Sludge Watch ==> New York State: Tivoli sludge reed bed project

[Maureen Reilly]

Tivoli wins award for reed bed project
By Patricia Doxsey, Freeman staff
06/17/2007



TIVOLI - An innovative project in the village that relies on Mother Nature 
to dispose of the village's treated sewage sludge has garnered state 
recognition.

The village took the New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal 
Officials' first-place award in the public works category of the Empire 
State Report Local Government Achievement Awards for villages for its reed 
bed project.

"It was a challenging project," said Mayor Tom Cordier, noting that because 
the reeds used in the reed bed are considered an invasive plant, they cannot 
be purchased in the United States or imported. "We had to go out and find 
them and dig them up."

But the end result, the mayor said, was worth the effort, and he is pleased 
the state has recognized the village's work.

"The village is very happy to accept the award from the state as being top 
village in the state for this project," Cordier said.

In a press release announcing the award, conference President Joseph Delfino 
commended the village for its innovative approach to sewage sludge disposal.

"This award recognizes that local officials are working diligently to 
improve their community's quality of life in positive an innovative ways," 
said Delfino, the mayor of White Plains. "Mayor Cordier is to be 
congratulated for a job well done."

Tivoli spent $200,000, including a $150,000 grant from the New York State 
Energy Research and Development Authority, to construct the 0.2-acre reed 
bed, which can handle up to 150,000 gallons of sludge per year.

The reed beds use the biological activity of the reeds to reduce the water 
content of the sludge and minimize solids in sludge, resulting in a 90 to 95 
percent reduction in sludge volume.

The life of a reed bed is between 10 and 15 years, after which the composted 
sludge is excavated in a form suitable for land applications.

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18485998&BRD=1769&PAG=461&dept_id=74958&rfi=6