Sludge Watch ==> Ontario Sludgers Cozy with Gov't but Farmers and Public Right to be Concerned

[Maureen Reilly]

The Rural Voice, Ontario
January 2008
What to do with sludges
Jeffrey Carter is a freeland journalist based in Dresden Ontario

There is no denying the application of municipal biosolids on agricultural 
land is a contentious issue.

A signification number of farmers and rural residents in the Township of 
Blandford-Blenham for instance, have deep concerns. They gathered in a hall 
in Drumbo last fall to talk about the growing number of fields in their area 
receiving the material.

Naturally there are those in the little municipality who are far less 
concerned. After all permission must be granted by the landowner before the 
waste can be spread on their properties.

Concern can be divided into three different areas.

There are those related to potential negative impacts on human health and 
the environment.

There are a number of metals contained in sewage sludge of coptential 
conern.  Cadmium for instance, is easily transferred from soil to crops, 
from crops to livestock and from livestock to people.  In humans it will 
accumulate in the kidney and liver creating health concerns.

Even more concerning may be the hundreds of organic chemicals found in 
sewage sludge.  Little is understood concerning their potential impacts.

The Ministry of Environment has recently concluded that dioxin-like PCBs and 
furans do not pose a significant risk because their levels in Canadian 
Biosolids are low- mearsured in the parts per trillion.  Howver 
polybrominated diphenyl ethers fire retardants, are found in far higher 
amounts and have warranted frther study.

There are also regulatory considerations – the rules that are in place to 
determine exactly what can be spread and how it can be spread.  These have 
been tightened over the years.

One example is the requirement for sludge from 19 large municpalities to be 
spread according to rules extablished under the nutrient Management Act.  
That means that steps must be taken to match the nutrients in the sludge 
with crop requirements- a matter of common sense.

Before, when the application fell solely under the Environmental Protection 
Act limits on spreading were based on a volume approach.

A third area of concern related to the attitude of those applying sludge and 
those regulating the process.

Given the comments made at the Drumbo meeting  and circumstances surrounding 
a spill described in the October edition Better Farming.

It maybe be the biosolids industry and government regulations – members of 
of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs- are a little too 
cozy. Certainly that seemed to be the case at the seminar in London in 
December sponsored by the ministries and the organization representing 
industry, the Water Environment Association of Ontario (WEAO).

Judging from the comments made by various speakers the event seemed designed 
to deflect any worries while promoting the bnefits of municipal sludge 
application  At one point a government spokesperson said the WEAO momotional 
video that was shown set the right tone for the meeting.

The viedo did have merit as a public relations excercize.  It did not 
provide an evenhanded view of the issues.

Muncipal biosolids include all the waste people and industry flush into the 
sewage system.  When spread on agricultural land it becomes part of the food 
system.  People have a right and obligation to be concerned.