Keating Industrial Park

Pollution Prevention

In a partnership with the District of Central Saanich and the Georgia Basin Action Plan, we were able to expand on our stewardship activities in the Hagan/Graham watershed with a pollution prevention initiative. Our goal was to work with businesses in the Keating industrial area to address storm-water pollution issues.

Storm drain outfall leading in to Hagan Creek Watershed

We sent out a survey on storm and waste water management practices and presented the results at a meeting at the Brentwood Cultural Centre on March 23rd. We found that many businesses that completed the survey had really made an effort to reduce their impact on the environment.

In our presentation, we also discussed water quality data from a storm water outlet named “Stinky Ditch” which drains the Keating industrial area and feeds into Graham Creek. Among other things, our survey uncovered a need among businesses in the area for more information on where the drain pipes on their properties go.

We continue to raise awareness and work with Keating businesses on this issue. Central Saanich Council has just committed additional funding ($5000) so that we can conduct a similar Stewardship program on the Sandhill Creek portion of the Keating Industrial Park. Kudos to Central Saanich Council for showing such a strong commitment to stewardship and pollution prevention!

Relationships between businesses and Environmental NGO’s such as us take time to develop and nurture as there is inherently an underlying mutual ‘mistrust’ – although the Hagan Project is over we will continue to build on those relationships that have begun. At present we are waiting for Environment Canada to get themselves straightened out after the election to see if they can partner up again.

Water Quality Monitoring

Thanks to funding from the District of Central Saanich we were able to expand on our water quality monitoring in the Keating Kirkpatrick outlet or “Stinky Ditch”, as well as take some sediment samples. This sampling includes analyses for oils and grease, Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) metals, ammonia and fecal coliforms.

Some of the unsolved mysteries of the water quality data are the origins of high fecal coliform counts and high levels of copper. This program is on-going through 2006 and will include sampling from the main storm drain entering into Sandhill Creek from the Keating Industrial Park.