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U.S. EPA, Redondo Beach celebrate stormwater pollution control project groundbreaking

Release Date: 02/09/2010
Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, 213 244 1815, cell: (213) 798-1404, [email protected]

LOS ANGELES – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the City of Redondo Beach, Calif., celebrate the groundbreaking of the Alta Vista Park Diversion and Reuse Project, which will protect coastal waters from urban stormwater runoff -- the number one cause of coastal water pollution in Southern California -- and use collected rainwater for park irrigation. The $2.2 million project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The groundbreaking takes place Tuesday, Feb. 9, 4:00 p.m., at Alta Vista Park, 715 Julia Street, Redondo Beach, across from the Community Center.

Joining EPA will be Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin, members of the Redondo Beach city council, local elected officials and members of the public.

“With this innovative project, the City of Redondo Beach is taking a positive step to protect beach users and at the same time conserve Southern California’s scarce water supply,” said John Kemmerer, associate Water Division director for EPA’s Pacific Southwest region.

As a result of this project, stormwater that would otherwise impact the beach south of the Redondo Beach Municipal Pier will be collected, treated and used to irrigate Alta Vista Park. Water that is not needed for irrigation will be infiltrated into the ground, thus reducing discharges to the ocean. This project is designed to help the City of Redondo Beach comply with Regional Water Quality Control Board requirements to reduce stormwater pollution. Completion of the project is scheduled for September 2010.

This $2.2 million project is being financed by federal Recovery Act funds administered through the State Water Resources Control Board’s Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund. Under the Recovery Act, California received $280 million from EPA for water quality protection projects. At least 20% of these funds must be provided to “Green Projects” that support sustainable practices, such as this Alta Vista Park project.

Link to U.S. EPA's Recovery Act website: www.epa.gov/recovery

Link to the web page on the Alta Vista Park Diversion and Reuse Project: http://www.redondo.org/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=1495&targetid=1