Comments on: Bainbridge cleans up sewer mess; Victoria steps up

By: John Newcomb

John Newcomb — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:20:38 +0000

There is little evidence that Victoria needs any additional, land-based sewage treatment, when our current marine treatment works adequately. This push for more treatment has been instigated by a combination of political pressure (federal and provincial), as well as economic (tourism businesses fearing American misunderstanding). The reality is that even our regional government, who are charged with managing this move to a useless sewage mega-scheme, still do frequent, detailed monitoring of our marine receiving environment near the two long ocean outfalls – and continue to confirm that there are no problems. For more facts, go to our website for Responsible Sewage Treatment Victoria: http://www.rstv.ca

By: cdunagan

cdunagan — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:27:08 +0000

UPDATE, June 5, 2009:

A Victoria Times-Colonist editorial raises several key questions about the sewer plans and says the government should not rush into the project.

By: cdunagan

cdunagan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:36:57 +0000

Andrea,

I can’t speak for any government agency, and you may have some specific examples in mind, but I have never heard of the Kitsap County Health District or the Department of Ecology penalizing anyone for a failing septic system. Typically, they just ask you to fix it.

I suppose the story could get more complicated if the homeowner refuses to act. But everyone should be aware that Kitsap and several other counties offer low-interest loans to help fund septic repairs. See Shorebank Enterprise Cascadia.

As for the article you cite, Industrial Plating Corp. was alleged to have mishandled hazardous waste, which is a more serious type of pollution.

By: A

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:21:37 +0000

Why are private homeowners with septics heavily penalized for potentially failing septic systems while municipalities are let off the hook for thousands or millions of gallons of raw sewage dumped directly into marine waters? DOE fines a private company $101,000 for a 50,000 gallon waste water spill (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009291177_apwatankcollapsefine.html)and may do nothing for a 140,000 gallon dump by a municipality. If marine waters readily handle the 140,000 gallon dump, why is the same not true for the possible seepage from septics? I’m all for improving both septics and sewers but find the lack consistency frustrating.