The Malibu City Council has voted to continue exploring a massive $124 million wastewater project for fire-damaged beachside properties, despite heated debate over costs and concerns about burdening residents with what could be the city's largest infrastructure investment.
The council authorized Mayor Marianne Riggins to sign a coordination letter to Los Angeles County requesting funding partnership and technical support for the Pacific Coast Highway Wastewater Project, but explicitly stated the city remains uncommitted to the full project.
"I would request that we would agree that whatever letter goes to the county would make crystal clear that we're not committed to this and that we're simply asking for this so that we can better explore its practicality," said Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Silverstein during Tuesday's meeting.
The proposed sewer system would connect 461 beachside properties from Carbon Canyon Road to Topanga Canyon Road to Los Angeles' Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant. The project carries an estimated per-property cost of $269,000 and would take approximately 5.4 years to complete, with construction scheduled from 2027 to 2030.
The initiative stems from rebuilding efforts following the devastating Palisades Fire, which destroyed numerous homes along the coast and left property owners grappling with damaged septic systems and the prospect of expensive individual wastewater solutions.
Public Works Director Rob DuBoux told the council that connecting to Hyperion was selected as the preferred option because "it actually uses Hyperion treatment plant without having to upgrade or do anything, which Hyperion does have capacity to accept the additional wastewater flow."
However, the project's enormous cost sparked fierce debate among council members and residents about whether a centralized sewer system represents the most cost-effective solution.
Councilmember Doug Stewart questioned the financial logic, saying he couldn't "justify spending $128 million when the cost, the total cost for just septic systems and a few seawalls it'd be far less."
Stewart highlighted the city's precarious finances, noting a dramatic swing from a $9 million surplus to a $6 million deficit, and pressed for detailed cost comparisons with individual Advanced On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems (AOWTS).
Public comments revealed conflicting estimates for alternative solutions. Resident Carl suggested AOWTS could cost between $70,000 and $115,000, far below the proposed per-property sewer assessment. However, other speakers cited combined costs of $750,000 for septic systems and seawalls on narrow beachfront lots.
Environmental concerns also factored into the debate. Councilmember Steve Uhring argued that "rationally if you were starting from today you would not be putting septics on the beach next to the ocean," emphasizing potential pollution impacts.
The Regional Water Quality Control Board provided a crucial breakthrough for immediate relief, agreeing to allow interim septic repairs and replacements if the city commits to the sewer project. This policy would enable fire victims to rebuild with temporary wastewater solutions while the long-term project develops.
"The big thing from the regional board was they were open to interim septic repairs and replacements if the city commits to this project moving forward," DuBoux explained.
Key stakeholder meetings have yielded positive responses. Los Angeles confirmed adequate capacity at Hyperion, Santa Monica agreed to accommodate additional flows through their pier lift station, and Caltrans expressed no major objections to the PCH alignment.
The project would combine gravity and force main lines along Pacific Coast Highway, connecting to existing Los Angeles infrastructure at Coastline Drive before conveying wastewater to the Santa Monica Pier lift station and ultimately to Hyperion.
Funding strategies include pursuing various grants, seeking low-interest loans through state revolving funds, and exploring property assessments. Los Angeles County has indicated willingness to provide financial assistance.
Despite moving forward with exploration, significant questions remain about cost allocation and community support. Uhring stressed the need for "more robust outreach to beach property owners" before any final commitment.
The council requested additional financial analysis detailing cost breakdowns by property and potential assessment methodologies. Staff plans to provide incremental updates rather than waiting for a comprehensive final report to enable quicker decision-making.
The PCH Wastewater Project represents one of several major infrastructure initiatives the city is considering alongside fire season preparedness, emergency alert systems, and broader post-fire economic recovery efforts.
Preliminary design work is expected to conclude by fall 2025, with final design agreements and permitting targeted for 2026-2027 if the project ultimately receives full council approval.