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Victoria's Wastewater:Land-Based Treatment ... or Something Better? February 21 & 22, 2008 University of Victoria Forum PurposeThe Maritime Awards Society of Canada- a registered charitable organization created to enhance public awareness and understanding of the vital importance of maritime affairs and marine resources to the well being of all Canadians - convened this forum and workshop to bring together diverse perspectives on the issue of Victoria’s municipal wastewater effluent as a challenging dilemma at the intersection of science, policy, values and responsibility with a view to enabling a better understanding of the issues by the public, academics and policy makers. BackgroundOn July 21, 2006, the British Columbia Minister of Environment directed the Capital Regional District (CRD) to provide a fixed schedule for sewage treatment in the Core Area of the CRD. The plan, which provides a strategy, cost and schedule for construction of wastewater treatment facilities, was submitted to Environment Minister Barry Penner on June 29, 2007. The CRD has received approval from the Provincial government for its initial plan, paving the way for the CRD to move ahead with its sewage treatment strategy for the Core and Westshore area municipalities. A business plan is expected to be submitted to the provincial government by June 30, 2008 and a further amendment to the Liquid Waste Management Plan by December 31st 2008. The Minister's July 2006 directive followed on several years of mounting public criticism of the absence of secondary treatment of the region's wastewater. However, since that decision, a different perspective has emerged - arguing for alternative methods of handling liquid waste disposal in the region and questioning the value of the proposed expenditure on land-based secondary treatment facilities. |
For questions and further information, please contact the event coordinator
