On a quiet stretch of Rhone Lane in Huntington Beach, a long‑buried sewer line has suddenly become the most powerful neighbor on the block.
Orange County sanitation officials have moved to reclaim portions of backyards along the street, ordering homeowners to tear out pools, decks, fences, and other improvements that sit on top of a decades‑old sewer easement. The abrupt notices have blindsided residents and kicked off a tense fight between the utility and the city over timing, access, and compensation.
More than two dozen homeowners received letters on Dec. 1 telling them that any structures within a 30‑foot sanitation easement must be cleared and that they had 60 days to sign a settlement, as reported by CBS Los Angeles. Several residents say features such as permitted pools, decking, and landscaping were approved by the city, and that the sudden enforcement felt like it came out of nowhere.
Why officials say they need access
The Orange County Sanitation District says the easement covers a 69‑inch wastewater trunk installed in 1959 that moves roughly 10 million gallons a day and is nearing the end of its useful life, and that crews need unobstructed access to inspect and maintain it, according to reporting by the Los Angeles Times. Officials told reporters that some of the district’s maintenance vehicles are 8 to 10 feet wide and that limiting access increases safety and environmental risk…