Sludge Watch ==> Virginia

[Maureen Reilly]

County looks at sludge control


Mike Morell
mmorell at neweraprogress.com
Wednesday, January 9, 2008



Can a local government prevent or limit the application of biosolids or 
sewage sludge, as it is also called, on agricultural land in a protected 
watershed?

The Amherst County Planning Commission asked this question in its review of 
a proposed new special exception use in A-1 Agricultural Residential zoning 
districts in the county’s zoning and subdivision ordinance.

The answer from County Planning director Jeremy Bryant was, “I don’t 
know, but I will find out.”

Bryant brought a proposed ordinance amendment to the Planning Commission 
during its Jan. 3 meeting for a first reading.
“This amendment is to allow the county to monitor and inspect biosolids 
being stored in the county,” Bryant said.

The county already has a biosolids application ordinance.
David Orvos, Sweet Briar College faculty member, is on call for monitoring 
and testing any land application of biosolids in the county.

“Although his lab is not approved for official testing, he is able to 
conduct tests and then forward the information and material to official 
testing labs,” Bryant said.

The county is permitted to do is to monitor and test biosolids, not to ban 
or control them, Bryant said.

“The best we can do is limit their application to agricultural 
districts,” he said.

The federal government has two classifications for biosolids.
“Class A biosolids are considered safer than Class B,” he said. “But 
both are considered safe by the federal government.”
The question of biosolid application near protected watersheds has come up 
though.

“These watersheds feed the reservoirs where the county gets its public 
drinking water,” Commissioner Robert Fener said. “Can’t we do 
something to protect them or prevent the application of biosolids entirely 
in those areas?”

The county has protected watershed overlay district designations for the 
Graham Creek, Harris Creek and Buffalo River watersheds, all of which feed 
reservoirs and water sources for drinking water for the Town of Amherst as 
well as Amherst County.

NOTE:
The term Biosolids was created in 1991 by the Name Change Task Force at the 
Water Environment Federation as a more palatable name than Sewage Sludge. 
The WEF founded in 1928 as the Federation of Sewage Works Association, is a 
not for profit technical and educational organization with members from 
varied disciplines such as wastewater treatment operators and engineers.


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