Re: “Sewage panel shortlists two sites for plant,” Aug. 25.
I am concerned with the site selection of the capital region’s wastewater facility locations. There is only a promise of future tertiary treatment, with no inclusion of wetlands, resource recovery or gasification technology.
The Capital Regional District will be getting a secondary treatment facility, in a tsunami zone, that will harm the environment. With cost overruns, this project will be more than $1 billion. This is unacceptable. There is no need for redundant expensive outfall piping. If this were necessary, we would have sewage pipes from the prairies.
Saanich Coun. Vic Derman proposed the Nigel Valley site, which is centrally located, due for renewal, socially acceptable, outside the tsunami zone and near a trunk line. The seven affected mayors should demand a cost-benefit analysis, resource recovery and gasification possibilities for this site. Heat, energy and clean water can be utilized on site. If extra energy is produced, it can be put back into the power grid and biofuel can be used in transporting the byproducts.
I believe taxpayers deserve better site accountability for the money being spent.
Art Bickerton
Saanich
