City to Seek Bids for Old Topanga Sewer

A sewer system for Old Topanga took a step closer to reality Wednesday.

The Calabasas City Council voted 3-2 to start requesting bids from firms interested in drafting the environmental impact report for the project.

Councilwoman Mary Sue Maurer and Councilman James Bozajian cast the dissenting votes.

The vote was preceded by an update from city staff about the recent inspection of septic systems throughout the city.

The inspection found that 25 of Calabasas' 141 septic systems are failing, meaning that their contents are leaking and they pose a health and environmental hazard.

"These problems have been going on for a very long time," said Sparky Cohen, a code enforcement officer with the city. "If it wasn't for the inspection program, they wouldn't be brought to light."

A majority of the failing septic systems are located in the Dry Canyon Cold Creek and Old Topanga neighborhoods.

In recent months, some council members have pushed for expanding sewers to those areas to better treat human waste.

"This is a serious groundwater and creek problem," said Mayor Barry Groveman.

But installing a sewer or alternatives could be costly.

Putting in a new septic system could cost homeowners upwards of $40,000, Cohen said.

However, connecting to a sewer would be around $7,000, he added.

If a sewer system is installed and a homeowner has a failing septic system, he or she is legally required to connect to it, according to the California Plumbing Code.

As plans progress for a sewer system through Old Topanga, the city of Calabasas in the meantime has implemented monitoring programs for homeowners with failing septic systems.

These programs include weekly or biweekly pumping of septic systems until a homeowner repairs or installs a new system, or until a sewer line is put in place, Cohen said.

A number of Old Topanga residents have spoken out against the possibility of a sewer line through their neighborhood, fearing it could spark overdevelopment.

Maurer and Bozajian also oppose the idea.

Both say Old Topanga residents have not approached them with requests for a sewer system.

"I haven't heard from one person that they're interested in hooking up to a sewer," Maurer said.

Bozajian criticized the agenda item's staff report for indicating that six Old Topanga residents approached the city with inquiries about a sewer system.

That made it seem as though those six residents were in favor of such a project, he added.

 "No one has really come in front of us and said they want a sewer system, [and] it's not because they're shy," Bozajian said.