Sludge Watch ==> Florida - testing sludge farm after 26 years of spreading

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:

There are many toxic metals and chemical compounds like PBDE that are 
contained in sludge that is spread fields.  These substances can 
bio-accumulate in animals. PBDE is especially a risk in grazing animals, 
like cows.  The PBDE concentrates in the milk, fat, and meat, and can then 
enter the human food chain.


PBDE levels in North American sludges, soils, and human breast milk are 
10-40 times higher than European levels.

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Tests to gauge land pollution
By NATHAN CRABBE
Sun staff writer
Feb 12, 2008

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Gainesville Regional Utilities will test groundwater for pharmaceuticals and 
personal-care products at an Alachua County farm where sludge is spread.

Gainesville city commissioners said they'll wait for the results before 
deciding whether to proceed with plans to buy the farm. The commission voted 
last year to buy the land for $11.5 million, but it heard Monday about 
health concerns and has delayed the purchase.

Sludge, also called biosolids, is a byproduct of the process to treat human 
waste. While GRU officials gave assurances that spreading sludge on the farm 
was safe and cost-efficient, some commissioners questioned whether public 
health was being protected.

"I wonder, how close to toxic do you want to get?" said Commissioner Jack 
Donovan. "There is an awful lot of stuff that gets flushed down the American 
drain."

GRU has spread sludge for 26 years on Roger Williams' farm, located on 
Archer Road near the border of Alachua and Levy counties. The utility is 
seeking to buy the property to continue the practice, but it must first 
obtain a permit from Alachua County.

David Richardson, water/wastewater director for the utility, said the 
practice of spreading sludge on crops is both safe and beneficial. Spreading 
sludge provides an alternative to artificial fertilizer and prevents the 
need to put the material into a landfill, he said.

"It is the least cost, least risk impact to GRU customers and ratepayers," 
he said.

Groundwater is being tested for drugs and personal-care products such as 
perfumes and cosmetics. The results are expected to be back in a month. City 
commissioners asked for a report on the results and information on legal 
challenges in other municipalities.

Neighbors have expressed concerns that health problems they and their 
animals have experienced are related to sludge seeping into groundwater or 
blowing off site. Some have raised questioned about the presence of 
endocrine disrupters, which mimic or block hormones and disrupt the body's 
normal functions.

Victor Pisarri, who lives near the farm, questioned why the utility is 
spreading Class B sludge that can still contain pathogens. He said it was 
"prehistoric" and "filthy" for the utility to be spreading the sludge there.

"This is going to affect generations to come," he said.

About two-thirds of the sludge in Florida is applied to land, according to 
the state Department of Environmental Protection. The rest is put in a 
landfill or treated to a level that it can be sold as a fertilizer.

GRU officials said they've considered the latter options but found they 
would be costlier and riskier than current practices. They're also 
considering whether a proposed biomass power plant could use sludge as a 
fuel.

Rick Hutton, supervising utility engineer, said obstacles could include the 
amount of energy needed to dry sludge to the point it could be used as a 
fuel. It is expected to take five years for the power plant to be 
operational, he said, so it makes sense to buy the land now and sell it 
later if needed.

"Even short-term, buying the property, turning it around and flipping it 
would still be more cost-effective," he said.

But an Archer resident living near the farm, Delphine Meliti, pointed to 
lawsuits in Georgia and Virginia over the effect of sludge on livestock and 
human health.

"It's not 100 percent safe," she said.

Alachua County environmental protection, health and planning department 
officials have supported the sludge operation, finding no proof of 
environmental or health problems.

After neighbors and Archer city commissioners expressed opposition, the 
county Environmental Protection Department has worked with GRU to do 
additional groundwater testing. Utility officials say the tests should be 
back in March and allow the County Commission to then decide whether to 
grant the permit.

But the utility and Environmental Protection Department are still 
negotiating whether air quality should also be tested, said Environmental 
Protection Supervisor Gus Olmos. He said the issue could further delay the 
permit.

"In my mind, there's still a long way to go," he said.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20080212/NEWS/802120321/1002/NEWS