Editor:
In a recent article (“Biosolids: A beneficial and safe resource” Aug. 20, 2015) the esteemed mayor of the City of North Vancouver Darrell Mussatto was extolling the virtues of Metro Vancouver biosolids.
In his letter he states, “biosolids are a non-chemical alternative to chemical fertilizer.”
Biosolids are the spin doctors’ name for sewage sludge, ladened with toxic chemicals and heavy metals, not to mention pharmaceuticals and the unknowns — including possible prions.
Some alternative!
In early July of 2015, the David Suzuki Foundation sent a sample of sewage sludge taken from a local pile to a lab to be tested.
The accredited lab that tested the samples found high concentrations of heavy metals beyond the Contaminated Sites Regulations and would have to be handled as such.
But wait, these mean and nasty contaminates are in the sewage sludge, so no big deal. Spread it on your fields and put it in your garden. The mayor also mentioned British Columbia’s southwestern interior as being semi-arid with infertile soils.
That is absolutely correct, and it probably has been like that for thousands of years, developing its own special flora and fauna.
What gives him the right to even think that sewage sludge should be spread on this delicate eco-system? Short sighted thinking at best!
Ross Colwell
Nicola Valley
