According to a report in today’s Globe and Mail, a sewage pipeline installed by Epcor (www.epcor.ca) – a Canadian utility company – has created an artificial reef system that supports marine life in a previously desolate region.
Most people don’t associate outfalls with increased life, but this pipeline structure is adding complexity to what was a flat, sandy habitat,” said Jason Clarke, an engineer and marine biologist with consulting firm WorleyParsons. “It’s been a rapid diversification that I haven’t seen to quite this degree.
The sewage outfall was installed about five years ago to pump septic tank sewage 1.7 kilometers out from Sooke (located on Victoria Island), to prevent its harbour from pollution. While there were concerns that the outfall would harm marine life, it seems to have done just the opposite.
During a mandatory inspection of the outfall, species as diverse as sea cucumbers, snails, wolf eel, and the rare lingcod have moved into the neighbourhood. According to Mr. Clarke, the next inspection (schedule four years hence) will observe even higher numbers of marine life, with increased biodiversity.
Yay for human waste!
You know what? Whatever works, right?