The following letter from Minister Penner was recieved in response to the letter from 92 concerned citizens. It should be noted that the letter does not describe any measurable benefit to the Environment or Public Health from the planned treatment. In addition the Minister has not considered the overall effect on the environment - the land environment affected by the disponsal of sewage sludge or biosolids or the global environment affected by energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from Sewage Treatment Plants - Editor.
Reference: 95578
Dear Mr. Wheaton:
Thank you for your email of November 1, 2007, addressed to the Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier, regarding the handling of liquid wastes in Victoria. As this matter falls under the purview of the Ministry of Environment (MOE), the Premier has asked that I respond on his behalf. I apologize for the delay in responding.
On June 27, 2007, the Capital Regional District (CRD) submitted the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Plan (LWMP) Amendment #6 to comply with my directive to provide a plan amendment with a fixed schedule for the provision of sewage treatment.
Every year, over 40 billion litres of untreated sewage are discharged into the Strait of Juan de Fuca through two outfalls, one at Clover Point and another at Macaulay Point. The issue of sewage treatment in the CRD has been studied, and debated, for many years. The scientific evidence is clear that it is time for our provincial capital to plan for sewage treatment.
In 2006, the CRD commissioned an international scientific and technical panel to undertake an independent review of the scientific evidence.
The panel reviewed over 200 scientific and technical reports, and received over 80 written submissions. They concluded that reliance on dilution is not a long term answer, and that scientific risk concerns, public values, and regulations, argue for the CRD to improve treatment.
The panel also concluded that the trigger process based on sea floor monitoring is unlikely to trigger treatment in a timely manner, and identified significant gaps in the current monitoring including: toxicity of effluent; effects on water dwelling organisms; lack of predictive capability; potential effects and risks of persistent organic contaminants; monitoring of far field effects.
In 2006, a MOE review of the CRD's own monitoring data confirmed that contamination of the seabed near the outfalls exceeds provincial contaminated sites standards for a number of toxic metals and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
The current CRD practice does not address persistent pollutants like heavy metals and endocrine disruptors. It does not meet provincial regulatory requirements. It does not meet current federal Fisheries Act requirements, or the new federal sewage treatment standards expected to be enacted next year. These are all evidence based scientific standards established to ensure protection of human health and the environment.
Our society can no longer afford to view sewage as a waste to be flushed out to sea. Liquid and solid wastes are a significant source of resources. Water can be reclaimed for reuse, and the heat and energy in sewage and sludge can reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas production. The recovered resources can generate revenues for CRD taxpayers.
I will continue to urge the CRD to follow the principles of optimizing beneficial reuse of resources, maximizing economic and financial benefits, and containing costs in all future planning activities. As you may know, the provincial government will grant one third of the funding required to provide the best, lowest-cost solution for effective sewage treatment for Victoria. The Province is working with the CRD and the federal government to find this solution, and explore opportunities for public private partnerships. I am satisfied with the steps being taken to provide a cost effective solution and do not support the need for an independent cost benefit study."
The LWMP approved in March 2003 has commitments to address sanitary sewer overflows (SSO's), and toxic chemicals entering the sewage collection system. These commitments will be retained and strengthened as the CRD moves forward with treatment. The strategies will further reduce SSO's due to the provision of decentralized reclaimed water plants which will divert wastewater from the collection system and increase downstream capacity. The important source reduction program will also continue; however, it will only reduce selected contaminants, not eliminate them.
The CRD has begun planning by developing a proposed timetable for treatment. The CRD have engaged technical consultants, the public and stakeholders in the process leading up to the submission of Amendment #6. Details of the amendment process and strategy to comply with the directive can be found on the CRD website: http://www.crd.bc.ca/wastewater/discussionpapers.htm. The strategy developed by the CRD includes the following:* a global request for expressions of interest for innovative technology;
* a triple bottom line decision process that considered economic, environmental and social factors in establishing a direction for wastewater management;
* a commitment to consider alternative financing and delivery options, and to work with Partnerships BC to attain the most cost effective solution for taxpayers
* A commitment to assess resource recovery opportunities..
Over the next several months, the CRD will be establishing detailed plans for implementing treatment. I encourage you to get involved in the process and make your views known to the CRD planners.
Sincerely,
Barry Penner
Minister
pc: Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier