Riverside’s Sludge Ban Puts O.C. in Tough Spot

Riverside County officials voted unanimously Tuesday to ban the use of sewage sludge from Orange County and elsewhere as fertilizer on farmlands.

The move makes Riverside one of at least six agricultural counties in the state unwilling to accept Southern California’s mountainous stockpile of human waste.

Supervisor Bob Buster said he voted for the ban because of possible health risks created when wet sludge is spread on land near residential neighborhoods and schools.

“There is also a quality-of-life issue,” Buster said. “It’s like getting a blast of smell from an open septic tank. I don’t think people should have to put up with that.”

The Orange County Sanitation District had been sending more than one-third of its sludge--euphemistically called “biosolids”--to Riverside County.

The agency has depended on farmers to use 530 wet tons of sludge a day to fertilize nonfood crops such as alfalfa and cotton. However, none of the sludge is used in Orange County, which some Riverside officials criticized as a double standard.

Tuesday’s action, combined with similar bans in Kings and Kern counties, means the Orange County sanitation district may have to adopt tougher and costlier treatment standards to ensure the agency’s sludge is cleaner and pathogen free. The agency may also have to ship the sludge to Arizona.

Either scenario could mean a rate increase for customers, said Lisa Lawson, spokeswoman for the district.

Earlier this month, Riverside County’s health officer increased restrictions on where sludge can be applied. The sludge cannot be used on farmland that’s within a half mile of homes or schools--a buffer zone that, in effect, created a de-facto ban, Orange County sanitation officials said. Until now, Riverside’s buffer zone has been 500 feet.

Tuesday’s vote was no surprise to Orange County sanitation officials.

“It’s what was expected,” said Layne Baroldi, a senior regulatory specialist with the sanitation district. “I’m disappointed, obviously. . . . Science supports reuse.”

Across the nation, more than 5 million dry tons of biosolids were produced in 2000, and California was the biggest producer. About 40% of biosolids are used as fertilizer across the nation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency supports the use of biosolids on farmland, and earlier this year rejected a call by activists for a moratorium on the practice. The sludge cannot be dumped into the ocean.

“Because of the strict federal and state standards, the treated residuals from waste water treatment (biosolids) can be safely recycled . . . and applied as fertilizer to sustainably improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth,” according to a report by the EPA’s Office of Waste Water Management.

However, the EPA has asked the National Academy of Sciences to review whether potential health risks were considered when the federal regulations on biosolids were adopted. The agency also wants the existing standards for removing disease-causing pathogens and protecting public health to be reviewed. The study is expected to be completed in 2002.

Also, EPA research microbiologist David Lewis said there is evidence that bacteria and chemicals found in sludge pose a health risk, possibly causing gastrointestinal, skin and respiratory infections and other illnesses.

“The symptoms that are most commonly reported are things like burning eyes, burning throat and burning lungs, congestion and coughing. Nosebleeds are one of the more common symptoms,” said Lewis, whose research at the University of Georgia has focused on sewage sludge for three years.

That’s no surprise to Shelley Pfeifer of Winchester, who’s about 200 feet “downwind” from a 300-acre wheat field where sludge is applied. Every time her 4-year-old grandson visits, and a fresh batch of sludge has been applied, he gets nosebleeds so intense that he chokes on and vomits his own blood, she said.

“It’s not normal for children to have bloody noses that bad,” she said.

Pfeifer said his pediatrician has ruled out internal causes, saying it could be an allergic reaction to an unknown irritant. Pfeifer is a member of Riverside County’s advisory committee on the use of sludge, and has previously testified before the county supervisors.

The Orange County Sanitation District can still send sludge to Kern, Kings and San Diego counties. However, Kern and Kings counties have passed ordinances banning the import of sludge starting in early 2003.

Riverside’s ban will not become official unless county supervisors formally adopt two ordinances banning the sludge during their July 10 meeting. County and sanitation officials said approval is expected.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Sludge Problem

The Orange County Sanitation District sends sewage sludge, called biosolids, to four counties for use as fertilizer on nonfood crops. Riverside County officials took an initial vote Tuesday to stop accepting the waste, adding to a disposal problem that may force Orange County to step up treatment or even ship the sludge out of state.

*

* Wet tons of biosolids distributed to each county, 2000-01

Riverside: 92,886

Kern: 92,748

San Diego: 10,590

Kings: 8,805

Source: Orange County Sanitation District