Issue: Beach Contamination
Argument: Our beaches and coastline are contaminated with sewage from the Clover and Macaulay Point outfalls.
Counter Argument: Stormwater discharges from the land are responsible for the biological and chemical contaminants found at our beaches and near shore areas. The deep ocean discharges at Clover and Macaulay Points do not contaminate the beaches.
Analysis: Extensive bi-annual monitoring by the CRD of municipal stormwater discharges at the coastline in the Victoria area, has shown that a number of these discharges carry elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria and chemical contaminants. The primary sources of sewage contamination (as indicated by fecal coliform counts) are from cross connections between the sewage collection systems and the stormwater collection systems and from failing municipal infrastructure (leaking or broken pipes). Chemical contaminants enter stormwater as runoff from roads and from the inappropriate waste disposal practices of businesses and householders. There were 42 sanitary sewer overflows to the environment in January 2007 (a month of high rainfall).
Ongoing investigations by the CRD and municipalities are being undertaken to identify and eliminate the contaminants as indicated in the existing Liquid Waste Management Plan. Municipalities continue to repair leaking sewer pipes and replace undersized sewer pipes. These efforts will reduce both the frequency and duration of sewage overflows during high intensity rainfall events.
In addition to the shoreline monitoring, a number of ocean water surveys have been carried out by the CRD. These surveys have clearly demonstrated that the source of beach contamination is from stormwater discharges and not the long deep ocean outfalls.
The Medical Officer of Health has advised the CRD that the beach contamination is a public health risk (because of potential from human exposure to sewage contaminated water) but that the deep sea ocean discharges are not a risk to public health.
The only effective methods of eliminating contaminants at our beaches and coastline are through stormwater source controls and by increasing the capacity of the sewage (pipe) system. The additional levels of sewage treatment that are being planned as a result of the Minister’s order will have no effect on the beach contamination that is presently occurring. There is no connection between beach and coastline contamination and the discharge of screened effluent from the Clover and Macaulay Point deep sea outfalls.
The 2005 CRD Storm Water Quality Annual report is available on the CRD website at:
http://www.crd.bc.ca/es/environmental_programs/stormwater/monitoring.htm
You can also direct link to individual parts such as the exec summary at :