Editor, Manteca Bulletin,

I am concerned about the way in which Manteca city staff and representatives have handled recent concerns from residents south of town. The City has purchased property very near to my farm for the purpose of land application of treated wastewater, some of which will be from industrial users. Although the water is treated, Manteca’s current system does not remove the added salts in the wastewater. My neighbor, Marty Harris, has been the spokesperson for myself and many other neighbors who are concerned about degradation of the water quality in our groundwater aquifer. 

The city wishes to pursue this solution because its wastewater is too salty to meet the State standards for release to the river. Our area has already experienced very significant degradation of water quality due to the export of Delta water to the southern valley. That water contains Bay salt that is exported with the water and after it is used the tail water drains back into the San Joaquin River with very high salt concentrations. After decades these imported ocean salts have damaged soils and groundwater all up and down the San Joaquin River system. We succeeded in getting the State to set salinity standards to mitigate the export operations, but the standards do not restore us to the water quality we had before the exports started. This buildup of salts will gradually decrease the productivity of our land and will eventually destroy our ability to grow food. This has happened in other parts of the world. This is not just a concern for the farmers south of town, but for our society and our future generations that will need a safe domestic food supply. And yet, at recent City Council meetings, Mr. Harris has been treated in a dismissive and condescending manner by some of the city representatives. 

We are members of this community. We attended Manteca schools and do business with Manteca merchants, but we cannot vote for the people who make decisions affecting our lives. We deserve respectful treatment as professionals with legitimate concerns.

Mary Hildebrand

Landowner & South Delta Water

 Agency Board Member