We need a better solution for BIO-sludge
Editor:
What is BIO-sludge? This is a question that no one wants to answer. Most public officials avoid this question, they refer me to the MOE who refer me to OMAFRA, who tell me not to worry.
Why is there no setback from towns and villages? It’s injected into the soil not six feet from the ‘Welcome to Creemore’ sign. It is applied close to where there is busy traffic, community mailboxes, hikers, dog walkers, many people who walk from the village to Pebble Beach at the Mad River. Nine families use the stretch daily. Concession Road 3 runs from George Street to 6/7 Sideroad Nottawasaga and is part of the Ganaraska Hiking Trail.
Why is it being spread at the boundary line to our village of Creemore? What about exposure to our children and pets? Why are there no signs to inform people that BIO-sludge is being applied? Is it toxic and hazardous or not, or when airborne what are the particulates and does it affect a persons health?
If it’s safe, why not bag it and we can all use it in our veggie gardens? That way the problem would be solved and we can all be happy. Of course, that’s absurd.
All sewage, household cleaning products, cosmetics, pharmacy drugs and antibiotics, the industrial waste, the waste from the medical offices, local garages, the list is endless. Anything that can be discharged down a toilet, plastic, needles, paint, we all know what we flush. It ends at the treatment plant where the liquids get separated, tested, treated and then discharged into the Mad River. Everything else gets ground up, separated, agitated, and who knows what else. From there it goes on its journey to the field.
The truck’s journey starts at the treatment plant travels along Mary Street to Edward Street East to Airport Road, south to 6/7 Sideroad where it gets discharged to pumping station and then to the field. Three to four trucks per hour per day for approximately four or five days. If it rains, the whole process can take up to two weeks. They cannot spread the sludge for 48 hours when the soil is wet as this causes run off and leakage down to the water table.
Public officials who oversee this practice should respond to the questions and needs of the citizens.
The people that are affected by this also need to understand that they are part of the problem. The municipality should consider the cost to people’s health. We are all in this together and we need a solution. I’m not in favour of this practice but understand that we need a solution. If we must do this then, at the very least, keep it as far as possible from populated areas. The municipality has a treatment plant that is at maximum capacity. They need a solution. Read between the lines.
We truly have entered the Antropocene Epoch period.
Jim Slattery,
Creemore.
