Re: “Sewage shouldn’t be spread on land,” letter, June 8.
Capital Regional District directors and staff should be commended for courage to re-examine the use of sludge as fertilizer. This should be about much more than saving $50 million (or some other sum). It’s about how ever more people can live on a finite planet.
There are good reasons to be wary, as the CRD well knows, about introducing our sludge back into our food supply — chemicals, metals, pharmaceuticals, etc. One is wary of groundwater contamination whether in landfill or in fertilizer applications. It all wants brave sober assessment.
Good arguments can be made to fertilize tree farm area for pulp and, perhaps, to make pelletized fuel. Runoff and groundwater contamination are obvious concerns. They need careful thought. But I feel we mustn’t simply flush our toilets and suppose the stuff just goes away.
Greg Holloway
Saanich
