I made a video on January 29th, after Rock Springs Road was reopened. The black residue that smells like sewage is shown in the video. What it is, and where it came from are valid questions. This is the only source of drinking water for everything north of Rock Springs Road, all the way to Barstow. Below is a link to the Daily Press Video, look at the water and ask yourself if you would drink it? 

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1155838627/bclid1170502784/bctid1396506103 

VICTORVILLE — While there is no immediate public health concern, the Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority is currently discharging more than the legal limit of nitrates into the Mojave River.

The local Lahontan branch of the California Regional Water Quality Board is considering a cease and desist order for the VVWRA until they meet state standards.

“Currently there are high nitrates in the water immediately around the facility,” said Mike Plaziak, with the Lahontan Water Board. “Once you get away from the facility, the overall volume of the Mojave River dilutes the nitrates.”

Plaziak said the nitrates are not affecting anyone’s drinking water, but that they still need to conduct an evaluation to see how far the pollution goes.

The VVWRA currently has no equipment to remove nitrates from the water, but plans to incorporate denitrification into facility improvements that will be completed by Nov. 1, 2011, according to the cease and desist order available on the Lahontan Water Board’s Web site.

Plaziak said improved performance at the VVWRA, since it fell under new management, has already had some impact on the overall nitrates.

“The nitrate levels are already reducing over time.”

Still, the levels are slightly above the 10 milligrams per liter legally allowed in the state.

“The cease and desist order gives them a timetable,” Plaziak said. “It gives them some liability over their shoulders to push them to bring it more under control.”

If the VVWRA does not meet the timetable, Plaziak said they could face a fine of up to $1,000 per day until the standards are met.

The cease and desist order will be discussed during a public meeting held at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 14 in the Mojave Desert Air Quality board room at 14306 Park Ave. in Victorville.

Flooding closes Rock Springs Road indefinitely

At least 11,000 vehicles cut off from the road daily

By RYAN ORR Staff Writer

    ROCK SPRINGS — A flooded Mojave River continued surging over Rock Springs Road on Monday, cutting off at least 11,000 motorists who use the road daily.
    Because of the recent heavy rains, more than 366,000 gallons of water per minute is being released from Silverwood Lake into the Mojave River, which forced the closure of the road. The lowlying road connects Apple Valley to Hesperia and is often flooded out during heavy rains.
    The recent storms caused the California Department of Water Resources to release water from Silverwood Lake.
    “Cedar Springs Dam is not a flood control dam so any natural resources that come in, we have to let out,” said John Bunce, operations superintendent for the department.
    Starting Sunday, the department began releasing 320 cubic feet of water per second, or 2,400 gallons.
    By Sunday the rate reached 4,500 gallons per second, said David Zook, spokesman for San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt.
    Monday morning they increased the flow again up to 815 cubic feet per second, or 61,000 gallons, Zook added. It will continue at that rate indefinitely he said.
    The Cedar Springs Dam holds water in Silverwood Lake. The lake is a state water project retaining water from the California Aqueduct.
    “That water belongs to us, not the state water project,” Zook said of the natural rainfall.
    The Mojave Forks Dam, located farther down river from Silverwood Lake but still before Rock Springs Road, was reportedly releasing 5,700 cubic feet of water per second Sunday or 42,750 gallons of water.
    The National Weather Service released a flood warning Sunday, saying significant water was expected to be released into the Mojave River.
    As a result of the alert, Mitzelfelt initiated the telephone emergency notification system to alert residents in the area of the possible flood dangers.
    Zook said about 3,000 residents were notified.
    Monday afternoon, eight inches of water was still flowing over Rock Springs Road, Zook said.
    Zook said public works officials didn’t expect the road to be badly damaged from the flooding.
    A c c o rd i n g t o t h e S a n Bernardino County Department of Public Works, no other roads down stream required closure, due to the water being released.
    Mitzelfelt said he has been wanting to build a bridge over the river on Rock Springs Road since he was appointed, but the cost is too high.
    Original estimates to build a permanent bridge when it was washed out in 2004 came in at $15 million.