ESTABLISHED 1912 9781 -~ 2nd ST., Sidney, B.C. V8L 3C5 SECOND CLASS MAIL REGISTRATION NO. 0128 Do wn the drain . One of the recent appeals before Peninsula municipalities comes from the British Columbia Conservation Foundation. The group is assisting the provincial environment ministry by asking that councils allow youngsters to paint fish symbols beside storm drains. The symbols are to warn the world that what enters the drain does not just disappear. It reappears where it can kill aquatic life. _ This is an admirable enough venture. But unfortunately, until local backyard mechanics have reasonable alternatives to washing their used brake fluid down the gutter, little yellow fish just won’t do the trick. . ' Area residents don’t have to look too far back to find an example of what the wrong stuff in the wrong place can do. January last year, about 2,000 salmon fingerlings in Reay Creek perished because of chemical contamination. And a story in last week’s Review showed how easily Hagan Creek was turned a cloudy white color. A test ‘revealed a phosphorus level many times that which is safe for drinking water. The phosphorus doesn’t kill fish, but its source was very likely a storm drain in Keating Industrial. Park. This time, it was relatively harmless detergent or other cleaning compound that entered the creek. Next time, Hagan | Creek might be sending something more lethal down to Brentwood Bay. So there’s really no denying that what goes into drains should concern municipal councils, senior governments and individuals. However, there’s a lot more to be done than the “painting of symbols by youth group members. . . So, what do you do with hazardous wastes? (The current friendly euphemism, by the way, is ‘‘special’’ wastes.) The answer to the question takes a little work. - Mohawk. gas stations accept. used oil for recycling: Anti-freeze can be flushed down the toilet or poured on flat, porous soil, ‘away from any watercourse. But old paints and . solvents; acids and pesticides, gasoline additives and _. Cleaning products, and a host of other things that litter the __ average household and garage. in crusty” containers — these “ Tequire more forethought. . These chemical compounds should really be taken to the , 7 ‘special waste depot in Saanich. One source tells. us the depot -is.on- Oak Street, the other:that it’s an abandoned bomb. which isn’t the first Wednesday of:a-month: ‘the first Wednesdays of each month, sometimes). ‘They don’t -» want people leaving chemicals at the door, you see. As for ~~ the hours, well, you can phone and find out. 758- 3951. Yes, that’s a Nanaimo number. Special. Waste Services Incorporated, a consortium of. private groups, will undoubtedly seek the help of local ~-municipalities in setting up collection systems... Back to yellow fish symbols. The little fish have North understandably worried about the safety of children painting on-street. corners. Central Saanich has asked the B.C. ~~ Conservation Foundation to present aldermen a slide show before they decide. The most important decisions for Peninsula councils, participation in workable, convenient recycling and disposal your brake fluid and treat your aquatic neighbors with respect. . .well, you can phone Nanaimo. Good luck, | . and a waste meeting — ter our disappointment with the group's first local appear- ~ ance before the public, ostensibly a forum designed to allow for a major study. oe Mallard, ‘that a-trip to: Europe in the first year is most fey important to view the latest technology. Mallard re ad out other components, of the group's do at a meeting that's supposed to: help form those very “components. Two of four members of the committee oes proceeded to. enlighten the crowd with lengthy dissertations ~