Aliso Creek Water Aliso Creek Water ProjectProject

““Water water everywhere and not a Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink…”drop to drink…”

By Blair Barbeau, age 17By Blair Barbeau, age 17 Photo journal on the condition of our Photo journal on the condition of our

drinking water in Laguna Niguel, drinking water in Laguna Niguel, ideas for cleaning up our water and ideas for cleaning up our water and our run off water to avoid bacterium our run off water to avoid bacterium and trash entering the ocean.and trash entering the ocean.

Laguna Niguel Water Laguna Niguel Water comes from comes from

Orange County’s Orange County’s Groundwater Basin lies in a Groundwater Basin lies in a coastal alluvial plain in the coastal alluvial plain in the

northwestern portion ofnorthwestern portion ofthe county. the county. Since most of our water is collected in Since most of our water is collected in

basins and stored for usage we need basins and stored for usage we need to be careful how the “plumbing” of to be careful how the “plumbing” of our water system operates. It is our water system operates. It is important to keep the water free of important to keep the water free of trash, chemicals, and animals.trash, chemicals, and animals.

How the Water is HeldHow the Water is Held

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

Suspects for smelly waterSuspects for smelly water

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

Protecting the waterProtecting the water Secure fencing is supposed to keep out Secure fencing is supposed to keep out

terrorists, animals such as deer feces terrorists, animals such as deer feces and trashand trash

Grates need to be added to storm drains Grates need to be added to storm drains and they need to be cleaned on a cycleand they need to be cleaned on a cycle

Teams of workers could cut down the Teams of workers could cut down the non native weeds with hand tools to non native weeds with hand tools to keep the waterway running. I would keep the waterway running. I would discourage using Herbicides which will discourage using Herbicides which will set the balance off and add more set the balance off and add more chemicalschemicals

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

Water at the surfaceWater at the surface

Photos of man made lake in north west Photos of man made lake in north west county which holds water to be county which holds water to be distributed.distributed.

This particular “lake” is used for This particular “lake” is used for recreational paddle boats and fishing. I recreational paddle boats and fishing. I saw a problem with all the vehicles that saw a problem with all the vehicles that drive right to the surface of the water drive right to the surface of the water ( which we later drink) because ( which we later drink) because dumping of oil from the cars and trash dumping of oil from the cars and trash occursoccurs

Well Constructed water Well Constructed water systemssystems

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

Some water plants are Some water plants are usefuluseful

Natural water plants act to filter the Natural water plants act to filter the runoff flowing down stream. runoff flowing down stream.

There are native plants which can There are native plants which can eat the algae and reduce bacteriumeat the algae and reduce bacterium

Recycled Reused WaterRecycled Reused Water

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

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

Water tankWater tank

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

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

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

Water conservationWater conservation

Awareness of conservation of our water Awareness of conservation of our water especially this year is very important. We especially this year is very important. We are expected to see serious drought. are expected to see serious drought.

Running sprinklers on concrete, allowing Running sprinklers on concrete, allowing the cold to run at the tap without a care the cold to run at the tap without a care and wasting may even be fined this and wasting may even be fined this seasonseason

We need clean water to live and to We need clean water to live and to protect us from fire protect us from fire

Be cautious of our life Be cautious of our life waterwater

Water from the reservoir flows right Water from the reservoir flows right next to the Spadra landfill north east next to the Spadra landfill north east of Laguna Niguel. Spadra is of Laguna Niguel. Spadra is considered a toxic dump.considered a toxic dump.

Report dumping in waterways, it Report dumping in waterways, it effects our economy and our healtheffects our economy and our health

Older Dam Older Dam

Older Dams in Aliso need repairOlder Dams in Aliso need repair

Colorado River Water Colorado River Water

Aqueduct Arial pictureAqueduct Arial picture

What other sources of What other sources of water are there?water are there?

More research on making desalination More research on making desalination less costly needs to be developed. less costly needs to be developed. Since we live right next to the ocean Since we live right next to the ocean making salt water drinkable is making salt water drinkable is common sense thinkingcommon sense thinking

What if a gallon of water costs the What if a gallon of water costs the same as a gallon of gasoline?same as a gallon of gasoline?

We import water from Northern We import water from Northern California and the Colorado river… California and the Colorado river… maybe from farther still in the future?maybe from farther still in the future?

Erosion and problems along Erosion and problems along Aliso CreekAliso Creek

Sewer line runs next to Sewer line runs next to aliso creekaliso creek

Not good in a rain storm…Not good in a rain storm…

Trash floating in WaterTrash floating in Water

View of birds in garbage waterView of birds in garbage water