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Sewage Investigation and Prosecutions - BC
Status: Closed File
The federal government has shut down the second of two private prosecutions around sewage treatment plants against both the Province of BC and Metro Vancouver under the federal Fisheries Act - but progress is still being made to clean up BC's sewage treatment.
In 2008, the federal government shut down the second of two separate private prosecutions around sewage treatment plants in Vancouver. The two prosecutions were launched by environmental investigator Doug Chapman, represented by Ecojustice against both the Province of BC and Metro Vancouver under the federal Fisheries Act.
The cases revolve around the Lions Gate and Iona sewage treatment plants, located north and south of Vancouver respectively. Ecojustice believes that Metro Vancouver and the Province should prioritize upgrading both plants to advanced sewage treatment levels, and pursue exciting opportunities to recover energy and heat resources from our sewage. While both cases have been stayed, the legal effort has created momentum for the Lions Gate plant to be upgraded more quickly. Plans for expediting an upgrade to advanced sewage treatment in the North Shore were announced by Metro Vancouver in October 2007.
Meanwhile, our non-stop efforts to ensure the Victoria region starts treating its sewage have paid off. Planning for numerous sewage treatment facilities is currently underway, bringing an end to Victoria’s notorious reputation for dumping untreated sewage into the ocean.
Ecojustice Staff:
Lara Tessaro, Staff Lawyer, Vancouver
Clients:
Georgia Strait Alliance
T. Buck Suzuki Foundation
United Fishermen and Allied Workers’ Union – CAW
