By Clyde Noel

Sewer problems may continue to create a stink in Los Altos Hills until neighboring Los Altos finishes a study of the sewer system that the city has jurisdiction over both communities, Supervisor Liz Kniss told residents during a joint-study session last week.

The problem, she explained, is that three jurisdictions overlap to provide Los Altos Hills its sanitary sewers. In addition to the county authority, the town conveys sewage to the water quality control plant through the Palo Alto and Los Altos basins. The town has separate usage agreements with both cities, and no direction can be given until Los Altos concludes its study of the sewer system, which it began several years ago.

“The county has little control over this. The cities have to settle it,” Kniss said. “We can be the discussion center, but we have no control.”

Los Altos had accepted more sewer fee applicants than was allowed by a 1985 agreement with Los Altos Hills. As a result, the sewer lines in Los Altos Hills are operating at nearly full capacity, while an additional 400 units are connected but not used because they don’t have the rights.

In 1985 Los Altos contracted with Los Altos Hills to provide up to 1,100 additional connections, but Los Altos accepted 200 more sewer fees from town residents than were agreed upon. Los Altos Hills has separate usage agreements, since homes in the southern part of town connect to Los Altos lines and homes in the northern part of town connect to Palo Alto lines.

“The issue of sewer rights has to be resolved,” said Alan Epstein, a resident of unincorporated Los Altos Hills. “Before San Antonio Hills can be annexed to Los Altos Hills they have to know who has the sewer rights.

“We can’t incorporate into Los Altos Hills until we have sewer rights, even though Palo Alto has a large unit of spare rights. The issue of rights has to be resolved, along with the capacity of pipes, because the plant is operating only at about two-thirds capacity.”

Los Altos City Manager Phil Rose said Los Altos sold rights to Los Altos Hills and now a 10,000-square-foot home with four bathrooms has the same rights as a small house with one bathroom.

“How do you put an assessment together to pay for conditions like this?” Rose asked.

Councilman David Casas said the item is not a top priority with the city but the council realizes it has to be done and is preparing the study.

Councilman King Lear asked that the item be put on the agenda for a joint meeting between both city councils.