Each year, tons of harmful and dangerous pollutants, bacteria and trash are carried through our neighborhoods and enter local creeks, reservoirs, lakes, the Delta and Bay. As water drains from streets, parking lots, and lawns, pollutants are picked up and enter the drainage system through thousands of catch basins throughout Contra Costa County. From there, this polluted water flows through a system of pipes, channels and creeks straight into the Delta and Bay.
The Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District has teamed up with all 19 of the incorporated cities and towns of Contra Costa County in a cooperative effort to prevent water pollution. This joint effort is known as the Contra Costa Clean Water Program. The Clean Water Program is now tasked with implementing new state and federal clean water standards. If local creeks, reservoirs, lakes, the Delta and Bay are not cleaned up, local communities may be forced to pay large fines and will be subject to third-party lawsuits.
As a result, the Clean Water Program is proposing the 2012 Community Clean Water Initiative, a spring 2012 property owner election, to improve local water quality and protect our communities from toxic and dangerous pollutants.
The Proposed 2012 Community Clean Water Initiative will:
- Protect local sources of clean drinking water from contamination and pollution.
- Remove harmful and dangerous pollutants, toxic chemicals, and potentially infectious bacteria and viruses from our local creeks, reservoirs, lakes, the Delta and Bay.
- Capture, clean and use rainwater to irrigate local parks and landscaping. This rainwater harvesting will also decrease the impacts of polluted stormwater and urban runoff on our local creeks, lakes, reservoirs, the Delta and Bay.
- Prevent illegal or toxic discharges from industrial and commercial properties.
- Provide other clean water and pollution control services and facilities required by Federal and State clean water regulations.
- Keep trash and pollution away from local shorelines, creeks, reservoirs, and the Delta and Bay.
The cost of this clean water measure is modest. Each property owner will be assessed depending on the unique conditions relating to his/her individual property. The specific fee for each property will appear on each individual property owner’s ballot. For the vast majority of property owners the cost will be in the range of $12-$22 per year. This measure will only last 10 years. At the end of the 10-year period the funding will expire. This funding authorization cannot be extended without a new vote of local property owners.
This is a property-owner-only election. All Contra Costa County property owners are eligible to vote. Property owners should receive their ballots by mail the week of February 21, 2012. Completed ballots can be mailed OR hand-delivered to the Clerk of the Board of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, 651 Pine Street, 1st Floor, Room 106, Martinez, California. To count in this election, ALL completed ballots must be received by the County on or before April 6, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.
For additional information on the Clean Water Program, its services, the proposed 2012
Community Clean Water Initiative, or the ballot proceeding please contact: (925) 313-2360 or visit: www.cccleanwater.org
