Photo courtesy of the office of Fifth District Ventura County Supervisor John Zaragoza.
Fifth District Supervisor John Zaragoza, State and local officials and representatives from the El Rio Community on Thursday celebrated with a brief ceremony and a ribbon cutting to commemorate the completion of the El Rio Sewer Project, Zaragoza’s office reported in a media release.
”Most people don’t think much about it, but a reliable sewer system is very important in any community. It protects public health and safety, preserves our local ground water supplies and it contributes to improved property values. Our County Public Works team has done a great job in providing the El Rio community a safe, reliable and cost effective sewer system. Today, we celebrate this great success story,” Zaragoza stated in the release.
In August 1999, at the culmination of a set of studies to analyze the water quality of drinking water aquifers beneath El Rio, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board took enforcement action that required the phase-out of all septic tanks in the El Rio community.
Since 1999, the Ventura County Public Works Agency successfully secured $26 million in Federal, State and local grants for the project and negotiated a low-interest, 40-year loan to fund the remaining portion of the $35 million project. In addition, several County of Ventura departments worked together to provide income eligible households with up to $5,000 in Federal grant funds to pay for private property sewer hook-up construction work.
More than 1400 septic systems in the El Rio community have been abandoned, resulting in enhanced public health and safety, higher property values and improved water quality for Western Ventura County.
Others participating in the ceremony included Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board representative David Koo, County CEO Michael Powers, County Public Works Agency Director Jeff Pratt, Oxnard City Council member Carmen Ramirez and County Water and Sanitation Director Reddy Pakala.
Call 805.654.2613 for more information about the event.