Sludge Watch ==> Indiana - Winfield Utilities leaking sludge into creek

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

IDEM finds sludge near plant

WINFIELD: State agency intends to issue violation for Winfield Utilities

BY CARMEN McCOLLUM
cmccollum at nwitimes.com
219.662-5337

This story ran on nwitimes.com on Sunday, July 9, 2006 12:07 AM CDT


WINFIELD | Days before the town of Winfield was to finalize its purchase of 
Winfield Utilities, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management 
issued a violation letter to the plant.

IDEM contends it found sewage flowing from a tributary near the plant, which 
winds its way through Lake George in Hobart and eventually flows into Lake 
Michigan.

IDEM spokesman Rob Elstro said there were inspections June 1 and 2.

"The inspector found sludge in the receiving stream and sludge in a pond on 
the property," Elstro said.

He said the sludge was being removed from the stream, but more escaped while 
inspectors were on site.

The plant, owned by Tom Volini, was notified June 16 that the inspector 
would make a referral to enforcement, Elstro said. The enforcement division 
would determine the penalty.

Volini could not be reached for comment.

Winfield officials had expected to close on the plant Saturday, but Town 
Council President Ken Thieneman said the process has been delayed.

"There are a couple of small items that are not done that have to be done 
before we close," Thieneman said Friday.

Among them is the need to put money into an escrow account.

Winfield Clerk-Treasurer Rick Anderson said the town has applied for a 
short-term loan of $605,000, which will cover the purchase price and some of 
the costs of due diligence. It likely will seek a revenue bond for the plant 
expansion and pay off the short-term loan.

There will be a special Town Council meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday to discuss 
the treatment plant purchase.

Thieneman said he was made aware of the sludge problem, but it's been 
cleaned up.

"The whole plant is clean. They took care of it immediately. They cleaned it 
out in the first three days (after the inspection)," he said.

This problem has nothing to do with the plant's capacity. It has to do with 
operation, Thieneman said.

He said plant operators should be hauling sludge away daily, rather than 
once per month. Thieneman said town officials will not have the same problem 
when the town takes over, and the current owner will be "responsible for any 
IDEM fine."