THIRTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT 



73 



made to minimize the ill effects or entirely clean up. California is one 

 of the three leading oil producing states, and at times the leader, yet 

 the public waters of the state are very free of oil. This satisfactory 

 condition would have been very difficult of attainment had not the oil 

 industry cooperated with and conformed to the wishes of the Commis- 

 sion. To show the change that has occurred the conditions at a couple 

 of points in southern California may be cited. When the work was first 

 started an inspection showed that the lots and even the streets of Signal 

 Hill and Huntington Beach were in man}^ cases covered with oil. At 

 the present time no oil is seen in the streets and seldom on the lots. Had 

 the oil stayed on the lots and streets the Commission would not have 

 been concerned, but at the first rain the oil would float off and find 

 its way into public waters. Sometimes the quantities were such that 

 rain was not required. Oil Operators, Inc., was formed at Signal Hill 

 to take care of the waste oil, mud, sand and salt water, and subsequent 

 to start of operations in 1927, has continued to function in an efScient 

 manner. Huntington Beach was in a somewhat similar condition, but 

 a cleanup was effected and now a move has been initiated to provide an 

 organization similar to Oil Operators, Inc., and two others, mentioned 

 later. In addition it is proposed that prospective operators be required 

 to give a satisfactory bond as to disposal of wastes before the city issues 

 a permit for drilling. 



Fig. 22. New type of sump. Part of a cooperative reclaiming system costing about 

 $300,000 which is now in operation in southern California. By such prevention 

 measures, the various oil companies are aiding in preventing pollution of state 

 waters. 



To satisfactorily take care of the wastes from Orange County and 

 Santa Fe Springs oil fields two companies were formed, plants con- 

 structed and placed in operation at a cost of about $700,000. These 

 concerns, composed of the participating oil companies, are known as 

 the Waste Water Disposal Co., and the Santa Fe Springs Waste Water 



