posted January 3, 2006
My wife and I went for dinner Sunday at the home of friends of ours in Sequatchie Cove. We left our house just before dusk and went into the cove as headlights became a necessity rather than a courtesy.
Wind was calm, temperature was in the high 40's. As we came around a bend in the road that cuts through two fields, a stench came into the truck. We felt a smell much like a really old aquarium that had not been drained or cleaned in years. It was such that stopping the truck was considered foolish unless one wanted to purge themselves of their previous meal.
When we got to our friends' place, we instantly asked what the stench was. They explained that the city of Chattanooga had contracted with the landowner to spread "biosolids" on the fields.
Around 150 acres was covered with the leavings from our sewage treatment plant. My memory shows about 12 houses in the vicinity of this farm and all the dwellers were subject to the same fumes we sniffed for only five minutes. The spreading we were told happened about a month ago.
When we left to come back home we passed another two fields that produced the same odor but in not quite so severe a degree. All fields we went by I recall are used for hay production to supplement winter feed for beef cattle.
I have no problem with the use of human waste in crop fertilization. If processed biologically as an ingredient in a compost mix, the pathogens are destroyed by thermophilic activity and the level of breakdown is such that bacteria and solids present have no noxious smell. The problem detractors have with this solid waste disposal is that what goes on the fields is a bit of all that goes through a sewage treatment plant, everything that runs off the plant floor to be treatable, everything that goes down the kitchen sink, like drain cleaners, oven cleaners and phosphate soaps that cause stream and river waters to overgrow algae. Industrial waste can be high in metals and goes into this same spreadable mix.
As one researcher said, to paraphrase, "It’s not a matter of no risk, it’s a matter of acceptable risk."
The city of Chattanooga owes this to the members of outlying communities that have to endure the short term odorous effects of this practice, long term medical care to look after those with respiratory issues created by exposure and those with prior respiratory issues further compromised by living close to something they cannot escape. Monitoring of the waters along the streams and rivers that these fields run off to is mandatory as well.
A good start would be to determine nutrient levels in the water before and after rains and metals content in crawfish and fish in areas upstream and downstream of fields where water flows continuously.
Two potential solutions lie at hand. First, spread this stuff at convenient locations within the city that don't get human traffic. The grass median at US 27 and I-24 is a good spot. I-24 and I-75 is another median to spread at. The grass expanses at MLK and US 27 are another good place to make the grass greener. Public response will be a good gauge to determine whether to continue this practice in rural areas outside the city. Response by city officials to this proposal will be a good gauge for whether this process should continue or cease.
The second solution is to stop spreading spoils on farmland. Responsible response to this practice throughout this country has been to either not allow it or to stop it, The city of Chattanooga needs to stop it.
Prentice Hicks
Lookout Valley
prenticehicks@mindspring.com
(Editor's Note: Jerry Stewart, who heads operations at the city's Moccasin Bend Sewage Treatment Plant, said the city has a contract with Recyc LLC of Boaz, Ala., to haul biosolids from the Moccasin Bend plant to farmers' fields, where it is spread as a fertilizer.
He said the biosolids are sampled weekly and meet all federal requirements. He said the sites chosen are setback from wells, streams, houses and roads.
Mr. Stewart said farmers are happy to get the free fertilizer since costs for commercial fertilizer has risen dramatically - going from less than $200 per ton to around $400 per ton.
The city pays Recyc LLC $15 per wet ton hauled away. The firm is hauling 400-500 tons per day 5-6 days a week. He said the city saved about $5 per ton since it does not have to haul the material to the landfill. He said it also helps extend the life of the landfill.
Mr. Stewart said the city plans to set up a demonstration project on several acres next to the Moccasin Bend plant. He said corn and hay will be grown at the site.
Mr. Stewart said some of the biosolids have been taken to Skyline Coal property on Cagle Mountain. He said some went to farmland at the site at Sequatchie referred to by Mr. Hicks. Mr. Stewart said he went to that location on Tuesday and did not detect an odor.)
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