City of Fillmore

The city is awaiting a response from the California Regional Water Quality Control Board to its request to pay the $222,000 fine assessed for discharged into the Santa Clara River. Fillmore’s water treatment plant was built in 1955 and is unable to achieve water purity at the level of current standards.
Although construction on the city’s new $33 million treatment plant is about three quarters finished, the fines are not negotiable. Under legislation passed created by California’s Democrats, and passed by former Democrat Grey Davis, the fines are mandatory.
The new treatment plant (to begin operation April, 2009) will prevent any discharge to the river, avoiding any future fines. According to Bert Rapp, Fillmore’s Director of Public Works, the city hopes the (RWQCB) will permit payments on the fine instead of the burden of paying the entire amount immediately. The city has also requested that $115,000 be payable towards a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) instead of the State. A payment schedule would greatly ease the burden on the city’s budget.
Further fines are expected because the city’s old treatment plant cannot deal with the new water quality standards. If we receive heavy rains the fines will be greater. The city has asked that the State Board combine all penalties until they can be processed and settled at once.
Water bills for Fillmore residents are not expected to go up due to these fines. Funds from other accounts will probably be used, including the possibility that money from the general fund would be made available.