Win for Malibu on Nov 5th-long fought and sweet forever

Following a 10-hour meeting, with hundreds in attendance, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board voted 5-2 to ban any new septic systems in central and eastern Malibu, and existing systems will have to halt wastewater discharges -residential by the year 2019, and commercial by 2015. This ruling was a pivotal decision for supporters of the Clean Water at the Bu Campaign and is the final step towards improving water quality in the lower Malibu Creek watershed.

An estimated 160 people attended Thursday’s hearing to show their support for “Clean Water at the ‘Bu.” The Surfrider Foundation’s West Los Angeles/Malibu Chapter along with our Clean Water at the Bu Coalition including Heal the Bay, Santa Monica Baykeeper and the Malibu Surfing Association were in full-force at the hearing with t-shirts, speaker and support cards, buttons, and approximately 1,150 petition signatures.

It was a once in a lifetime experience to be part of this victory for Malibu, and to see our chapter and global membership come together for this historic win at Surfrider Beach. The boards decision provides enforceable deadines for the cleanup of septics polluting Surfrider, and we look forward to a comprehensive wastewater plan for the Civic Centers’ wastewater needs-to meet the generous deadlines set out in the prohibition.

We had incredible support this year from the dedicated volunteers in West/LA Malibu, and from our tireless global staff Nancy Hastings, Alexis Henry, and Angela Howe. Our coalition with Malibu Surf Association, Santa Monica Baykeepers, and Heal the Bay is a strong voice for clean water in Los Angeles-one that will continue make it’s mark and improve water quality in LA in the coming years.

Surfrider Foundation was founded to protect this wave, and we are honored to have inherited the work of decades of volunteers for a win at Malibu. Special thanks to volunteers Mariee Sweeney, Ed Emanuelli, Vanessa Meier, Wes Negus, Jessica Lacson, Juli Shulz, Henry Peacor, Katherine Nuguyen, Drew Albenze, and Angel Scott, and many more who worked so hard to get Clean Water at the Bu.

This win can encourage us all to keep the faith in our work on complex, long lasting fights for our right to clean water. We can win for the environment in LA, against all odds.

This is our day to know that for sure. Stay tuned for details on our a chapter celebration of this win soon-We thank you for your support for Clean Water at the Bu!!!