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HomeNewsArchivesPETITION CALLS FOR STUDY OF NEW SEWAGE PLAN

PETITION CALLS FOR STUDY OF NEW SEWAGE PLAN

Nov. 2, 2001 — The St. Croix Environmental Association has thrown its support behind a petition seeking to get the Turnbull administration to study the feasibility of a unique sewage treatment system.
The petition was spurred by the agricultural group St. Croix Farmers in Action in support of a proposal by Carib Infra-Tech Inc., a St. Croix-based company headed by Onaje Jackson. The proposed plan would entail pumping 1 million to 3 million gallons per day of "marginally" treated sewage discharge from the Public Works Department’s wastewater treatment plant next to the Anguilla dump to constructed wetlands in the mid-island area of St. Croix, Jackson has said. That would eliminate discharge into the ocean and allow for the wastewater to be reclaimed for a variety of uses, Jackson claims.
The petition is seeking to have Gov. Charles Turnbull establish a commission to study constructed wetlands, which SEA said in a press release on Thursday are a "viable, documented and efficient way to treat wastewater and provide usable water for agriculture and other positive projects."
In a story in the Source last week, Jackson said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency supports the idea of constructed wetlands. Such man-made wetlands are designed and constructed to utilize the natural processes involving wetland vegetation, soils and their "associated microbial assemblages" to assist in treating wastewater, according to the EPA.
Bill Turner, executive director of SEA, said the organization supports the idea for two reasons. First, SEA wants to see all available options of waste disposal studied. Second, the constructed wetlands proposal would take millions of gallons of wastewater that would be otherwise discharged into the sea and reclaim it for other uses.
"We believe if this petition can gain momentum … people will force the government to look at this issue," Turner said. "We want the government to look into this as a viable option."
Turner said SEA is seeking like-minded individuals and businesses to distribute the petition. For more information, contact the SEA office in Gallows Bay at 773-1989.

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