Coast Community Builders Association (CCBA) members Gina and Bill Stockwell said they are grateful the District of Sechelt has shown a willingness to explore new technologies for sewage treatment, by agreeing to a four-week trial in Sechelt led by the Vancouver-based Ledcor group.
The trial begins next week.
Ledcor is funding the new automated technology trial, at no cost to Sechelt taxpayers.
The trial consists of five trailers that will process actual Sechelt sewage with the prime objective to reduce the output to safe and manageable solids and liquids. During the trial, an independent laboratory will analyze daily test samples. At the end of the trial, the results will be provided to the District of Sechelt and other interested organizations and municipalities, including Gibsons and Pender Harbour, for evaluation.
The East Porpoise Bay residential sewage committee determined there was a need for newer and better ways of handling of municipal sewage, rather than continuing with older technologies that simply are not working to the satisfaction of residents.
Finding the technology became a passion for the Stockwells. They learned of a trial of one such system that recently took place in Colwood on Vancouver Island with much success.
"This is quite a rare opportunity, and hopefully it's a successful trial. It's very exciting. It could change the world's outlook on sewage plants," Stockwell said.
CCBA chair Clark Hamilton said this approach to problem solving falls within the mandate of the CCBA with members helping each other to bring awareness to development problems that can be solved for the greater good of the entire community.
"We believe it is time to take a stand for the environment as well as the economic future of our community," Hamilton said.
