Sludge Watch ==> Ontario - Sludge Can't Be Spread - Too Wet to Plough - Costs go up

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:

Here is the story:
Ontario, Canada:
The weather is wet, so farm fields are not available for sludge spreading.
The sludge needs disposal NOW.  Increased costs are associated with 
landfilling the sludge or sending it to fields in a different weather zone.

What to do?

Land application of sludge is a poor fit with farm needs.  The sludge has 
high heavy metals, it has drug resistant pathogens, it has persistant 
endocrine disrupting chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
It has a poor distribution of nutrients...generally oversupplying phosphorus 
and undersupplying nitrogen.

And... while farms need fertilizer in the spring before planting... and 
maybe another fertilizing in the fall if there is a winter crop...sludge 
needs disposal every day....365 days per year.

Sludge disposal needs and farm fertilization needs are two very different 
things...especially in the northern climates.

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Spreading sludge is sticky business for Cramahe council

Owen, Bob
Local News - Thursday, May 31, 2007

Spreading Cramahe Township sludge is proving costly.Cramahe Council was 
faced with a conundrum on May 15 when it came to discussion the disposal of 
sewage sludge from its lagoon.

The job of removing the sludge was tendered out last year to Triland 
Environmental Inc. at a cost of $10.75 per cubic metre for approximately 
25,000 cubic metres. The bill to the township was just under $300,000.

But, recent weather has played havoc; the sludge could not be spread. The 
contractor is unable to spread the sludge on the designated field this year. 
To deposit it on fields further away will add to the contractor's insurance, 
fuel and labour costs. As a result, the new price to complete work this year 
is $12.75 per cubic metre. That's an increase of $50,000 to the township if 
all the sludge is to be removed this year.

That left council with an awkward problem May 15.

Three companies bid last year. The nearest bid to the Triland bid was by 
Lissom Earth Sciences for $17.
38 per cubic metre, the highest bid $19.91.

Public Works Director Barry Thrasher asked for council's direction. Mayor 
Marc Coombs appeared to sense the dilemma, asking if the market cost to 
dispose of sludge had dropped. When Mr. Thrasher had no knowledge of 
changes, the mayor wondered if council might be subject to a bid of $15 per 
cubic metre if it put the work out for re-tender.

Councillor Pat Westrope wanted to know where the money would come from to 
cover any increase in cost. Mr. Thrasher said there is $350,000 being held 
in a sewage reserve fund.

When Councillor Ed van Egmond noted, "A good deal isn't such a good deal any 
more," Mr. Thrasher suggested the township doesn't need to remove all the 
sludge. Ultimately, when the lagoon is closed, the Ontario Ministry of the 
Environment will require a total clean out. Realizing council was on 
unfamiliar ground, Mr. Thrasher noted township Clerk Administrator Christie 
Alexander could find no part of the township's purchasing bylaw to cover 
this type of situation. Council unanimously accepted Deputy Mayor Jim 
Williams' motion that council go ahead with Triland - but limit the cost to 
$300,000.

http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=549988&catname=Local%20News&classif=