Re: “Sewage déjà vu looms over CRD,” editorial, Dec. 16.
The editorial headline is appropriate as Capital Regional District citizens have, for too long, seen a range of sewage options. Or, as Yogi Berra long ago succinctly said: “It’s déjà vu all over again.”
Descriptive as it is, the statement that “the nightmare is waking up each morning to a sewage plant that just doesn’t get built,” is a metaphor many of us hope will continue to apply. Should it, common (and scientific) sense may yet prevail.
It is obvious that the CRD decision to continue with sewage treatment has been made in terms of political presumptions rather than science-based requirements. However, after many years of our being subjected to a costly non-productive sewage-treatment planning and proposal process, sound advice has been given.
University of Victoria assessments in 2008 and 2014 concluded with treatment-not-necessary findings. And former federal minister of the environment David Anderson this year advised, with considerable scientific justification, that we not proceed with sewage treatment until — if ever — scientific need is clearly demonstrated.
It’s time for the CRD sewage committee to pause in its rush to approve regional sewage treatment until a scientifically substantiated requirement is confirmed.
If committee members need greater justification, they should note Yogi Berra’s advice in problem-solving: “You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.”
The committee ain’t there yet.
Ron Johnson
Saanich
