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Wastewater Sludge as Fertilizer
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<blockquote data-quote="rmcva" data-source="post: 504579" data-attributes="member: 5473"><p>This has been a hot topic in my area for several years. Some counties try and ban the use of sludge but in Va. the state has control. The state had used the state health dept. as a go or no go for years as to where the sludge is spread. It's been turned over to the DEQ now. Counties have no say so here. But they scream enough to halt the spreading in some areas.I've never used the stuff but I try and keep up with what's going on with it.</p><p></p><p> There's different types of waste and water treatment. Water treatment is mainly the treatment for fresh water. From what I've read the byproduct is mainly lime. It's used as lime and works great. As with everything there's a negative. With this the product is very hard on what ever is used to spread it. It's very heavy and abrasive to metal such as augers and flights to expellers and spinners.</p><p></p><p> Wastewater treatment can contain human waste, if it's controlled proper I think it can be used safely. But very few towns have that type of control. Textile mills used a waste water treatment from bleaching operations and the byproduct was just what the doctor ordered for grass. Either of those you had to contend with harsh odors. The textile waste was loaded with phosphate and starches. </p><p></p><p> There are several sites across the country that pelletize waste from human sludge and boast claims that it's controlled so that none to little of the heavy metals ever get in that product from the controls in place. Some is being used in Va. and mainly sold to home owners for lawns. I think there's a plant in the Hampton Roads area. The end product is dried and bagged and put on the shelf for sale. If used on hay fields the pellets are large enough that the hay rakes may pull the pellets into the wind row and then into the hay bale. The pellets are very hard and take a good deal of time to dissolve. I'm talking more than a year.</p><p></p><p> I've been watching an area not to far to the east of me near Chase City. The liquid sludge with human waste has been used there for about 10 years now. There's talk of animal health problems in that area now. They will be getting an ethanol plant soon that will use barley. I expect to see the sludge usage go up for that crop since it'll be used for fuel.</p><p></p><p> I've been temped to sign up for sludge usage but always back off because of liability. If that stuff gets in the ground water and ruins the neighbors wells or some one gets sick from it's usage I, my family and future family won't have enough money to pay that bill.And I also enjoy my neighbors as well. </p><p></p><p> Folks get excited when they see a pile or mound of anything on a farm. The first year I used wood ash one of my neighbors went by the local country store and blabbed that I had human waste piled up to spread on the grass. After I started seeing cars and trucks go by slowing down looking at the pile I flagged down a couple that I knew and talked. I invited them to the pile so they could see/smell/touch what was there and ended that uproar. Miss information can get you in a heap of trouble with neighbors fast. I will be spreading ash for one of those neighbors this year. </p><p></p><p> A good friend and I got chicken litter brought in this year for the first time in this area. I haven't heard any complaints of that so far. So what ever you do remember you have neighbors and if you like them and want to keep them as friends you may want to let them in on what you're about to do. I should have done that with the ash. But I had no idea anyone would think that was sludge.</p><p></p><p> I know just like everyone here what fertilizer prices are doing and going to do to us. I decided 5 years ago we'd have to change our ways if we keep farming. So far we've spread tobacco, wood ash, chicken litter and cow manure. We are always looking for a free or cheap product to get plant food and organic matter. No telling how many hours I've spent on the phone asking questions and gathering facts on waste products. So far it's worked well but does require work. It's not as easy as calling and getting a fertilizer truck in your field the next morning. It also cost $$$$ in equipment that was a chance to take. So far that's looking better now. We have folks wanting us to spread some of the same byproducts we use now. This year with our own usage and spreading for other folks we'll be busy most of the year. If they keep calling we may have to turn some down. So look around you and see what's being taken to the landfills. All of it isn't toxic. But be careful and know what you're going to spread is safe and to keep good neighbors you may have to back off every once in a while. </p><p></p><p> I use annual soil samples and rely on them to keep everything under control. When you switch to organics the reaction is different than chemical. So more isn't always better and with some, time is required to see the final results. I'm still learning too.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="rmcva, post: 504579, member: 5473"] This has been a hot topic in my area for several years. Some counties try and ban the use of sludge but in Va. the state has control. The state had used the state health dept. as a go or no go for years as to where the sludge is spread. It's been turned over to the DEQ now. Counties have no say so here. But they scream enough to halt the spreading in some areas.I've never used the stuff but I try and keep up with what's going on with it. There's different types of waste and water treatment. Water treatment is mainly the treatment for fresh water. From what I've read the byproduct is mainly lime. It's used as lime and works great. As with everything there's a negative. With this the product is very hard on what ever is used to spread it. It's very heavy and abrasive to metal such as augers and flights to expellers and spinners. Wastewater treatment can contain human waste, if it's controlled proper I think it can be used safely. But very few towns have that type of control. Textile mills used a waste water treatment from bleaching operations and the byproduct was just what the doctor ordered for grass. Either of those you had to contend with harsh odors. The textile waste was loaded with phosphate and starches. There are several sites across the country that pelletize waste from human sludge and boast claims that it's controlled so that none to little of the heavy metals ever get in that product from the controls in place. Some is being used in Va. and mainly sold to home owners for lawns. I think there's a plant in the Hampton Roads area. The end product is dried and bagged and put on the shelf for sale. If used on hay fields the pellets are large enough that the hay rakes may pull the pellets into the wind row and then into the hay bale. The pellets are very hard and take a good deal of time to dissolve. I'm talking more than a year. I've been watching an area not to far to the east of me near Chase City. The liquid sludge with human waste has been used there for about 10 years now. There's talk of animal health problems in that area now. They will be getting an ethanol plant soon that will use barley. I expect to see the sludge usage go up for that crop since it'll be used for fuel. I've been temped to sign up for sludge usage but always back off because of liability. If that stuff gets in the ground water and ruins the neighbors wells or some one gets sick from it's usage I, my family and future family won't have enough money to pay that bill.And I also enjoy my neighbors as well. Folks get excited when they see a pile or mound of anything on a farm. The first year I used wood ash one of my neighbors went by the local country store and blabbed that I had human waste piled up to spread on the grass. After I started seeing cars and trucks go by slowing down looking at the pile I flagged down a couple that I knew and talked. I invited them to the pile so they could see/smell/touch what was there and ended that uproar. Miss information can get you in a heap of trouble with neighbors fast. I will be spreading ash for one of those neighbors this year. A good friend and I got chicken litter brought in this year for the first time in this area. I haven't heard any complaints of that so far. So what ever you do remember you have neighbors and if you like them and want to keep them as friends you may want to let them in on what you're about to do. I should have done that with the ash. But I had no idea anyone would think that was sludge. I know just like everyone here what fertilizer prices are doing and going to do to us. I decided 5 years ago we'd have to change our ways if we keep farming. So far we've spread tobacco, wood ash, chicken litter and cow manure. We are always looking for a free or cheap product to get plant food and organic matter. No telling how many hours I've spent on the phone asking questions and gathering facts on waste products. So far it's worked well but does require work. It's not as easy as calling and getting a fertilizer truck in your field the next morning. It also cost $$$$ in equipment that was a chance to take. So far that's looking better now. We have folks wanting us to spread some of the same byproducts we use now. This year with our own usage and spreading for other folks we'll be busy most of the year. If they keep calling we may have to turn some down. So look around you and see what's being taken to the landfills. All of it isn't toxic. But be careful and know what you're going to spread is safe and to keep good neighbors you may have to back off every once in a while. I use annual soil samples and rely on them to keep everything under control. When you switch to organics the reaction is different than chemical. So more isn't always better and with some, time is required to see the final results. I'm still learning too. [/QUOTE]
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