NEWPORT BEACH
Before selling the city’s 1.18% share of San Joaquin Reservoir water to the Irvine Ranch Water District, the City Council said it wanted a binding agreement that the water district would abide by rules to release reclaimed water into Upper Newport Bay.
Council members voted Tuesday to delay a decision on the sale until the city’s Environmental Quality Advisory Committee has reviewed the water district’s proposal to turn the reservoir into a basin for reclaimed water.
State water quality control officials now allow the water district to discharge reclaimed reservoir water into San Diego Creek during heavy rainstorms. The creek feeds the bay.
City officials said they will continue working with the district on concerns about the proposal.
The council is expected to discuss the proposal again at its Oct. 24 meeting.
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