Sludge To Be Dried, Not Spread
Last updated Monday, April 17, 2006 10:17 PM CDT in News
By Lori Harrison-Stone
The Morning News
ROGERS -- Odor and the buildup of nutrients in the soil have forced the Rogers Pollution Control Facility to take some temporary steps that will change the way it handles its biosolids or sludge in the future.
The Rogers Waterworks & Sewer Commission agreed Monday to rent dewatering equipment at an estimated cost of $200,506 for the first year. The equipment will help the Pollution Control Facility remove moisture from its sludge in preparation for shipping it to a landfill.
The commission also approved a one-year contract with Waste Management Inc. of Springdale for hauling the waste to its landfill in Tontitown at a cost of $29 per ton, an estimated annual cost of $321,750.
Mike Lawrence, plant manager, said it will take a year or more to order purchased equipment while the rented equipment can be up and running within weeks. He said there are two things forcing the facility to take immediate steps -- the reduction in the recommended application rate for spreading the sludge and recent odor complaints.
Three residents of the Shadow Valley subdivision attended Monday's meeting. Andrew Rundell said they came to see what the commission would do about the odor issue and were pleased by its action. Kevin Isola, another Shadow Valley resident, said the odor isn't constant but has been strong at times.
Donnie Moore, commission chairman, said the utility had hoped to have another couple of years of allowable land application of sludge before finding an alternative.
"A year ago, this wasn't even on the radar screen," Moore said just before the commission voted unanimously to approve the rental agreement and the contract with Waste Management.
In a lengthy memo to commissioners, Lawrence suggested that burning the dried biosolids may be the eventual less-expensive solution. He plans to investigate permanent options and costs so that he can present that information to the commission in May.
Lawrence said he hasn't had a chance to talk with officials of Northwest Arkansas Conservation Authority who are planning eventually to build a regional plant to deal with biosolids, but he knows their future plans won't help the city with its immediate problem.
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