Rain storms in California last week resulted in partially treated and untreated sewage spilling along the beaches of southern California. Flooding rains overwhelmed municipal sewage systems, .closing several beaches and roadways in the region.

The Golden Coast lost some of its luxury status as a consequence. According to a report in the L.A. Times, hundreds of gallons of waste runoff polluted the ocean due to the storm. Gary Brown, Executive Director of the nonprofit Orange Country Coastkeeper, confirmed that viruses, toxic metals, trash and debris polluted the coast because the municipal sewage systems could not handle the flooding.

Water quality advocates are outraged by the safety threat posed by the leak in southern California’s sewage systems. In fact, Brown asserted that if reports confirm that sewage runoff could have been avoided by updating water infrastructure, the group will file a complaint.

Aging water infrastructure continues to undermine health and environmental concerns in the United States. Interestingly, in 2010, California was the highest recipient of national water infrastructure maintenance funds (9.35 percent) with $126 Million awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),.

The southern California sewage runoff issue was not a sudden crisis that occurred from a random confluence of events. Preparation for extreme weather conditions like a major flood was at best minimal in the region. If follow up reports indicate that aging water infrastructure was a factor in southern California’s sewage runoff disaster, a thorough investigation of funding and project implementation may be sought.

Some parts of the world are in crisis from not having enough water. Other parts of the world are deluged by amounts that they aren’t prepared for. Disaster relief and emergency response to overwhelmed sewage systems are symptoms of an endemic condition plaguing major U.S. cities—aging water infrastructure.

As experts analyze the southern California sewage crisis, sustainable development strategies can include a comprehensive maintenance plan for municipal sewage systems. Advocacy groups like the Ocean County Coastkeeper are at the forefront of systemic change in the region, advocating for legislation and public policy enforcement.

In sum, allocating funds for water infrastructure is only a drop in the bucket of resolving water management dilemmas in the U.S. Consistent monitoring of these structures is necessary for the safety of people and the environment.

Unfortunately, an unprecedented catastrophe often occurs before awareness is raised about fundamental water concerns. Then, subsequent action can gather greater support and the development process can begin overtime. Since all eyes are on California, results may advance the cause before the next natural disaster occurs in California and around the nation.

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