By Daily Press staff
City Hall will spend $1 million to build a new water treatment system in the storm drains along Wilshire Boulevard.
Similar to the one already in place on Montana Avenue, the project is designed to filter water at various locations in the storm drains rather than all at once.
The idea is to reduce the amount of pollution that flows into Santa Monica Bay by treating it nearer to its source.
A grant of $980,000 was recently accepted by City Hall from the State Water Resources Control Board. City Hall must produce $147,000 in matching funds, most of which will be satisfied with in-kind design and engineering services, and $25,000 from the city budget for stormwater system improvements.
Called the “Wilshire Boulevard Dry-Wet Weather Treatment System,” the project consists of two standard structural treatment devices located within the storm drains.
The grant covers construction costs. Ongoing maintenance, operation and monitoring costs will be paid by City Hall’s utilities and industrial waste budgets. Unanticipated costs will be covered by the Storm Water Fund, according to city documents.
The grant money, which comes from the State Water Resources Control Board, is receipt based, meaning City Hall must spend the money first and then ask for reimbursement.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 15, 2003. Read the original PDF.