It might seem too late, but a new group says there is still time for the federal and provincial governments to change orders for expensive waste treatment in the region.

About 40 people gathered on the steps of the legislature yesterday as the new group -- Association for Responsible and Environmentally Sustainable Sewage Treatment -- called sewage treatment a "billion-dollar boondoggle." Regional officials are supposed to have a treatment plan to the environment ministry by the end of next month.

Some members of the new group are also involved with Responsible Sewage Treatment Victoria, a group of environmentalists, scientists, engineers and health-care professionals who say science shows secondary sewage treatment isn't needed. Those opposed to secondary treatment argue fast-moving ocean currents dilute the wastewater.

Victoria's current sewage-handling system, filtering wastewater through six-millimetre screens before shooting it via pipe out into the ocean, meets existing provincial and proposed tougher federal standards if the wastewater is evaluated when it enters the ocean, says the new group. Instead, the group says the Capital Regional District measures the total suspended solids of organic matter in the effluent before the wastewater is screened.

"[The current system] is the most wonderful, natural, efficient, effective sewage treatment we could ever have," said the new group's chairman, John Bergbusch, former Colwood mayor.

As for mandated sewage treatment, the new group says politicians are known to change their minds, especially during economic downturns when there is competition for tax dollars.

But Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin said not only is sewage treatment mandated, it is necessary.

"This is the 21st century. We cannot keep putting raw sewage into the ocean and think we don't have an impact."

kwestad@tc.canwest.com