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Aliso Creek Water Project “Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink…” By Blair Barbeau, age 17 Photo journal on the condition of our drinking water in Laguna Niguel, ideas for cleaning up our water and our run off water to avoid bacterium and trash entering the ocean.

Laguna Niguel Water comes from

Orange County’s Groundwater Basin lies in a coastal alluvial plain in the northwestern portion of the county. Since most of our water is collected in basins and stored for usage we need to be careful how the “plumbing” of our water system operates. It is important to keep the water free of trash, chemicals, and animals.

How the Water is Held Our water in Laguna Niguel is collected with a complex system of dams, reservoirs, power plants, pumping plants, canals, and aqueducts. Some of these systems appear to be failing in my photographs. Erosion of older dams, sewer lines next to water sources at risk from the heavy temporary rains we receive in the late winter, garbage thrown into water storage etc makes our drinking water and oceans at risk.

Suspects for smelly water Aliso Creek newer dams and aeration which were constructed to help reduce the odors from the Aliso Creek at Crown Valley and Niguel Roads. It was suspected that the car wash was the source of the odor and gas smell but car washes actually recycle water and are more efficient use of water than washing your car with the running hose in your driveway. I interviewed the owner of the New Car wash which was held up a long delay in meeting City, State and County regulations.

Protecting the water Secure fencing is supposed to keep out terrorists, animals such as deer feces and trash Grates need to be added to storm drains and they need to be cleaned on a cycle Teams of workers could cut down the non native weeds with hand tools to keep the waterway running. I would discourage using Herbicides which will set the balance off and add more chemicals

Storm drains do not operate if garbage and trash collect blocking them. The litter ends up in our water and out to the ocean.

Water at the surface Photos of man made lake in north west county which holds water to be distributed. This particular “lake” is used for recreational paddle boats and fishing. I saw a problem with all the vehicles that drive right to the surface of the water ( which we later drink) because dumping of oil from the cars and trash occurs

Well Constructed water systems These slides show the concrete and aggregate rock surface and open drain holes north of the intersection. Safety grates were put over the large storm drains which allow rain to flow in during heavy rainfall and also air in during dry season.

Some water plants are useful Natural water plants act to filter the runoff flowing down stream. There are native plants which can eat the algae and reduce bacterium

Recycled Reused Water The next slides show the Coastal Water Treatment Plant in Wood Canyon Park. Water flows into the man made lake and is treated with air, churned by turbines and allowed sunlight and released. The plant is also known as the “poop plant” as sewage is cleaned up here.

Water in Laguna Niguel is mostly ground water from the Colorado River transported via aqueduct but also rain water runoff moved from retaining basins that catch the rain. We have infrequent rain in South Orange County and much rainwater is lost when it rains heavily. Better storage and routing needs to be created.

Water tank The next slide illustrates an old fashioned water tank which is in use in Santa Ana. The Santa Ana river supplies water to underground tanks in north west Orange County. Water tanks look like they are inefficient but they have been used in Agricultural Communities for centuries.

The following slides show Aliso Creek water from March 1 2009 – May 1 2009. Note the changes in algae levels on days the temperature rose in late April. You can see the water turned muddy and green. Aliso Creek runoff the the ocean is considered one of the highest risks for bacterium and levels of chloroform after heavy rain. Many reasons are speculated why this exists

Dense vegetation at the outlet and at the Aliso Creek main-stem, effluent water is currently ponds and sits behind a dense mat of willow and mulefat roots and bacterial growth occurs. Clean up of the basin is difficult but necessary. This summer we will have mosquito populations in the Aliso Creek if it can not flow freely.

One drop of water is everywhere Signs are posted for the purple recycled water, for keep out during rain storm dangers and to keep persons aware that anything you dump in reservoirs, drains and pipes eventually either gets into the drinking cup at the tap or out to the ocean

Water conservation Awareness of conservation of our water especially this year is very important. We are expected to see serious drought. Running sprinklers on concrete, allowing the cold to run at the tap without a care and wasting may even be fined this season We need clean water to live and to protect us from fire

Be cautious of our life water Water from the reservoir flows right next to the Spadra landfill north east of Laguna Niguel. Spadra is considered a toxic dump. Report dumping in waterways, it effects our economy and our health

Older Dam Older Dams in Aliso need repair

Colorado River Water Aqueduct Arial picture

What other sources of water are there? More research on making desalination less costly needs to be developed. Since we live right next to the ocean making salt water drinkable is common sense thinking What if a gallon of water costs the same as a gallon of gasoline? We import water from Northern California and the Colorado river… maybe from farther still in the future?

Erosion and problems along Aliso Creek

Sewer line runs next to aliso creek Not good in a rain storm…

Trash floating in Water View of birds in garbage water

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