Affordable Clean Water Alliance v. Santa Clarita Valley etc. CA2/5

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Affordable Clean Water Alliance (the Alliance) appeals from a judgment denying its petition for writ of mandate. The Alliance asserted that the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District of Los Angeles County (the District) violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA; Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.)1 when it certified a project to reduce the chloride levels in wastewater treated at its water reclamation plants. The trial court denied the petition. We affirm.

II. BACKGROUND

A. The Initial Project and 2013 EIR

The District is responsible for treating wastewater for the Santa Clarita Valley, which it accomplishes through its Valencia and Saugus water reclamation plants. The treatment process produces high-quality wastewater that is suitable for reuse. In 2013, a portion of the treated wastewater (referred to as recycled water) was reused and a portion was discharged into the Santa Clara River (the River).

Further statutory references are to the Public Resources Code unless otherwise indicated.

Recycled water is treated wastewater that, instead of being discharged into the River, is reused by local communities.

2 Under…