Sludge Watch ==> Virginia - Newsflash - sludge stinks, sludge staff don't know the regs

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

Letters to the Editor for Tuesday, August 1, 2006


Lynchburg News & Advance




Biosolids create a stink

How sad and distressing that Mr. Alvin Rucker, superintendent of Lynchburg’s 
Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, has been misinformed - judging from his 
quote in the article “Lynchburg may enter the biosolids Market” published 
July 23. He stated, “On farms, they plow it (sludge) in right after (the 
spreading is) done.”

He states in rural areas sludge is plowed  in. I don’t know who has 
misinformed him  and his high-priced California consultants, but the truth 
is that about 10 to 15 tons per acre are dumped and slung out on top of 
pasture land - not incorporated into the soil, but eaten by cattle after 30 
days. Too bad he doesn’t get correct information from those of us in the 
county who will be the dumping ground for city-treated sewage.

Amazing isn’t it - add a little lime to the industrial, morgue and hospital 
waste and it’s now “biosolids.”
Does anyone actually believe that antiquated sewage treatment plants were 
built to produce “fertilizer”?

Lorraine Potter
Gladys