Press Category: Sewage

New tests show vast contamination October 3, 2013 VICTORIA, BC – New tests confirm what local divers suspected: The CRD`s raw sewage discharge is contaminating a vast marine area off Victoria.  In a video "CRD sewage outfall pollution in Victoria BC" released August 11, commercial divers suspected sediments found over 5 kilometers from Victoria’s outfalls were raw sewage from the…

New federal regulations for sewage would allow decades of continued pollution May 19, 2010  TORONTO – New wastewater regulations proposed by the federal government would allow the continued dumping of raw and undertreated sewage by Canadian municipalities for nearly 30 years, environmental groups report. "Instead of being required to upgrade their wastewater treatment, many cities will be handed up to…

Update: On November 27th, the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors failed to approve the region’s Liquid Waste Management Plan.  This after the Waste Management Committee had shown great leadership by approving the plan, with the amendment that both primary treatment plants (Iona and Lions Gate) should be upgraded to a minimum of secondary by 2020. In response to the Board’s delay,…

Feds end sewage prosecution despite claim to be ‘tough on environmental crime’ November 18, 2008 VANCOUVER – Just one month after re-election, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has already broken an election promise, as his government today shut down a sewage prosecution in the same city where he vowed to crack down on environmental crime. The prosecution had alleged that the…

Provincial report lays out positive framework for liquid and solid waste May 26, 2008 VICTORIA, BC – Georgia Strait Alliance and the T. Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation, long time supporters of advanced sewage treatment in both Victoria and Vancouver, are applauding the Province’s support for the full cycle approach to managing liquid and solid waste proposed in a recently released…

And call for climate change plan to include integrated resource recovery February 19, 2008 VICTORIA, BC – Environmental groups are pleased with the BC government’s commitment to initial funding of sewage treatment for Victoria’s Capital Regional District as laid out in today’s budget.  They are calling on the Premier to go one step further and ensure his upcoming plan for…

Metro Vancouver allowed to continue toxic dumping until 2030 October 11, 2007 NORTH VANCOUVER, BC—Environmental groups are angry that the federal government has stayed a pollution charge against one of the largest water polluters in British Columbia, Metro Vancouver (formerly the Greater Vancouver Regional District or GVRD). A private prosecution had been launched by environmental groups regarding repeated failures of…

Federal government to tell court on August 16 if it will back prosecution July 17, 2007 NORTH VANCOUVER, BC – Provincial Court trial dates have been set for June 2008 to hear a charge that effluent from the Lions Gate sewage treatment plant in West Vancouver is polluting coastal waters and violating federal environmental law. The charge against the GVRD…

May 13, 2005 Mid 1960 – Victoria’s beaches are covered with feces as multiple outfalls discharge sewage directly at shoreline. Decision made to combine outfalls and pump 300 meters offshore;Late 1960’s – Victoria makes the decision to install long outfall pipes (1000 meters) instead of building a treatment plant;Early 1970’s – Victoria builds long outfall pipes;Mid 1970’s – Victoria installs…