instance. The only place I didn’t find Cambro was in Georgetown, in Greater Exuma in the Bahamas! But that was years ago. There’s a lot more tourist traffic there now, and Cambro must surely have made its presence felt by now!

Kathy Stevens