Re: “Small earthquake rattles Greater Victoria area,” Dec. 28.
The news of the recent earthquake near Sidney has prompted various government agencies to again suggest that the population make preparations for the Big One. To this end, the politicians must hurry the construction of the proposed billion-dollar sewage treatment facility so that we will have tanks full of concentrated toxic waste located at the edge of the harbour.
When the tanks are damaged by the earthquake, the stored toxic material can flow into the harbour. As there is minimal flushing action in the harbour compared to the action at our current outfall, the resulting environmental contamination of the harbour should be there for a long time.
And to ensure that a large area is affected, a pipeline is proposed to run through populated areas and across farmland for about 15 kilometres, carrying pressurized toxic waste to the Hartland landfill. The anticipated large earthquake will likely rupture this pipeline, maybe in several places, so that the harbour, residential areas and farmland will all be at risk of major contamination by the concentrated toxic waste.
The facility at the landfill site has not yet been finalized but it is almost certain that if the facility is damaged by the Big One, further major toxic waste contamination will occur. Our current system where the outflow material contains less than two per cent contaminants represents virtually no risk should the inevitable large earthquake occur. Another reason to Stop a Bad Plan.
David Goodenough, P. Eng.
Saanich
