CRD director Geoff Young, Denise Blackwell and other CRD directors tell us we must proceed with the sewage treatment plan, not because it will help the ocean, but because they have been ordered to do so to meet new federal regulations.
Listening to this, you would think the order is etched in stone. It is not.
Numerous areas in Canada in the North are exempt in the regulations because of their unique receiving environments. Victoria has a unique marine receiving environment.
The question, “Why is our region not demanding an exemption from the regulations?,” must be answered.
There is wording in the newly proclaimed Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations that acknowledges that “open marine waters,” like those off Victoria, are of low risk and can be exempt from providing secondary sewage treatment in the near future.
All the evidence tells us the regulations make no ecological sense for Victoria’s unique marine receiving environment.
When director Geoff Young says the region has no plans to apply for an exemption, we have to ask ourselves who is looking after our eco-bucks and why they are prepared to condone squandering these precious eco-bucks on a bad plan?
Bob Furber
Saanich