ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 historically high rains discharged unexpected amounts of raw sewage to the shorelines of Greater Victoria.
Stormwater flows from ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 48 millimetres of precipitation infiltrated numerous wastewater overflows along the shorelines, particularly in Saanich, Oak Bay, Victoria and Esquimalt.
The regionB次元官网网址檚 main trunk sewer system is not designed to handle 5 centimetres of rain in one day, which is about 10 per cent of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 anticipated annual rainfall of 58 cm per year (according to VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 website).
The Capital Regional District and Island Health confirmed theyB次元官网网址檒l sample the beaches for enterococci levels above/below the 70CFU/100mL recreational limit, said Matthew McCrank, senior manager of infrastructure operations with the CRD.
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Until the numbers are in (it will take a day or two) itB次元官网网址檚 best to keep dogs (and humans) out of the water along the beaches of SaanichB次元官网网址檚 Arbutus Cove, Finnerty Cove, Telegraph Cove and Cadboro Bay, Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 McNeill Bay, VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Clover Point and Ross Bay, and EsquimaltB次元官网网址檚 Saxe Point, Macaulay Point and McLoughlin Point.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l post a sign in the affected areas if it remains above the 70CFU/100mL [threshold],B次元官网网址� McCrank said.
Sewage overflows are nothing new in the region that still sends untreated waste into the Salish Sea, such as SaanichB次元官网网址檚 Arbutus Road area, where the smell of fresh rain is commonly replaced by the stench of sewer.
B次元官网网址淚nfiltration,B次元官网网址� as itB次元官网网址檚 known, is a common problem around the region, not just in Saanich or Oak Bay. And itB次元官网网址檚 generally in certain areas, McCrank said.
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So where does sewer infiltration come from?
It can be as easy as stormwater flooding over the four holes seen in manhole covers along the street surface. But mostly, itB次元官网网址檚 because municipalities such as Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 Rutland pump station are overwhelmed by a system thatB次元官网网址檚 not designed to anticipate heavy rain events.
So had a bit of rain last night
B次元官网网址� Sarah Campden (@scampden)
Keep in mind, VancouverB次元官网网址檚 annual rainfall is nearly three times greater than VictoriaB次元官网网址檚.
The other reason for infiltration is that the wastewater pipes are not all sealed, meaning there is various entrance points. Some municipalities continue to drain storm water through their wastewater system to this day, and based on the expected amount of rainfall in Victoria, it mostly works.
Greater VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 new $765 million wastewater treatment system will actually minimize some of the common overflows though to what extent, McCrank canB次元官网网址檛 confirm.
Part of the deal will install a 5,000 metres-cubed attenuation tank along Arbutus Road, known as the Arbutus Attenuation area which currently overwhelms the sewage outflows in that area. Instead, the tank will release into the new wastewater system and flow to McLoughlin Point. Plans for the tank were made in a 2013 deal when Saanich secured 2.8 hectares of Haro Woods with the CRD.
Cadboro Bay is often hit during high rain events for multiple reasons as Rutland and Humber collect sewage only from Oak Bay but overflow with light to moderate rains.
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