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Dr. Teng-Chung Wu, Division Chief, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, described the policy on reclamation and the procedure by which the projects are approved. In this particular case, the use permit does specify one type of reclamation and how it can be permitted. He said the project will go before the Board on September 15 for approval and in October as an action item. The project has received a recommendation from the Health Department and has been reviewed by DSRSD and Zone 7. Mayor Tarver declared the public hearing open. Patricia Stillman, 2934 Kilkare Road, Sunol, raised concerns about ethical considerations and impacts of the reverse osmosis project as it relates to public health and welfare. She said members of the Safe Water Committee have researched and analyzed chemical and radioactive elements and the validity of membranes, as well as cost benefits, feasibility and growth inducement issues. She said much thought has been given to these issues by members who possess considerable scientific expertise and knowledge. She felt their papers and remarks deserved serious consideration. She believed a project of this magnitude and importance obviously demands scientific and technical research and scrutiny. However, any analysis without ethical consideration is incomplete. Public agencies, City Councils and Boards are set up as planners of policies and providers of services. Zone7 has been entrusted and must be held accountable for providing its customers with life giving water. Safe, clean water is absolutely vital to the communities' well-being and every precaution must be taken to ensure the water's purity and quality. She felt the injection of treated sewer water into the groundwater is an irresponsible action for Zone 7 to take and she is concerned about the threat of birth defects, various forms of cancer, spontaneous termination of unborn fetuses and massive attacks on the immune systems. She said even a perceived threat of these hazards should make this project unacceptable. She said the injection of treated sewage into the Valley's aquifer that retains hazardous elements is an irreversible action. This project comprises the mission of the water agency to deliver safe water to the residents of this district at a reasonable cost. She did not believe that Zone 7 should accommodate developments outside of its jurisdiction which would jeopardize the health of the residents and future generations. She said the voters have placed their faith and trust with Zone 7 for good quality water and its protection from harmful intrusions. Any plans for reverse osmosis should be reexamined and rescinded. She said an action as controversial and life threatening as this should be decided by the voters. The Safe Water Committee requested that Council reconsider its support for the implementation of the reverse osmosis groundwater injection process. To ignore the concerns of the community who must rely on Zone 7 for its water is a violation of the public's trust. She asked the audience to raise their hands if they felt comfortable drinking its own sewage water. (There were no hands raised) She asked if Council was prepared to disclose to future residents and businesses that "you will be drinking your own sewage water". Guy Houston, Mayor of Dublin, expressed support of the Clean Water Revival project. The capacity limits of the LAVWMA pipeline make it imperative that DSRSD develop additional wastewater disposal options to accommodate the already approved and under construction Pleasanton City Council 5 09/08/98 Minutes