Amador County – The Ione City Council on Tuesday approved a $5,000 study of isotopes related to a suspected seepage area below one of its sewer treatment ponds on the bank of Sutter Creek, with the city hoping the findings prove to be conclusive enough to state regulators.
The council authorized City Manager Kim Kerr to sign a contract for $4,973 with Hydrofocus Incorporated to conduct the isotope study on the water in Sutter Creek, above and below the suspected seepage area on the bank, where dampness has been seen for years. Kerr said the source of the water could not be conclusively known until the study was done.
She said city records show the seepage on the wall of the bank of Sutter Creek has been a known phenomenon since at least 2001, and no one has ever been “willing to say what the water is.” The Regional Water Quality Control Board considers it seepage until it is proven inconclusively that its source is something other than the sewer pond.
Kerr said the “isotope study will tell you where the water comes from.” She said “one way or the other, we have to have this answered.” If they don’t, they will need a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit, for incidental discharging.
City Attorney Kristen Castanos said the city is not sure that the Regional Board would issue an NPDES permit for the incidental discharge, because staff has not spoken to them about that.
It would increase city monitoring requirements. The city now pays about $30,000 a year in monitoring tests at Castle Oaks’ sewer pond system. Kerr said monitoring costs with an NPDES permit “would be higher, and would be in perpetuity.”
City Engineer John Wanger said the outcome of the isotope study findings depends on the belief of the Regional Board, which wants the source of the water on the creek bank proven beyond the shadow of a doubt.
He said environmental groups are saying that wastewater treatment plants are degrading waterways, while on the other hand, municipalities are trying to serve their cities’ needs.
Wanger said they “must determine if it’s naturally occurring ground water, or if it is seepage being forced out by water pressure of the pond.”
The council also approved an emergency repair of a leak on Pond 6 caused by rodents.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
