Livermore voting on sewer extension to wine country

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The South Livermore Sewer Extension Project will be on the Nov. 8 general election ballot as Measure P after receiving unanimous support and approval from the City Council back in July.

The measure was initially proposed by the Tri-Valley Conservancy in an effort to protect groundwater from contamination and allow a limited expansion of wine country-related businesses in the area.

The official ballot question reads as, “Shall the ordinance amending the South Livermore Urban Growth Boundary policies in the City of Livermore’s General Plan to allow the City to extend sewer service to permitted uses within the South Livermore Valley Area Plan Planning Area be adopted?”

Measure P has garnered widespread support from many in the community, making it one of the least contentious issues currently facing the city. In addition to the council and the conservancy, representatives from several other organizations including the chamber of commerce, Visit Tri-Valley, Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association, citizen group Friends of Livermore and Zone 7 Water Agency have endorsed the project.

The enthusiasm for Measure P is also evident in the fact that there was no argument against it submitted to the county registrar of voters.

The argument in favor of Measure P — submitted by the Yes on P campaign — states that, “Extending the sewer line is essential for a vibrant local wine country. Today, limited wastewater treatment options are so expensive that it’s hard for most family-owned wineries to afford to operate in the area.”

In addition to groundwater protection and sustainability of the wine economy, the argument cites open space preservation and wildfire protection among the benefits of Measure P.

If approved by voters, sewer services would be extended along Buena Vista Avenue between East Avenue and Tesla Road, down Tesla Road and south along part of Greenville Road.

Currently, wastewater services for commercial and residential land uses in the unincorporated area south of Livermore are served by septic systems. The use of septic systems by new development has been restricted by Alameda County due to high nitrate concentrations that contaminate groundwater, according to the city attorney’s impartial analysis of the measure provided to the county.

Measure P aims to allow the extension of the city’s municipal sewer system to properties in the south Livermore area for land uses permitted by the South Livermore Valley Area Plan.

If the measure passes, it would modify the South Livermore urban growth boundary policies and enable the city to extend sewer service and property owners to receive municipal services. The project would be constructed in phases and within existing rights-of-way, city staff said in a previous report.

Connection to the line would not be required but would be available at the request of individual property owners and subject to an out-of-area service agreement or annexation into the city.

The cost of construction would be split between Alameda County, which would contribute $6.5 million — 80% of the funds needed — and commercial and residential properties that choose to connect to the new sewer line.