Some 175 Yucca Valley properties continue to discharge wastewater on site in violation of the Regional Water Quality Control Board’s septic discharge prohibition. At a hearing in Palm Desert Tuesday, that board escalated enforcement efforts by issuing cease-and-desist orders to three of the noncompliant property owners.
The three properties in question, (located in the 6400 block of Linda Lee Drive, the 58700 block of Natoma Trail, and the 6400 block of Ronald Drive) all in phase I of the Yucca Valley sewer project, are more than four years past their final deadline to decommission their on-site septic and connect to the new wastewater treatment system.
Multiple requests, warnings, and low-interest loan and grant incentives by the Hi-Desert Water District have been ignored by the property owners.
The cease-and-desist orders serve as preemptive warnings to the violators who now have approximately 60 days to complete the sewer line connections or risk hefty fines and the matter being turned over to the state attorney general. Unfortunately for the violators, the low interest financing has mostly dried up and the connection costs have increased roughly 25 percent during the four years of delays.
At the next meeting of the Regional Water Quality Control Board October 15, cease-and-desist order hearings are scheduled for four additional Yucca Valley property owners who continue to threaten the town’s drinking water supply.
