By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
The public is invited to give their input on possible project options regarding wastewater treatment systems in Los Olivos. The newly formed Los Olivos Community Services District (LOCSD) has been meeting with the California Regional Quality Water Control Board and Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services, gathering information and studying wastewater system options.
The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, at Los Olivos Elementary School located at 2540 Alamo Pintado Road.
The LOCSD was created in January of 2018, when the unincorporated community of about 1,000 people. labeled a “special problems area” since the 1970s because of failing septic systems, has not had any local government to deal with the issue other than the county Board of Supervisors.
The five-member board of directors elected were Lisa Bertero-Palmer, Tom Fayram, Mike Arme, Julie Kennedy and Brian O’Neill who were then tasked with the planning, construction and operation of a community wastewater system.
Wastewater and septic systems have been a decades-long issue because of the town’s high water table, which increases the risk that septic tank effluent will pollute groundwater.
Future meeting dates are June 26 for project options refinement and July 31 for preferred option presentation.
For more information on the meeting and the LOCSD, visit www.losolivoscsd.com, or email losolivoscsd@gmail.com.
