Greater Victoria to stop flushing untreated sewage

SEATTLE — After decades of complaints, the British Columbia capital of Victoria plans to stop flushing millions of gallons of untreated sewage into the waters between Vancouver Island and Washington state.

Regional politicians last week approved a $1.2 billion plan to build four treatment plants to handle about 34 million gallons of raw sewage that Victoria and its suburbs pump into the Strait of Juan de Fuca each day.

Environmentalists say that should improve the marine environment and public health. Others, however, argue the money can be better spent elsewhere, saying sewage pumped into the strait is sufficiently diluted by water and fast-moving currents.