rn Y 3

VICTORIA — Let’s talk about sewage. After all, if the
topic was good cnough for ombudsman Stephen Owen to
write a 60-page report about it, it’s good cnough for me.

The report, released a couple of weeks ago, went
completely unnoticed in the media. Perhaps the reason it
was grected with a colléctive yawn was its somewhat
uninspiring title. When something called “The On-site
Septic System Permit Process — Public Report No. 18”
is dumped on their desks, few reporters will rush to the
phone to yell, “Stop the presses!”

Too bad they didn’t give the report a cursory glance —
or they would have seen where $47 million of the
taxpayers’ money is about to go. They also would have
seen that they didn’t do the reading, listening and viewing
public any favors by ignoring the report. But then, maybe

that’s the problem with sewage. It’s not a sexy subject
and nobody. wants to waste any time thinking about it.
-..Qwen’s report, in fact, blames the sewage problem in

part on society’s reluctance to deal with what is, after all,
a very messy and smelly business.

“Few of us, especially those among us who are urban
dwellers, give much thought to. where it goes. And for the

most part, even. those of-us who live in the country go.

through life never wondering about sewage,’
- Says.

“Night soil is no longer dumped into the. streets from

* the report

-second-storey windows, as it was in centuries past; a mere _
‘flick of a handle. sends: it down the pipes and far away, ©

comfortably out of our sight and our consciousness.”

Fortunately, the problem has been’ seeping back into .
our consciousness before it can do any more. harm than it

TheReview

Septic sewage: noi sexy, but report was important

land capable of absorbing waste is becoming increasingly
scarce. The result has been that land only marginally
capable of absorbing waste is throwing the stuff right
back at us.

Owen says he has eceived numerous complaints about
malfunctioning septic systems during the past few years.
Some problems were merely a public nuisance, others
posed a threat to the environment, and others yet were
potential health hazards.

“Effluent from these systems has the potential to
contaminate ground and surface water with a varicty of

-diseasc-causing microbial agents. This contamination

then becomes a potential health risk if the water is used
as a drinking supply, for recreation or for shell-fishing,”
he says.

When there was no indication that the number of

complaints about malfunctioning septic systems would
decrease, Owen decided to do what he refers. lO as a.
- systems study. He tried to find potential solutions to a

frequently occurring problem.

His report, Owen believes, offers the solutions neces-
sary to prevent most problems associated with septic
systems. What. sets. Owen’s report apart from previous
studies is that it tackles the problem from both a heaith

“and an environmental point of view. He also made it clear
that legislation and rules brought in 30 years ago are no

longer sufficient to regulate modern septic systems.

. The report recommends that the health ministry engage
in and encourage research into on-site septic systems. It
also suggests that.the Health Act be amended to. provide
for a formal appeal mechanism with regard lo decisions

“by health oificrs.

Owen recommends that the municipal affairs ministry
revise the provincial subdivision regulations to prevent.
future public health problems. He also wants developers,
contractors and installers of septic systems to be bonded
to ensure adequate standards and insure against loss from
malfunctioning systems. ,

“There remains little dispute that on-site scwage
problems continue to cause many government of: ficials,
elected politicians, land devclopers and home owners
enormous grief and frustration,” he says.

To correct a faulty scptic sysiem in the Charlic Lake
subdivision near Fort St. John, Owen points out, cost $2
million; the bill for repairs of the Black Mountain
subdivision’s sewage system near Kelowna, he says, was
about $6 million. To fix the sewage system at the
Barnhardtvale subdivision near Kamloops cost a whopp-
ing $20 million.

But the worst is yet to come. According to the report,
the cost of fixing and upgrading currently malfunctioning
on-site septic. systems in 73 areas of British Columbia, is
‘about $47 million, a sum no government would part with
easily. Yet, the money will be spent, and soon.

Stan Dubas, deputy health minister, is enthusiastic

suggestions. And the money is in the current budget.

“We are going to rearrange some “priorities: The
ombudsman’s recommendations will get top priority. We

Wednesday, owen 23, 1989 — A8

about Owen’s recommendations. He says his staff is
already working on implementing every one of Owen’s —

“+ Continued from Page A7

ore -community. By. eliminating: ‘or oe
: greatly, reducing. the present: high-. z

way, Many new residential lots »

“could be created along with a. new.

=H parkway concept.
- I totally support Gardner’ $ plan,
Doug Menzies |
Sidney .

; Litter of
~ billboards ©

.. Editor:

We wrote to MP Lynn Hunteras .

~-constitucnts living in North Saa-
nich. and count ourselves among

many. who are concerned about -

our environment,

Specifically, we continuc to be
appalled at the proliferation of
‘billboards (after destruction of |
many trees) along, the Pat Bay.

Highway, between: the Waddling

Dog Inn and the Saanich Histori-’

‘al Society grounds, -

We know the age old problem
_ itis on federal land) where no
_ provincial jurisdiction: dare. tread,

Is there not some way to protect”
othe beauty of our Tsland to over

come. this eyesore?.

The native people claim their”

love forthe land, the spirit. of the
trees, cle, but they sell out to the

We abhor hypacrisy, .

a “We want to hear from Hunter as’
to herthoughts, inputand possible

remedy to. this dilemma, ;
‘¥ d and: Patricia Sibbald

_ Sidney
“expand and improve. it
Buton-sccond thonghtt feel that
an obvious alternative is being
overlooked, which would benefit:

all the. parties concerned | =

| Driving concem. |

— Kditors
Re: the petition. by ‘Voynines SS

Road residents to limit trick traffic

¢

(“Residents bid: for: traffie. bans,”
The Review, Auge 16).

‘Mayor Ron Cullis was reported
to have joked about résidents con-

‘corms. about traffic on Veyaness, »

Seabrook and White Roads,
Nid Cullis declare himself to be

ina potential conflict? He lives off
~ Seabrook. and his wile drives a-

dump Irak ony both Seabrook

: servi A does. vith, communities expenaing everywhere,

“the current debates about
AORD's intention to aequire the ©
‘land currently used for RV park to.
“extend the park boundaries, 1 love
this park and welcome anything, Oo

and: Veyaness. She also parks it on ©
the narrow : street in front of, their *
i house-on Skyline Crescent.

‘The provincial government: is
adopting laws ‘to prevent school .
~ board members who are married.to:
“teachers from. participating in’:
“school board decisions. which.”
“could benefit their spouses. Per-
haps their scope’-should be

expanded to include municipal

council. members. -
This area is only two miles from |

the Saanich boundary; Saanich

“has a comprehensive truck route.
bylaw which: prohibits through

traffic and parking cxcept.on
designated: truck routes, Saanich
doesn’t seem to have trouble with

enforcement ‘or: traffic past

schools,

Central. Saanich is behind the
times and should ‘act swiftly. (9)
catch up.

- Kelly Bert Manning

Saanic hton

- Island View

idea

Editor:
As Peninsula, resident ‘since

“since: 1978, behave been a regular
user of [sland View Beach,
“one of the real ueasures oF our
“non-native fora few measly bucks, -

region:
My first ros action was positive i 10
“the

municipalities,
private hindowners atthe beach,

Instead of acquiring the land» ~
outright, whether by negotiated
setement or by expropriation, the

CRD could surely continue the
current RVouse, combine i with

public acebss to the regional park:

cand expand the dand available tor

park Usee
Ud shoud Stress that the RV Hise of:

Tt is.

he
the public and the ©

“the land adjacent to the beach. only «tages: the owners will get'a perma-:
~is in’ effect. for that: purpose: for. -
“between three. and four: months,’ :
ousually® starting. in mid-May.‘and ©:
ending in mid-September. The rest’ -
of the year I have. always been able:
to. enjoy the. park. including. the®
‘land which is’ privately owned,
-without any interference. from the
RV park land ‘owners, 9 a
‘Even .in the peak summer ~
adjusted to the

months [ have CC
presence of the RV- guests: and

actually quite enjoyed: mingling

with. people who. are there tor, the

sole purpose of sharing and enjoy-

ing this. natural treasure of ours.
The presence of the RV parks-at.
- current usage level is not inconsis-

tent with the public park,
Instead of acquiring the land. at

great Cost lo taxpayers = includ. —
‘ing taxpayers in municipalities — ¥

within the CRD but effectively too
far fram Island: View to enjoy the
use of the park ~~ surely a deal
could be worked -out with the RY

park owners. to give them what.

they wants a permanent Hcence to
operate their RY parks, Phis would
bein return. for a contractual

commitment to provide permanent

park accesso the public, except
for the Tand actually: used for RV.

~parking during May through Sep

tember
This solution has several andy: a

SHARPENING SERNICE

Knives, Shears; Scissors
Rotary Lawnmowor, ii tdi
We ropair;

| Small Elo, Hand Tota

; Small Appliances
< st SPECIAL
omploto. .
a1 Pein sq Qo
wy une Up
Ep nPrentwond Cycle.
652-5614

mite ail Rd. Brontwood : :

“regard it as an excellent report,” Dubas says.’

~ expanded sccess to. additional ind ee
during the fall; winter and: spring.
months; and. taxpayers: will: be
Continued on Page A13

‘nent licence; the public will be
assured continued access to ‘the |
park: as it is,.and continued and ©

“REAL ESTATE SALES LEADERS

Brian Hunt

Brian McQuartio Tom Fisher:

The manarement and statf at Pemberton Holmes aro pleasnd to
announce and to.extand congratulations to Brian, Penny, Brian and
‘Tom on being our sales leaders for July, Puta leader to. work for

you. For sincara, dedicated and professional service give them a
call totlay. ,

PEMBERTON HOLMES

_ 1000 Government St. 2481 Beacon 156. Fulford Ganges Rd,
Victoria Sidney. Saltspring Island
384-8124 656-0011

ELL