Esquimalt's mayor frustrated by ongoing concerns about smells emanating from wastewater plant
Esquimalt's West Bay Marina is scenic. Many folks who live or work there say, at times, it can also be smelly.
"It smells like poop, basically," acknowledged Victoria, who works at the marina’s office and declined to provide her last name.
The smell wafting over the sea is thought by many to be emanating from the McLoughlin wastewater treatment plant – the megaproject Esquimalt reluctantly accepted in its backyard – that has been up and running for two years.
Residents CTV News spoke with noted the smell from the plant depends largely on the extent and direction of winds in the area.
The Capital Regional District – which runs the treatment plant – had promised Esquimalt that if the township allowed the plant to be built there, there would not be any stench coming from it.
The CRD issued a statement Wednesday noting the plant has a system in place that treats odours.
“All air exhausted from the plant is intended to contain a maximum odour concentration at and beyond the plant boundary of less than five odour units per cubic metre, which would be not perceptible to most people,” noted the CRD’s chief administrative officer Ted Robbins.
The CRD acknowledges that there are still some smells coming from the plant, but blames them primarily on maintenance work, noting in a statement Wednesday: “We have said that some odour was generated earlier in the summer when tank/process maintenance work was being conducted, which did result in a few odour complaints.”
Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins says the system isn’t working adequately.
“The CRD made a significant commitment around odour and it has not yet been met to the satisfaction of the residents,” she said Wednesday.
Adding to her concern, the CRD has agreed to pay out the final sums owed to the company that built the plant – nearly $6 million – confirming it's satisfied with the job.
“This was touted as state-of-the-art and all the rest, but if you can't meet the odour control, all the rest doesn't matter,” said Desjardins.
The CRD has promised to investigate the ongoing complaints of smells and address what might be causing them. It’s producing a report next month that will set out its findings and what it's proposing to do next to address the concerns.
For now though, Desjardins is anxious for quick action.
“You don’t have a sewage treatment plant at the gateway to your community that smells,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.