Re: Millions spent, but no word from government on sewage treatment (News, May 18)
So much is unclear about this land-based sewage treatment plant plus sludge energy centre: the siting, homeowner costs, fate of the sludge, etc.
Why not use this time before the funding is confirmed to try to clarify the major outstanding issues? The biggest issue is that a comprehensive environmental impact assessment for both marine and land still needs to be done.
Unfortunately, the Capital Regional District is obeying the dictate of the B.C. government and allowing this massive sewage plant to proceed, with only the minimum reporting under municipal sewage regulations. It is also avoiding an important B.C. Environmental Assessment Act impact report.
Several Victoria marine scientists, engineers and public health doctors have expressed skepticism that the sewage plant will provide any measurable improvement to our marine environment, but that the sewage plant itself will produce thousands of tonnes of sludge and greenhouse gases.
Everybody who owns or rents a toilet in the CRD sewage area may have to pay up to $500 a year for this land-based sewage treatment, when our current marine-based sewage treatment system is working well, is sustainable and actually produces no sewage sludge and few greenhouse gases.
John Newcomb
Saanich
