MALIBU—On September 17, surfers and environmentalists gathered together at Surfrider Beach to show their support for the proposed septic ban of the Civic Center Area in the city of Malibu. On Tuesday, the State Water Resources Control Board voted unanimously in favor of those at the rally banning septic systems in Malibu.

The main problem with the city’s septic tanks is the issue of sewage leaking from faulty septic tanks into bodies of water such as Malibu Creek, Malibu Lagoon and Surfrider Beach. Heading the rally and applauding the 5-0 vote in favor of the ban are groups such as Heal the Bay and its president Mark Gold.

However, this was not the first time a ban has been proposed as the L.A regional water board previously tried to ban septic tanks for 550 residences and local businesses in both central and eastern Malibu. The city declined the ban, stating that the proposed zone was too large of an area and a system could not be built to handle the amount of waste water that would have been needed to be treated.

While Malibu presented an alternative plan with a smaller area covered by the ban, ultimately the state’s water board decided to back the original regional panel’s proposal.

At present the city has nine years to design and construct the new central sewage system including a new treatment facility.