Stop Ocean Outfalls in SLO County

On July 16th, Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (the Board) will consider a permit for Cayucos' ocean outfall, which will be used to discharge wastewater from Cayucos' new sewage plant, and could also be potentially used by other areas such as Cambria. 

This outfall would cause adverse impacts to the marine environment, including impacts to marine resources, commercial and recreational fishing activities, ESHA, public access, and cultural and tribal resources

Please ask the Board to take preemptive actions against the use of ocean outfalls in SLO County by doing two things:

First, add a requirement to Cayucos' permit which guarantees “Exclusive use by Cayucos Sanitary District” and excludes the possibility of a Brine Discharge Program. A Brine Discharge Program will increase traffic on county roads, add risk to managing ocean pollution, and eliminate the need for future projects to plan for less outfall and better sustainability. 

Second, ask the board to require Cayucos to design measurable goals and benchmarks toward a designated year where the outfall will not be necessary by researching the feasibility of a constructed wetland project which can be used to “bury” salts and other minerals from their wastewater recycling program. Our chapter believes Cayucos and Morro Bay have the potential to recover fresh water resources which would otherwise flow to the ocean.

Although we do not support the new outfall in Cayucos, opportunities still remain for shared conveyance of recycled water and constructed wetlands. Our long-term goal is for Cayucos and Morro Bay to work together, and continue the use of a shared outfall or eliminate the need for an outfall altogether, reducing impacts to the ocean and increased conservation of vital, freshwater resources.