Cost Versus Common Sense

Every day Victoria pumps an average of 120 million liters of raw sewage into the Pacific Ocean. As hard as it is to believe, Victoria has decided to forgo the cost of building a sewage treatment facility, and has instead decided to simply deposit its raw sewage into the Juan de Fuca Straight. The sewage is filtered through 6 mm screens and then pumped 1000 meters into the ocean. Needless to say, residents of both British Columbia and Washington State have been outraged for sometime. The city has continually chosen not to adopt a sewage treatment plan. In the 1960s city residents were appalled at the amount of sewage which was washing up on city beaches. Instead of installing a treatment facility, Victoria chose to construct 300 m (which they later lengthened to 1000m) outfall pipes, which the city hoped would put the disgusting problem out of sight and out of mind. In 1994 a referendum on the issue was held with city residents asked whether they would pay $231 for primary treatment or $336 for secondary sewage treatment. Critics argued the cost estimates presented to the voters were questionably high, and 57% voted against paying for treatment. The Federal Government has recently pledged money for sewage treatment in Victoria, however city hall has yet to decide what kind of sewage treatment plan should be implemented, if one needs to be implemented at all. A report on sewage treatment options available to Victoria has been commissioned and the final copy of the report is expected to be released this July.