— from Rep. Jeff Morris —
Rep. Jeff Morris, D-40
Did you know cities and towns within Vancouver Island’s Victoria Capitol Regional District dump approximately 34 million gallons of raw sewage into the Strait of Juan de Fuca each day?
Much of that sewage flows out to the Pacific, but some finds its way to the San Juan Islands and the coast from Anacortes to Bellingham.
It’s been a 20-year battle to get a primary sewage treatment plant sited in the area, with no resolution in sight. However, when I proposed a ban on any state employee traveling to the Victoria area on business things seemed to break loose.
On March 9, the District took a giant step forward in settling on the location for a treatment plant. From my time in the Legislature I know siting critical infrastructure is a difficult process, and I commend the VCRD on moving from a two-decade process to actually siting a plant.
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Thank you Jeff !! A very unique and insightful approach too, I might add.
Thank you Rep. Morris for being persistent on this extremely important, nagging, issue. It’s great that Victoria has taken one forward step in response to your state employee travel ban proposal, but more big steps remain. I wish I could believe that your action can have launched a final functional sewage treatment plant though, unless you will continue with such persuasive proposals from now on. So …Please do!!!
Jeff; May I offer many thanks and much appreciation on behalf of the Eastsound Sewer and Water District. Our District works very hard to treat the septage waste stream from the Eastsound community so that the discharge to the Sound is nearly as clean as drinking water. We have been frustrated that our Canadian neighbors have not done likewise. It is really difficult to understand Victoria has not matched the treatment standards of Washington State on this issue. Keep pushing !!!
Each morning we listen to CBC Radio 1 (90.5 FM) broadcast from Victoria. Gregor Craigie hosts ‘On The Island’ from 5:30am-8:37am weekdays. I love CBC! A lot of call-in’s and telephone interviews of local issues. I can tell you a major topic of discussion is the Victoria sewage situation. They are well aware of our (WA state) displeasure. A vast majority want a treatment plant built. The government has the money. But the bottom line over in Victoria is ‘not in my back yard’.
Hmm, maybe we islanders should follow Jeff’s lead and “vote with our feet” and refuse to visit Vancouver Island until they fix this disgusting situation! Also I second Steve Jehyl’s comment about CBC — I love CBC for all the same reasons he mentions. Keep up the good work, Jeff.
Good work, Jeff!
Brilliant yet simple solution! Over the years I have encountered Victoria’s garbage on the beach in Eastsound and elsewhere. Various plastics and personal hygiene products and more. You made them an “offer they can’t refuse”. Good for you!
Spirit Eagle