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Home My WebLink About710015.tiff FINDINGS AND RESOLUTION CONCERNING CHANGE OF ZONE PETITION OF WESTERN-AGRI SYSTEMS The application of Western-Agri Systems, Denver, Colorado, requesting a change of zone from "A" Agricultural District to "A-UD" Agricultural Unit Development District of several tracts of land described as being Sections 33 and 34, in Township 3 North, Range 61 West of the Sixth P. M. , and Section 3, Township 2 North, Range 61 West of the Sixth P. M. , all in Weld County, Colorado, came on for hearing March 22, 1971 at 2:00 o'clock P. M. in the chambers of the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, and the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Weld, State of Colorado, having heard the testimony and evidence adduced upon said hearing, and having heard the testimony, evidence, petitions and remonstrances filed with said Board, and having carefully weighed the same, now makes the following findings: 1. The evidence and investigation shows that said hearing, petition for zone change, is more in the nature of petition requesting approval of site for disposal of sludge and/or sewage products. 2. The evidence and investigation shows that the inhabitants of the immediate vicinity of the area whereat said sludge deposit facility is sought to be installed, are unanimously opposed to the installation of such facility. 3. The evidence and investigation shows that the location of such sludge deposit facility would be a source of pollution of the underground water supply in the area. 4. That each of the preceding findings in and of themselves and independent of each other constitutes a separate and individual ground for denial of the change of zone, or in the alternative, a denial of location as a site for sludge and/or sewage disposal facility. RESOLUTION WHEREAS, The Board of County Commissioners of the County of Weld, State of Colorado, has heard the application of Western-Agri Systems, Denver, Colorado, for a change of zone from "A" Agricultural District to "A-UD" Agricultural Unit Development District, or in the alternative request for site approval for sludge and/or sewage disposal facility on tracts of land as hereinabove recited and made a part hereof by reference, and WHEREAS, said Board has made its findings upon the evidence and testimony adduced at said hearing, including its own personal investigation of the premises where said facility is sought to be installed, which findings precede this Resolution and by reference are incorporated herein and made a part hereof, and 710015 WHEREAS, the said Board has carefully considered the application, evidence and testimony and given the same such weight as it,.in its discretion deemed proper, and is now fully advised in the premises; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the application of Western-Agri Systems, Denver, Colorado, for change of zone from "A" Agricultural District to "A-UD" Agricultural Unit Development District, or in the alternative approval of site for a sludge and/or sewage disposal facility on the premises indicated above, be and it hereby is denied upon each of the grounds set forth in the Board's findings therein. Made and entered this 2nd day of June, 1971. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELT) COUNTY, COLORADO ' / / // < ' � , �N/ al/-4 glaTCy.4-7 ATTEST; Clerk f the Board By: Deputy County Clerk APPROVED/AS TO V.O_RM: ounty A torney £C- .r 3.1- „,„ &7Z -2 /-;,/ n nc-y7 ✓)Je37'ati3 RECEIPT FOR CERTIFIED MAIL-300 (plus postage) SENT TO POSTMARK i POS' OR DATE M TREE)" AND NO. a d P.O., STATE AND ZIP COOEE p:_,Z�Nli`� F ES PTIO L SERVICES FOR date FEES _ RETURNDfr 1. Shows to whom and delivered 154 I With delivery to addressee only 650 RECEIPT ' 2. Shows th wham,date and sseee delivered 350 e y SERVICES With delivery to addressee only 850_ J DELIVER TO ADDRESSEE ONLY 50d F SPECIAL DELIVERY (2 Pounds or less) - 450 Z POD Form 3800 NO INSURANCE COVERAGE PROVIDED— (Sae other side) July 1969 NOT FOR INTERNATIONAL MAIL *m°: ieroe.an.4SO M mis..'.1x„r,-,. �,;,r 4�1'Turd!^rgG,'' :�^r."AN'yt'a°•,: T^,.sr kry�re+e-m z:p?N+rs:,,: . ,. .,1 ,Se;f : PLEASE FUMASSI E (S) ,� • SQ toets��d date Mi tdress ` i. iieliuee o wrid = tc' 1� RECEIPT ar4c1* tel*tibe"T baJt s 1alTERED NO. P - 'Lj 0R ,SWAIMOF eaaR etibm AMP k itkd n): CERaFiED.Ne. stiles 7 ti k., li.: ceaaENs WM!' l Ai, tN41Nf(�)no. I § C- 7- 7 e55-10—l10ad1 34T-100 GPO RECEIPT FOR CERTIFIED MAIL-300 (plus postage) SENT TO n POSTMARK OR DATE ,—{ _ !.-llLIJiY.nJ (,C j gal C",1 STREET AND NO. tC, P.O., STATE AND ZIP C DE OPTIO AL SERVICES FOR AODITIONAL FEES RETURN 1. Shows to whom and date delivered 154 y With delivery om, a her only.. 354` ® RECEIPT 2. Shows to whom,dateo and where delivered 354 4 (4�` SERVICES Wlth tlelivery to addressee only 50d Q DELIVER TO ADDRESSEE ONLY SOd Z SPECIAL DELIVERY (2 Aaunds or less) 454 1nPOD Form 3800 NO INSURANCE COVERAGE PROVIDED— (See other side) July 1969 NOT FOR INTERNATIONAL MAIL GPO: 1070 0-507-45111 i•. gffA. •.......01' _... .IN S 1971 , f . ARTICLE ADDRESSED TO( ( A...4G'J�♦ f i • i�4wl .«.:�.�J. • �1t -.1.,.• 'L (...,,'. REGIS1ERE NO. INSURED f< CERTIFIED f C.O.D. 1/ !�s' CANNOT St DELIVERED BECAUSE!-- .._--"----• DELIVERY 15 RESTRICTED ADDRESSEE CAN NOT OR WILL 4__) NOT SIGN. INCORRECTLY ADDRESSED. SUPPLY BETTER ADDRESS IF POSSI UNKNOWN SUPPLY ADDRESS OR FORWARDING:IREC- TIONS, IF POSSIBLE ❑ HAS BEEN ABANDONED PER DIRECTIONS 1:3 Not in Directory, State below disposition you wish made of this registered 1 l` J insured,certified,or c.o.d.article and send This form a GI/ H C•CD //l!S ��rd in on cave yqE4rompty Lope bearing firs�r/dR r`poscc t n,.f master }- ��fnnTERMINAL..�'4� NNEX _ �� 7/ DISPOSITION INSTRUCTIONS, VE I- *RV11-- �F�� r� Return to ❑ Restriction I;hird-•deh.er� ,/qt sender �� /f� �J+�Ito addressee's �agent-,• LI Try°V414-CeiJitt'y,- olote E3p SIGNATURE -O.:1 ci (jrTrre-f. ommis9rarrers Grt'eley, Co14rai/D. COUNTY OF Wtl_D �il2d th thr CHrk n Board of Cwi ty Corn,n.,�r.. 1 V S v i w ,Eore. By Deputy] 1 State of Colorado 2 Weld County Board of County Conmlissioners 3 Request : Change of Zone from ) "A" Agriculture District to "A- ) 4 UD" Agriculture Unit Develop- ) ment District ) 5 ) A parcel of land more particu- ) 6 larly described as follows : ) ) Reporter' s Transcript 7 Sections Thirty-three and Thir- ) ty-four (33 & 34) , Township ) 8 Three (3) North, Range Sixty- ) one (61) and ) 9 ) Section Three (3) , Township ) 10 Two (2) North, Range Sixty- ) one (61) West of the 6th P.M. , ) 11 Weld County, Colorado ) 12 Appearances : 13 Mr. Edward Venable, Attorney-at-Law, Greeley, Colorado for petitioner Western-Agri Systems . 14 Mr. Stow Witwer, Jr. , Attorney-at-Law, Greeley, 15 Colorado for protestants Mr. Kingsbury, Floyd Yocam, Bob Seyfried and F Quarter Circle Ranch. 16 BE IT REMEMBERED that pursuant to the zoning laws of 17 the State of Colorado, a public hearing was held in the 18 District Court Hearing Room, Fourth Floor, Weld County Court 19 House, Greeley, Colorado, on the 22nd day of March A. D. 1971 20 before the Weld County Commissioners consisting of Chairman 21 Marshall Anderson, board members Glenn Billings and Harry 22 Ashley, County Attorney, Mr. Sam Telep and Planning Commission 23 Member, Mr. Burman Lorenson, concerning the above—entitled 24 cause, commencing at the hour of 2:00 p.m. and the following 25 Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 INDEX 2 WITNESSES: DIRECT CROSS REDIRECT RECROSS 3 FOR THE PETITIONER: 4 Robert Bardwell 11 21 34 5 Dr. Frank Viets 45 51 57 60 6 FOR THE PROTESTANTS: 7 Cecil Osborne 69 78 82 83 8 Floyd Yocam 86 93 9 Dr. Morton Bittinger 95 104 10 Bob Seyfried. 115 125 127 11 FOR THE PETITIONER: (Rebuttal) 12 Willard. Owens 128 138 13 EXHIBITS: FOR IDENTIFICATION IN EVIDENCE 14 PETITIONERS' : 15 Exhibit A 62 63 16 Exhibit B 63 66 17 Exhibit C 63 66 18 Exhibit D 64 66 19 Exhibit E 64 66 20 Exhibit F 64 66 21 Exhibit G 64 66 22 Exhibit H 64 66 23 Exhibit I 64 66 24 Exhibit J 65 66 25 Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER COLORADO80206 TELL PHONE 399-6062 INDEX (continued) 2 EXHIBITS: FOR IDENTIFICATION IN EVIDENCE 3 Exhibit K 65 66 4 Exhibit L 65 66 5 PROTESTANTS` : 6 Exhibit 1 68 69 7 Exhibit 2 68 69 68 69 8 Exhibit 3 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 proceedings were had, to-wit : 2 MR. TELEP: Let the record show that this cause came 3 on for hearing this day March 22, 1971, at 2 :00 p.m. upon the 4 application of Western-Agri Systems , in care of Tom Nieman, 5 910 Sixteenth Street , Denver, Colorado. 6 Let the record show that this application is for 7 a change of zone from "A" Agriculture District to "A-CD" 8 Agriculture Unit Development District . A tract of land 9 described as being Sections 33 and 34 in Township 3 North, 10 Range 61 West of the P.M. and Section 3 Township 2 North, 11 Range 61 West of the 6th P.M. and all in Weld County, Colorado. 12 Let the record further show that this hearing 13 was duly published as required by law in the Greeley Booster 14 on February 5 and March 12, 1971 respectively. 15 Let the record further show that there are in 16 the files several receipts testifying to the fact that certifie 17 mail was sent to adjacent land owners affording them an 18 opportunity to be here this afternoon either in favor or 19 against the change of zone. 20 Let the record still further show that the 21 applicant, Tom Nieman, is present and represented by counsel, 22 Mr. Ed Venable. 23 Let the record also show that there are many 24 people in the room and that at least some of the protestants 25 are represented by counsel , Mr. Stow Witwer, Associated Shorthand Reporters 2 IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 Let the record still further show that there is 2 in the file the resolution of the Weld County Planning 3 Commission recording favorably as to this change of zone with 4 reasons therefor which should be gone into , Mr. Chairman, more 5 in detail by and through our Planning Director, Mr. Burman 6 Lorenson. Mr. Chairman, I believe we are ready to proceed. 8 Perhaps the applicant would like to make an opening statement. 9 MR. VENABLE : I would like to go through two or 10 three things that we have before us , and perhaps eliminate 11 some of the issues that may not be necessary to go into, 12 Perhaps we can simply state those. I will say at this point 13 that when Mr. Bardwell, who is a representative of the company, 14 takes over, he will testify directly as to the fact of posting 15 of the required statutory notices and posting on the land and 16 the property involved in this zoning request . He will tender 17 into evidence a copy of that . 18 First of all, there have been many requests 19 through the Planning Commission. I think they were pretty well 20 disposed of, and the Planning Commission was adequately 21 informed on them or at least felt adequately informed. But 22 for the benefit of the gentlemen of the Cotuuissioner' s office �3 and for any prostestants who may not have heard this informatio 24 before, I would like to state again a couple of basic facts wit 25 regard to our proposal. 3 Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 1 ELEPHONF 399 6062 1 First , by way of introduction of the applicants 2 for this change, there has been a question raised concerning 3 their experience and just exactly who they are. Mr. Nieman 4 is the President of Western-Agri Systems . This is not his 5 first endeavor or his company' s first endeavor into projects of 6 this kind. They have been quite active for many years either 7 through this corporation or company and through other corporations 8 and companies in the reclamation of lands and raising of the 9 standard of lands and specifically in the use of products or 10 by-products of cities which heretofore had been considered not 11 _only unusable but difficult to dispose of itself. 12 At the present time Tom, through another company 13 which he owns, B & L Wrecking are taking down some 178 14 buildings in the downtown Denver area under the Denver Urban 15 Renewal Authority and using that as well as most of Denver's 16 dry trash products for the purpose of reclaiming some 100 acres 17 of land for an industrial site. He just completed a project 18 of some three million dollars in Washington D. C. in which they 19 took a waste dump area there and reclaimed that land and turned 20 it into a park. 21 Other members of his organization have been 22 involved in livestock feeding -- primarily cattle and hogs -- 23 in which they have used garbage supplies . The companies are 24 all well established. 25 -This, of course, is the newest of Mr. Nieman's Associated Shorthand Reporters 4 IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 companies, but it has, through Mr. Bardwell, been in existence 2 for over two years in the preparation, study, and development 3 of the project which we are here to explain to you this 4 afternoon . 5 One thing that I think we would like to get 6 clarified first so that we don ' t get bogged down in some of 7 the details that we have gotten into before, and that is witn 8 regard to the water. We have present with us our water 9 representative of our firm of water engineers who studied this 10 project and assured us and assured the State Water Board that 11 the wells which are now permitted in our company' s name would 12 not damage other underground water supplies in the immediate 13 area . If you have any questions to ask of this gentleman, he is 14 generally available to answer; however, that question is really 15 somewhat immaterial to the purposes of this hearing . The fact 16 is that the permits have been issued, we do own the land, and 17 we intend to pump those wells and use them in the development is of that land wnetier we are allowed to do certain other things 19 or not or whether we have difficulties in doing certain others . 20 The wells are permitted, and it would be pretty expensive dry 21 land . So there is no question that we will go ahead and use 22 those and therefore, we feel that the water questions are not 23 really proper or necessary to be discussed here today . 24 We will state simply that if we are allowed to 25 use the land or permitted to use the land in the way in which Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 5 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 we anticipate , the drain of water which we will have to take 2 from the wells will be much less than if we are not allowed to 3 use the digested dry sludge. 4 Our contract provides that we will use some 5 400 ,000 gallons a day of digested , stabilized sludge . This , as 6 we have told you before and. I am sure many of you knew, is about 7 95 percent water content. By removing that and applying it to 8 this land , we will be putting the equivalent of the same amount 9 of water on the land as if we had a thousand-gallon permit wel 10 pumping on the same land during the entire growing season or 11 roughly one and a quarter acre feet of water per day onto this 12 project . So if any water considerations that come up in the 13 use of this proposal and the use of the digested , stabilized 14 sludge will facilitate to the project to the extent that it 15 will require less use of underground water because we will 16 bring our own in at a high rate. 17 This project, of course , has been before the 18 Planning Commission as Mr. Telep advised you it was recommends 19 for adoption to the Commission by Mr. Burman Lorenson, Plannin 20 Director, and at that time the Planning Commission did adopt 21 it. 22 In addition, in order to assure ourselves of 23 the validity of our project before we wasted any money on it 24 we have dealt with many private consulting firms in the course 25 of the past two years. We now have the endorsement of the Associated Shorthand Reporters 6 AT 3037 IN CHERRY CREEK EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 State Health Department . Prior to getting that endorsement, 2 our clients met individually with three of the sub-divisions 3 of the State Health Department, including the Water Pollution 4 Control Committee, Air Pollution Control Committee and the 5 Engineering Section of the Public Health Department . We have 6 their endorsement and the file should reflect the letter of 7 endorsement from the State Health Department . In addition, we 8 met with the Tri-County Health Departments of Adams, Arapahoe, 9 and Jefferson Counties since some of this would travel through 10 that area and we much desired that approval and endorsement . 11 On a local level and of more concern to the 12 Weld County Health Department and the Weld County Sanitarium 13 have both been consulted with regard to this, and the Weld 14 County Board of Health has endorsed the proposal . The Weld 15 County Planning Commission as previously said after some, I 16 think it was three hearings, if I recall correctly, in three 17 or four hearings, we presented the testimony that they requested 18 somewhat extensive and exhaustively testified from a panel 19 of scientists and experts employed by our client . 20 The State Water Resources Commission has been 21 thoroughly advised of this project, and has endorsed as has 22 the State Board of Land Commissions . The Metropolitan 23 District staff and their Board of Directors have examined this 24 and affirmed it and they have examined it at length even to 25 the extent of going to one of the best known engineering Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 7 I AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 consulting firms in the United States, the firm of Alexander 2 Potter & Associates of New York City . They have thoroughly 3 studied this and Alexander Potter & Associates nave issued a 4 30-page report which we have available, and if any member of 5 the Commission would like to study that, we would be more than 6 willing to present it to you for your perusal and discussion . 7 They have endorsed the projects . In fact, it was a proposal 8 similar to this that they made to the City of Denver several 9 years ago and it was not adopted at that time . But they have 10 now thoroughly studied this individual project and our specific 11 plans on it and have adopted it . 12 Probably one of the most interesting features 13 of this from the public standpoint is the fact that we hope this 14 will be of great benefit to Weld County for many reasons . 15 Certainly we have got a lot of time, a lot of money, and a lot 16 of talent invested in the development of this program. The 17 specific benefits which we see to the county in addition to 18 the obvious benefit of reclaiming some land which has only 19 marginal production ability and turning it into highly productive 20 land, this of course will also as an agricultural project 21 increase the tax base we were informed by the Assessors office . 22 I think that the tax base would go up by about ten times in the 23 value of this land; and, of course, that would be a direct 24 benefit to the County . 25 From a ecological standpoint, probably one of Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK O AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE V DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 the most interesting benefits is that by the use of -this 2 product, as an agricultural fertilizer in Weld County, we will 3 terminate one of the biggest dangers to water pollution that has 4 faced Weld County for many years . Under the present method of 5 disposing of this product, the system in Denver -- the stage 6 following the stage that we take the digested sludge -- at the 7 present time their method of disposing of it from that point 8 is to dump tremendous amounts of chemicals . We are advised 9 that at the present time the affluent of this after it is 10 further digested -- that the affluent that is dumped back into 11 the Platte River constitutes 10 to 20 tons a day of calcium 12 chloride or salt that comes downstream into Weld County . 13 Twenty tons a day of salt having the nature and qualities of 14 calcium chloride is a difficult thing to assume even in the 15 highest water conditions . If this kind of a project had to be 16 continued in future years or during dry years, it would create 17 a veritable disaster for Weld County having to consume that 1-8 some 20 tons of salt a day into our Platte River System if the 19 water supply were down . Certainly, it does enough damage as 20 it is right now 21 Our project would eliminate that because we 22 pick the digested sludge that is now necessary -to dump the 23 chemicals . Those chemicals would no longer go into it . As a 24 consequence, the affluent of them would no longer be dumped 25 into the river and no longer into Weld County . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE 9 DENVER COLORADO 80206 TEIEPHONF 399 6062 1 S am not certain your Planning Commission has 2 heard this at length, and I don 't want to bore you gentlemen 3 with details, but neither do we want to escape covering any 4 point that might be of particular interest to you . So, let me 5 simply advise you that we have available for discussion with 6 the Commission or with any objector the following three people : 7 From the United States Department of Agriculture, Dr. Frank G . 8 Viets; Mr. Willard Owens from Willard Owens Associates, they 9 are water engineers ; and also Mr. Herbert S . McCall, and they 10 are the civil and sanitary engineers who studied this project . 11 They are all available and seated behind our counsel table and 12 more than willing to answer any questions that happen to fail 13 within their expertise if you should wish to call on them. 14 Since all of their testimony is in the record and the 15 commissioners have copies of this transcript, I will not call 16 them unless you specifically ask me to . Also Mr. Nieman, the 17 -?resident of the company is seated at the table with me, and he 18 is available to answer any questions . 19 For the general informational presentation I 20 would like to call on at this time Mr . Robert Bardwell who will 21 give you some of the specific details as to this project and 22 how we intend to operate it . 23 ROBERT BARDWELZ, 24 called as a witness on behalf of the Applicant, being first 25 duly sworn, upon his oath testified as follows : Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 10 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 THE WITNESS: I have a few slides here . 2 Western-Agri Systems is a company that was formed 3 almost two years ago specifically with the objective of carrying 4 out this project and applying a beneficial fertilizer derived 5 from the stabilization of digestion of sewage sludge to farming 6 areas where the productive capacity was low and significant 7 Increases in agricultural production and value could be 8 achieved . This area shows the Western-Agri Systems project in q Southern Weld County . The red patch on the map, although 10 slightly larger than it is actually, indicates the exact 11 location . This area, I am told by geologists, is in the 12 northern part formed by age-old accumulations of blowing sand 13 from the riverbed of the Platte River. For that reason, 14 supports only the heartiest grass which can last with the very 15 low water retention of the sandy area . The people here are 16 probably familiar with this area. As you can see, the highway 17 which is now Interstate BO going to the north and the area is itself is somewhat to the east and north of Prospect Valley . 19 The ranch was formerly known as the Epple-Weigele Ranch. 20 The narrow view of the place in the summer shown 21 here looking south, I believe, right from the railroad track 22 shows the fertile lower area of the Kiowa Creek basin and the 23 sandy highlands where you can see numerous blowouts . 24 The same area in the wintertime looking past the 25 extensive wind erosion and the total lack of any natural Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 11 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 drainage system. Meaning that water run-off as such does not 2 occur here . 3 Another view directly of the point along the 4 Burlington Northern Rail Line from which we intend to unload the 5 sludge material shows the -- again the wind eroded nature of 6 the surface . 7 Here is another picture of the same area in the 8 wintertime . The Epples and Weigels last year placed up here 9 on this property cattle grazing at the rate of 1 cow to 30 acres 10 on an annual basis . This , I am told, could be called 11 relatively low in production grazing land. Our plan is to take 12 Sections 33, 34, and 3, in Township Two North and the other in 13 Three North and use them for distribution of this liquid 14 fertilizer which contains soil cond`; tioning organics and 15 distribute this material over a period of years over the 16 intended area. 17 This is a slide showing the development plan 18 prepared at the request of the Weld County Planning Commission. 19 It shows the technique by which the development would occur. 20 As Mr. Venable said , a number of agencies have reviewed and 21 approved that system, and I want to emphasize the Health 22 Department, State of Colorado; Board of Water Commissioners ; 23 Air Pollution Commissions and Engineering Divisions ; Weld 24 County Board of Health; Weld County Planning Commission; 25 Colorado Department of Natural Resources , Division of Water Associated Shorthand Reporters 12 IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 • 1 Resources ; Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners . As Ed 2 mentioned, the groups in the Denver area and the consulting 3 engineering firm have given their approval . Also we have used 4 outstanding scientists, technical people in helping us plan 5 our project; Professor Lewis Grant conducted a study in tne area 6 which was used by the agricultural scientists and Dr. Haise, 7 and an agricultural economist Professor Hinesly has not only 8 been a member of the Agronomy Department of the University of 9 Illinois, but has been the head of the extension branch project 10 of tne last four years in the State of Illinois concerning the 11 use of sludge digested and stabilized for enhancement of 12 agricultural production, and Herbert McCall who has designed 13 the elements of our system and Willard Owens, highly regarded 14 water geologist and Dr. Frank Viets whose stature as a soil 15 scientist is truely world wide . In the process of carrying 16 out this plan, we have used all the resources of science and 17 tecnnology in the sludge process of soil chemistry that could 18 be brought to bear by our experts . 19 We have the purpose of converting this, which 20 is the present disposal facility in Commerce City, a facility 21 which has never run successfully at best, whose plumes of smoke 22 were flowing northward--and I didn' t wait for a south wind for 23 that--and the rail cars on the left are filled with lime and 24 hopper cars and ferri-chloride in the tank car are used to 25 process this sludge for further de --watering and eventual Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 13 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER COLORADO 80206 T ELEPHONE 399-6062 1 displacement . This has been a very great problem to the 2 metropolitan district plant operation and it certainly has 3 contributed appreciatively to the air and water pollution of 4 not only the metropolitan area but of all of northern and 5 northeastern Colorado . 6 We intend to convert that wasted product into 7 fertile agricultural benches as you see here in a photograph 8 of a farm in Scottsbluff,, Nebraska which is similar to our 9 plans for the lower part of the development area . It has 10 highly productive grazing land irrigated and fertilized by 11 modified center pivot system. I am told that productivity is 12 such that we can expect increases from 10 to 30 times in the 13 area and pasture grazing land through the application of this 14 technique . The material to be applied is digested sewage 15 sludge which is a mixture of mostly water and with some solids 16 floating -- that the material that we are taking contains not 17 only water but in the water dissolved in it are appreciable 18 amounts of soil nutrients especially the potassium or potash . 19 You will notice that there is appreciable nitrogen and 20 phosphorus in the water as well as the solids . It contains, 21 of course, the nitrogen that will be particularly long lasting . 22 The material has been applied to two fields in 23 this case . The material has been applied in this area for 24 four years in Hanover Park, Illinois where it was row irrigated 25 to corn fields producing results like this where the sludge Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 14 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVEF. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 had been applied to the right, whereas water only had been appli d 2 to the corn on the left . Its properties as agricultural material 3 cannot be contested . 4 In the area of our development we have a unique 5 situation with respect to ground water . This map prepared 6 recently by Willard Owens illustrating the Lost Creek irrigation 7 area also shows on the right-hand side the isolated ground water -8 area which the State Commission calls Hay Gulch. It is in this 9 area, in this area right here, which our development will take 10 place . It is down right approximately there where we have the 11 well permit from the State Engineer . 12 Here is another view of the area showing the 13 hydro-geological contours and the separation which Mr. Owens 14 identified with his test drilling. Each one of the numbers 15 there represents a tested well . 16 That shows the isolation of this ground water 17 area from the Kiowa area to the east . The test wells are shown 18 here -- showing water levels of the order of 20 feet here up 19 to well 6 which is over to the east where the level drops 20 abruptly to something like 80 feet . 21 The application of sludge for agricultural 22 purpose-6 is not a totally new thing. It has been carried on 23 for many years An Weld County and the Commissioners are aware 24 of the digested sludge from the Greeley plant from time to time 25 has been tanked up to farms in the area and distributed there Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 15 AT 3037 EAST HIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 1 ELEPHONE 399 6062 1 for fertilizer purposes . 2 These are new photographs of applications on 3 other areas in the country and certainly, Illinois is far ahead 4 of everyone else and areas of western Pennsylvania. Chicago 5 particularly has had this large project here we see and a 6 location which we visited several times . The Illinois projects 7 include, in the Cook County Area, some 11 different demonstrations -8 of agricultural possible applications they could have in the 9 area. These have been followed now for nearly five years . 10 Most interesting perhaps is the branch facility 11 at Elmwood, Illinois near Peoria which has been funded in part 12 by HEW, and Professor Hinesly, who has served as our consultant, 13 is the managing director of this project . This has been going 14 on for approximately four years and approximately half a million 15 dollars has been invested here . There 4)4 replication properties 16 which have been constructed with impermeable lines and with 17 tile drains underneath and with catchment apparatus on top in 18 order to study the water of the plots as well as three different 19 types of soil in the various plots so that the properties of 20 the sludge could be studied for different soil conditions . 21 Of interest, they have a set of the plots which contained sandy 22 soil not unlike that in the Hay Gulch area . 23 The apparatus here is exhaustive in their 24 research as to both the agricultural benefits and assessing 25 any possibility of harm that might arise out of the use of Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK i6 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 this material . 2 Here is a closer view of the plots, and you can 3 see the run-off catchments which are used strictly for the 4 research on the contents of the water coming off of these plots . 5 The background apparatus designed to apply the sludge in a very 6 uniform concentration so that the measurements will be precise . 7 Mere is the lower level of the experimental 8 building where all of the pipes running from the test plots 9 come in and feed into tipping buckets which automatically 10 sample a certain fraction of all the water running through the 11 under-running tiles . These are subsequently sent to the 12 University of Illinois where they are analyzed exhaustively 13 for salts, agricultural nutrients, and by-products of all 14 sorts . 15 Extensive study of the possibility of the 16 survival of virus in this material in fact proved negative . 17 The material is good fertilizer and soil conditioner and 18 furnishes trace elements as well . 19 That is a series of results from the test plots 20 on the corn . Here is the latest based on these results; the 21 latest application area in Illinois . 22 This area is where approximately 7,000 acres 23 of land, having been spoiled by strip mining, is in the 24 process of being leveled and having sludge application 25 systematically applied to restore this land not only to Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY C-R EE 17 7 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 agricultural productivity but also to create a series of 2 recreation areas, fishing lakes, and all together a total 3 environmental system internally consistent fir the use of the 4 people -in that part of the state . As you can Bee, this area 5 is not particularly attractive now. 6 Finally, an application in the Illinois area 7 that bears some very considerable resemblance to the one we -8 -intend . A sand pit near Ottawa, Illinois in which seed 9 germination is extremely difficult, as you c-an see, due to 10 alkaline conditions . Sludge was applied at the rate of 120 11 tons to an acre, although it was applied in the liquid ₹form. 12 Fourteen months later the area has bloomed, and the analysis �3 of the top soil has shown it to be completely reconstituted . 14 That, gentlemen, are the slides I have for you. 15 Mr. Venable also asked me to indicate to you that I did, in 16 fact a month ago, _accompany Mr. Lorenson to our property, and 17 then there we posted signs indicating the coming of this hearing 18 and its location and what have you. 19 I would like to turn this back to Mr. Venable , 20 MR. VENABLE: There are a couple of minor p points that 21 haven ' t been brought up in the past . There was some discussion, 22 certainly, that we are proposing to use a product . This gives �3 you some idea of what it is like . Certainly it i-s offensive, 24 but it is nothing compared to what you pick up on the average 25 _from driving by . It is an inoffensive smell . It -is nothing Associated-Shorthand Reporters IN CHEY CREEK l8 AT 3O37 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 1ELEPHONC 399-6O62 I like what you would expect out of a barnyard or anything like 2 that . It has sort of a petroleum odor to it . 3 We are proposing to use one particular -4 consistency . We are talking about using a particular 5 consistency which was discussed by Mr . Bardwell of approximately 6 5 percent solid and 95 percent water. This is what we need for 7 our purposes in handling it through the sprinkler systems and 8 being able to keep it stored, get it through our dissemination 9 systems, and so forth. 10 Some question arose because a project that had 11 been discussed in Illinois froze up as a result of poor 12 management -- a bunch of people running and didn' t know what 13 they were doing. 14 As to what would happen if we did not get the 15 consistency out of Denver, would we still be stuck if something 16 went wrong with the plant? A part of the contract negotiations 17 with them as to the effect that we just flat won' t take it . We 18 are not obligated to take it . Either it meets our standards 19 or it is their baby . They are still maintaining, I don ' t 20 remember the number of vehicles, but they will continue to 21 maintain the same plot that they maintain now which is primarily 22 the Lowry Bombing Range, and it is this equipment and vehicles 23 which will be maintained in case of emergency so that they can 24 get it out of their plant if we won 't take it . So we are not 25 getting ourselves into a position of saying Denver can do as Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 19 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 90206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 they please, and we are stuck with it because this is a Weld 2 County operation . We are concerned with the value of our land 3 and with the associations of our neighbors in this area and have 4 very carefully contracted to make sure that we would not get 5 in a bind that would be unusable or undesirable from our 6 standpoint . 7 We have certainly agreed to comply with any kind 8 of testing requirements. Anything from any of the health 9 departments . If any oT the controlling bodies feel that any 10 kind of a testing or periodic test of our consistency is 11 necessary, we are agreed that we would comply with this . I 12 can assure you that they will . We will make more tests for 13 the purposes of our own satisfaction than we anticipate will 14 be required by any government agency . 15 This is a 4300 acre project at the present time 16 as Mr. Bardwell has explained to you. The initial development 17 we are talking about -- three principal sections which our 18 scientists advise us are the ones that are the most usable not 19 only from the standpoint of our transportation facilities but 20 from the standpoint of installation of the sprinkler systems 21 and from the necessity as to the land itself. 22 The whole project intends to continue the 23 operation of the rest of the ranch . Part of it is well- 24 developed agricultural area. The same people will continue to 25 operate that just as it is . In fact, we bought the cattle Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 20 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVFNUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELFPHONF- 399 6062 1 along with it, and we are in a position -to take care of the 2 -sludge operation and intend to continue the operation of the 3 cattle system as it now is . Certainly, we hope in time to 4 expand it . We are making no major changes, to the rest of the 5 ranch, and it will continue to operate as it always has which 6 will be a successful operation. We just feel that this project 7 into the north end is going to develop into something far beyond 8 the expectations as of the original developers of that ranch. 9 All of our principal consultants and owners are 10 present . If anybody has any questions, we will be happy to 11 submit answers or if formally presented, we will try to comply 12 with it . 13 MR. WITWER: Do you have any additional or direct 14 testimony to be given? 15 MR. VENABLE: If anybody is interested. 16 MR. TELEP: The question -arose as to whether the 17 opportunity for cross; and, of course, that is also in order 18 Mr. Venable . Stow you represent some of the protestants here, 19 and you have heard Mr. Venablets testimony . Do you have any 20 questions? 21 CROSS EXAMINATION 22 BY MR. WITWER: �3 Q Mr. Bardwell, the corporation that is th-e petitioner 24 here, which is Western-Agri Systems, incorporated, has been in 25 operation for two years; is that correct? Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHE-2RY CREEK 21 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 A Doing business -- its principal components as such, 2 right . 3 Q What is -it doing for income at the present time? Does 4 it have any other projects? 5 A It possesses this ranch . I would like to indicate -- 6 I am not sure of the date which it was incorporated -- Mr. 7 Nieman might know that . It has been doing business -- negotiatilg 8 for the acquisition of the ranch. 9 Q Do you have any other agricultural operations'? Are 10 you in farming or ranching -- Western-Agri Systems? 11 A Among the principals of Western-Agri Systems? 12 Q Does Western-Agri Systems, a corporation, have any 13 other farming ranch operations'? 14 A No . 15 Q Some of the other ventures that are related by 16 common ownerships or common direction or other? 17 A Yes . 18 Q Do these operations include the use of some of the 19 difficult to dispose of items that Mr. Venable was inquiring 20 about? Do you have any, what we would call regular ranching, 21 other than this operation? 22 A Where you feed cattle and use fertilizer that you 23 buy, and that you use irrigation that we get from wells . Mr. 24 Nieman has some 1500 acre ranch in Douglas County which is a 25 grassland ranch. Now, I am not positive of Mr. Calvert ' s Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 22 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COI-ORADO 80206 IELEPHONE 399-6062 1 interest in cattle feeding . I believe that he also is feeding 2 cattle . 3 Q Let me ask you directly . Isn 't it true that the 4 execution of this particular situation involves the acquisition 5 of sludge from the metropolitan and Tri-Denvar sewage -system to 6 make -it economically feasible to operate? To do what you are 7 planning to do; is that correct? 8 A Quite on the contrary . The placement of sprinklers 9 in this type area are only successful if there are enough of 10 them in the -same soil area, particularly to the west . 11 Q Are you suggesting that the acquisition of sludge 12 _from the Denver area is incidental to the operation? It is 13 not really a significant part? 14 A I am suggesting that it will be highly beneficial . 15 Q What is the nature of your acquisition of those 16 materials from the Denver sewer plant? Now, do you buy this -- 17 MR. VENABLE: I don ' t object except for time ' s sake . FR CHAIRMAN ANDERSON: Overruled . 19 Q (By Mr. Witwer) Would you explain exactly what the 20 nature of your arrangement with the Denver _Sewer Plant is or 21 will be? 22 A It is intended that it will be a contractual 23 arrangement with them where we receive from them payment which 24 will cover the cost of investment of the equipment and the 25 transportation and the operation of the system to move this Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CHEEK 23 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 sludge to the rural location . 2 Q Actually, they pay you to take the sludge away and 3 this would differ then from some of the usual farming operations 4 in that sense : is that correct? 5 A Yes . 6 Q Do you have a contract at the present time? 7 A We do not have a contract . 8 Q Do you have a contract at the present time that would 9 specify those things which you and Mr. Venable said you were 10 willing to agree to concerning the type and composition of the 11 sewage which you will be taking from the Denver plant? 12 A Yes, they have committed themselves to provide this . 13 Q Would you state to the Commission what these 14 standards are? 15 A That -- well the sludge will be digested either 16 aerobically or a.naerobically to a level which presents no 17 hazard to public health or any degredation to the environment 18 tnrough either odor or -- I am sorry I can 't remember the exact 19 wording . 20 Q Is there any objective standards concerning the 21 chemical composition of that sludge? 22 A There are various measures by which you can indicate 23 the type and the degree of treatment and particular type of 24 sludges received . 25 Q What I am suggesting, I think it is important for Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 24 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6052 1 the Board of County Commissioners in making their determination 2 to know exactly what is going to be placed upon this land. You 3 presented in your slides a breakdown indicating that there were 4 plant nutrients and other items which would be beneficial to 5 the area, and I am inquiring as to what assurances this 6 Commission has that this , in fact , will occur, and I would like 7 in that regard to inquire of you whether or not the breakdown 8 on the board which you showed on the nitrogen and phosphorus 9 and iron and some of those other components -- whether those 10 were actually taken from samples of sludge or whether they were 11 obtained someplace else? 12 A That particular slide was showing an analysis of 13 aerobically digested sludge from the Chicago area. We have an 14 extensive analysis giving comparable results here . 15 Q Lets talk about nitrogen for a moment. 16 Approximately how much nitrogen would be intro- 17 duced in the area that we are talking about with your plan at 18 present? 19 A Well -now, on what basis would you like? 20 Q Whatever basis you would like. Lets put it perhaps 21 on an inch-per—acre basis . 22 A I am not sure I can readily do this . We have -- I 23 would Have to work this out , but over a period of say five 24 years , which would be the first phase of it , I think it would 25 be of the order of several hundred pounds of nitrogen per acre Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 25 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE J CENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 per year. 2 Q What crop would be raised on this area? 3 A It was recommended that we raise hay, grass and 4 alfalfa. 5 Q Are you prepared to state to the Commission that all 6 of the nitrogen that would be placed on the soil would be used 7 up 3n crop production? 8 A Eventually . 9 Q What would happen actually to the nitrogen : It could 10 be used up An crop production? It could be ingested into the 11 atmosphere? Or it could be ingested into the coil? If by 12 placing water and moisture on it, it is quite possible that 13 this could be into the soil -- in fact this will occur to some 14 degree in any event? 15 A By design borne will find, certainly, a long-term 16 residence in the soil in the deeper root zones; right . 17 Q I think it is imperative that the Board of County 18 Commisioners -are advised precisely the quantities that you 19 contemplate placing on this land in order that it can make a 20 fair determination of the issue . I think it is imperative, but 21 I don 't think it requires expert testimony . I think every 22 member of the board is aware of the _fact that perhaps we each 23 need some arsenic in our systems but too much will kill us . 24 If we are aware that some nitrogen is very helpful, but too 25 much nitrogen will deplete the soil, I think that if we would Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CHECK 26 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80.'06 TELEPHONE 399 6062 I like we would have testimony on this question, but I would 2 wonder, Mr. Venable, if it would not be appropriate for one of 3 your scientific experts to explore for the Commission some of 4 those questions . 5 MR. VENABLE: All of those things have been included 6 in the reports that are in the analysis made by the Department 7 of Public Health . They have explored, by at least three or s four departments of public health, and Dr . Frank Viets ' 9 testimony is complete in the transcript which has been supplied 10 to the Commissioners . If they are interested in having it 11 reiterated, certainly Dr. Viets is the person to do it ; and we 12 would be happy to have Dr. Viets testify to anything in this 13 regard . He is here and available . So anything, Mr. Chairman, 14 that you are interested in hearing or the other members of the 15 Commis-sign are hearing, we can supply . 16 MR. WITWER: Has the transcript of the Planning 17 Commission Hearing been introduced, and is it now a part of the 1s record in this matter? If it is, perhaps this testimony is now 19 available and then we will be obliged to read it . 20 MR. TETRP : I think that this report and the analysis 21 is before the Board of County Commissioners, and 1 presume that 22 everything the Planning Commission would be made a part of the 23 record . Now, is there anything specific you want to go into, 24 and if there is any particular cross examination you would 25 like to make of this, I am sure that Mr . Venable would have Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 27 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE 11 DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399.6062 1 whomever he would need to have available for you; is that 2 correct? 3 MR. VENABLE: That is correct Mr . Telep . It is my 4 understanding of your procedural rules that the matters which 5 are duly accepted into evidence in -front of the Planning 6 Commission are before this Board . Certainly we can go back and 7 introduce each -exhibit back into evidence, including the 8 transcript . 9 MR. TELEP : Is Dr. Viets here today, Mr. Venable? 10 MR. VENABLE: Yes . 11 MR. TELEP: This particular witness cannot answer 12 these particular questions . Lets go on . 13 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : Let the transcript stand as 14 presenteB . 15 MR. VENABLE: Is it my understanding that the 16 Commissioners then are accepting all of those things that were 17 taken into evidence before the Planning Commission are accepted 18 into -evidence here? 19 MR. TELEX : I think for the record, Mr. Venable, you 20 ought to present each of them sufficiently identified and 21 present them to this Board as such. As is now, we have a 22 recommendation only af the Planning Commission and, of course, 23 all of the details in connection with the unit development 24 plan as submitted. 25 MR. TENABLE: We will go through and mark each one Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK �O AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE VV DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 and retender them. 2 MR. TELEP: Subject to your cross examination . 3 MR. WITWER: I would like to advise the Board of 4 Commissioners that the persons that I am representing had 5 anticipated that the public hearing would involve an affirmative 6 presentation of facts which would support the petitioner, and we 7 have not had the opportunity to review the file in that much B detail because we thought it would come out because this is 9 the Board that is the decision-making power, and we ida not 10 think that there is anything that occurred previou-sly that 11 places tni-s responsibility in the Planning Commission . 12 MR. VENABLE: We object to the assumption that it 13 is necessary . Certainly, we will go along and do it . If -the 14 Commissioners want to hear it, we will go through -it as many 1-5 times as they want . As to the advisability or legal 16 necessity or practical necessity of -going through and second- 17 guessing or questioning the Health Department recommendations -- 138 things that have been agreed on by scientific experts in the 19 field -- we question the practical necessity for doing that; 20 however, we can do that . 21 (A short discussion was held between Chairman 22 Ander-son, Mr. Telep, Mr. Venable and Mr. Witwer. ) 13 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : You may proceed . 24 (By Mr. Witwer) Mr. Bardwell, the Denver Sewer 25 Plant is under whose control and direction? Associated Shorthand-Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 29 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE / ❑ENVER COLORADO 80206 I ELEF'HONt 399-6062 1 A Under the direction of a metropolitan board consisting 2 of 44 members . 3 Q They are in no manner subject to the control of the 4 Board of County Commissioners, Weld County, Colorado? 5 A That is out of -- 6 MR. VENABLE: I think we can stipulate that . No, it 7 is not . 8 MR. WITWER: I appreciate that . 9 Q (By Mr. Witwer) 'This is the source of the sludge 10 which would be placed on the property from the Denver Sewer 11 Plant ; is that correct? 12 A It is the Metropolitan Sewage Disposal District 13 Number 1 which 3s not connected with the City of Denver 14 government as such. 15 4, That is -a Tri-County district _farmed for the purpose 16 of disposing of the sewage generated by those counties? 17 A Yes . 18 Q How many miles away from the site is the sewer 19 plant? 20 A From what site? 21 Q From the site -- section 34 and 33 and 3 that you 22 have bean speaking of? 23 A It is approximately 50 miles . 24 Q Are there other persons trying to acquire the Denver 25 sewage? Associated Shorthand-Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 30 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 A Trying to acquire it? 2 Q Or do you have -- 3 A There are certainly other parties interested in 4 proposals of all sorts to make use of this material . 5 Q What would your obligations to Denver or to the 6 Tri-County District be in the event you acquire this contract 7 and far what duration would that contract run? 8 A We propose that it run for five years and that we 9 would be obliged to put this material to beneficial agricultural 10 use . Of course, under the condition that its treatment is as 11 specified and otherwise to operate the system of hauling 12 de-watered sludge to a land-filled site where it would be 13 buried . 14 Q Does your contract or would your contract limit 15 your ability to transfer your rights under that contract to 16 third parties? 17 A I am not sure I understand this . 18 MR. VENABLE: What the contract would provide? When 19 the testimony is in here that the contract hasn ' t been signed . 20 MR. WITWER: Perhaps we should not inquire as to the 21 nature of this unknown contract, but I think it is a matter 22 that this Board must confront . It is a matter that, in 23 deciding what the public welfare requires in this instance, 24 it is of extreme importance and if Mr. Venable is objecting 25 and this is sustained, I will just ask that the record note my Associated Shorthand-Reporters 31 N CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVF NUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TFLFPHONE 399-6062 1 objection . 2 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : Let the witness answer the 3 question . 4 Q (By Mr. Witwer) What are we talking about as far as 5 your arrangement with the City of Denver, Mr. Bardwell, and if 6 you don ' t have any arrangement, perhaps this matter should be 7 continued until such time that this Board can be advised just 8 exactly what will be applied on the property out there . 9 A You have just asked a question which would take eight 10 hours to answer if you would like . The arrangement -- the 11 preparations have been extensive with lengthy negotiations and 12 dealings with the metropolitan plant staff, their scientific 13 consultants, with our consultants, and with the objective of 14 creating standards which they are equally interested in as you 15 are and I am as to the safe and beneficial nature of this 16 project . 17 Q They are not quite as concerned as they would be 18 if -- 19 MR. VENABLE: We object to this . 20 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : Whether he has got a contract or 21 whether he hasn 't . I want to know. Do you nave a contract? 22 MR. VENABLE : I said we do not . 23 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : Okay . 24 Q (By Mr. Witwer) Now, it was indicated on some of 15 your slides that I believe it was in Illinois they had some Associated ShorthandReporters IN CHERRY CREEK 32 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE ❑ENVER COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 linings under some of these experimental plots? 2 A Under all of them. 3 Q Are you proposing that there would be a lining under 4 these? 5 A I don ' t think you understand the purpose of the 6 linings . 7 Q The question was whether or noL there would be a 8 lining under these developments that you are talking about in 9 Weld County . 10 A As a matter of fact a very similar sort of phenomenon 11 exists, the cells are lined with plastic on the sides and their 12 bottom is a layer of impermeable clay . We have dense clay 13 lenses under the property in Weld County which could be said 14 to be natural . 15 Q Under your plan, how much of the three sections that 16 are subject to this zoning request, will be reclaimed as _farm 17 land? 1 A We reclaim all of it . 19 Q What is the time schedule presently contemplated for 20 that reclamation? 21 A it just depends on the number of variabl-es which 22 will, like for example, natural rain fall and the crop 23 productivity and other dimensions, but our timetable would be 24 to accomplish this within five to ten years . 25 Q Five to ten years on the three sections; is that Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 33 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TEL₹PHONE 399 6062 1 correeL? 2 A Yes . 3 Q Fourty-three hundred acres involved in your project? 4 A No, the ranch . 5 Q At the end of the three sections, is that the last 6 out here or would there be some mare? 7 -A This again would be dependent upon the commission of 8 -the success of the agricultural operation . 9 MR. WITWER: I have no ether questions of this 10 witness . 11 REDIRECT EXAMINATION 12 BY MR. VENABLE : 13 Q Would you state please what the statue of your 14 negotiations are at the present time with Denver Metropolitan 15 Sewage District? 16 A After a period of approximately two years, during 17 which we have worked on this project and proposed it to the 18 metropolitan-metro plant staff and board, they have gone to 19 their outside scientists and have received confirmation that 20 the concept is valid and workable . As a result of this and in 21 order to comply with their statutory relationships with 22 contractors, they have asked for proposals from all interested 23 people to carry out the sludge deposition on the lands for 24 beneficial agricultural use . At the present time those 25 proposals are being prepared by us and by others as well, I Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 34 AT 3037£-AST TEEIRD AVENUE DENVE-P, COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 assume . 2 Q In your proposal you -are not bound under any kind of 3 a contract at the present time to take anything if you don 't want 4 to? 5 6 R. 1 it true that the materials which have been 7 submitted to your experts and -the Health Department is the 8 material which you contemplate asking them for in the proposal 9 that you submitted to them? 10 A In their request for proposals, they have specified 11 that they will only allow stabilized digested material to be 12 used in this project . 13 Q Does your proposal to them provide the typo of safe- 14 guard against your being _required to take any different type of 15 material which I previously suggested? 16 A Yes, it does . 17 Q Now is the type of material which they are talking 18 about as digested stabilized sludge, is that the type of 19 material that we have present here? 20 A _Yes. 7-1 Q Is that the same material which is presented or 22 that similar in consistency and all properties to the material 23 which was submitted to the various agencies which have now 24 approved your project? ZS A Yes, they have gone far beyond that and examined Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 35 AT 3037{-AST T-1-IIRD AVENUE DENVER COLORA-DO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 various components and the material under different conditions 2 to satisfy themselves that it would be safe and workable . 3 Q The material that has been discussed by -Denver 4 Metropolitan as being the type they would use is a material 5 which has been examined by the various departments that you 6 listed? 7 A Yes . 8 Q Each of those departments has approved it? 9 A Yes . 10 Q Have you any department at any time or any subdivision 11 of any one of them -- I am talking about the professional ones 12 now -- the Health -Departments, has any division of any Health 13 Department rejected your approval or refused to endorse it? 14 A No . 15 MR. WITWE-R: -Have any of those health departments 16 suggested that proper management is necessary? Haven 't they 17 all required in their endorsement that certain operative 18 conditions be met? 19 THE WITNESS: I believe that, certainly, not all of 20 them but specifically -- 21 MR. WITWE-R: What about State Health Department, for 22 example? 23 MR. VENABLE: The endorsement of the State Health 24 Department was in the file . 25 THE WITNESS : It doesn 't specify, but certainly Associ-ated Shorthand Reporters 36 IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 -A5T THIRD AVENUE DENVEii. COLORADO R0206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 adequate management is a necessity of any operation . 2 MR. WITWER: One further question, and that is you 3 said to Mr. Venable that you have protection in your proposal 4 that you will receive stabilized digestive material . Was that 5 protection in the proposal? 6 THE WITNESS: If the material is noL satisfactory for 7 agricultural use, then we have the right to cause the district 8 to reactivate their dewatering plant and go to the land fill . 9 MR. WITWER: Was that placed as one of the conditions 10 in the unit development plan placed before this Board or is 11 this solely in your discretion from Denver? 12 THE WITNESS: It is the condition specifically of 13 this -- if in the opinion of the Weld County Health Department 14 the material is not satisfactory, they in fact can cause us to 15 cease using it . 16 MR. WITWER: You can be obliged to cease using it if 17 the existing health regulations -- 18 (A short discussion was held off the record between 19 Chairman Anderson, Mr. TPlep, Mr. Witwer and Mr. Venable . ) 20 MR. WITWER: I have no further questions . 21 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : Do you have any more questions 22 of this witness Mr. Venable . 23 MR. VENABLE: No, not of this witness . 24 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : We will have a ten minute recess �5 for the attorneys to ga over this . Associated Short hand Reporters 37 IN CHE-RRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 I am also on this project . 2 It seems that some expression has been p given that 3 this witness ' company had this contract or that Mr . Venable ' s 4 statement said, "Our contract provides, " and stated that we will 5 tell them what we will take . I have a copy of the specification 6 for the job here with me which states the percentage of the 7 solids in the sludge that you have . It doesn 't cover the -exact 8 bacterial chemistry analysis of it . 9 I am as interested as anybody in having the 10 site approved for this . I would say one thing. There are 24 11 sets of specifications that have been drawn to bid on this job . 12 They expect S or 9 or 10 biders according to the statement . 13 I think it is premature at this time for the Board to make a 14 decision where this can be placed because I have property in 15 this County . I have talked to county commissioners of other 16 counties about placing this, and those were some of the things 17 that I wanted to clarify with Mr. Bardwell . 18 MR. VENABLE : Is this witness going to testify'? 19 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : You are going to ask this witness 20 some questions _far the record? 21 Statements that this gentleman is stating 22 certainly are not evidence . It is apprising the commissioners 23 that maybe he is a competitor with your client trying to get 24 the same amount of business . I am sure the Board will be able 25 to distinguish this . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK all AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE JJ DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399.6062 1 (WHEREUPON : A xecess was called at 3 :20 p .m. ) 2 (WHEREUPON : -The hearing was reconvened at 3:30 p .m. ) 3 MR. VENABLE: I would like to call Dr. Frank Viets . 4 MR. TELEP : There is a g-enLleman in the back of the 5 room, and I presume from his request that he is a protestant 6 or represents a protestant, and he asked whether he would be 7 afforded the opportunity to ask the last witness some questions 8 and it was the ruling of the Chairman of the Board that 'tie would 9 be awarded that opportunity . 10 MR. VENABLE : How many attorneys do we have? 11 MR. WITWER: For the record I am appearing this 12 afternoon on behalf of Mr . Kingsbury, Mr. Floyd Yocam, Mr. 13 Bob Seyfried and the F Quarter Circle Ranch and I am advised 14 that S am also authorized to state that I am representing the 15 Premier Ranches, Mr . 7Darrel F . McCumlo, presently operating the 16 Flying M Ranch . 17 MR. TELEP : Would you stand up please and state your 18 name and address . 19 MR. ROGEN : My name is John Rogen, 3991 South 20 Hillcrest Drive, Denver, Colorado . 21 MR. TELEP : You are a protestant here? 22 MR. ROUEN : I represent myself . 23 MR. TELEP: It is my understanding you would like to 24 ask this witness some questions . 25 MR. ROGEN : I would 13ke to clarify for the board . Assoxivted Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 38 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6061 1 MR. -ROGEN : My first question, Mr. Bardwell, you 2 stated that your proposal to the metropolitan district would 3 tall them what you would take and if they don 't comply with 4 that, you would shut them off and that this would be five 5 percent solids . 6 MR. BARDWELL: I don' t think I said that . 7 MR. ROGEN : I think the record will reflect that . 8 MR. BARDWELL: If I said it, it was not meant in that 9 sense literally . The percentage content of solids is really a 10 relatively minor engineering point . It simply has to be within 11 tolerance so that it could be pumped adequately . 12 MR. ROGEN : I thought this should be made clear to 13 the County Commissioners . 14 In another statement you made that it was 15 beneficial in potassium. I think that we have to be clear with 16 these people on this, and I think an analysis will show that it 17 is low in potassium. It does have two or three percent 18 nitrogen which can be harmful to the soil. if not handled 19 properly . 20 MR. BARDWELL: I think you missed the point . The 21 potassium is in the water, and that is why it is desirable to 22 uoc the sludge . There is virtually no potassium in the solids 23 becau.,c it exists as a soluble salt . There is a significant 24 amount, however, in the water portion . 25 MR. ROGEN : Has your company had any experience at Associ atedShorthand-Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 40 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 199 6062 1 all in handling sewage sludge? 2 MR. BARDWELL: My company? 3 MR. ROGEN : Western-Agri Systems? 4 MR. BARDWELL: Western-Agri Systems has not . 5 MR. ROGEN : You or maybe Mr. Venable mentioned -- 6 MR. BARDWELL: But I will take it back. Our principal 7 engineer and designer, who just raised his eyebrows has been in 8 the business of -doing this almost exclusively for 15 years . 9 MR. ROGEN : No I asked if you mentioned that sewer 10 district had been hauling this to the bombing range and would 11 continue to do this? 12 MR. BARDWELL: Provisions of the non-function of the 13 system as for design provisions as asked for in the 14 specifications as you will notice and the design provisions in 15 our proposal is that the sludge, if the sludge is nut suitable 16 for beneficial use on land, that the de -watering system will be 17 reactivated and back-up _system instituted . 18 MR. -ROGEN : So you mean that you would ask for this . 19 The specifications don ' t state that . 20 MR. BARDWELL: The specifications ask for the procedure 21 to state that so we will, 3n fact, state it . 22 MR. ROGEN : I thought the statement had been made that 23 the district -- 24 MR. BARDWELL: The specifications asked for the 25 back-up system in detail and this is part of it . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 41 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 369-6062 1 MR. ROGEN: But I thought that you or Mr . Venable 2 stated that if this wasn ' t of the consistency you wanted, they 3 would haul it to the bombing range? 4 MR. BARDWELL: No, I don ' t think so . 5 MR. ROGEN : I think the record will show that . 6 MR. BARDWELL: It -.s a provision of the system that 7 it will be hauled to the bombing range or some alternative area . 8 MR. ROGEN : I am as interested as you or anybody else 9 in getting this approved, but I think it is every party's 10 position that everything has to be made clear to these 11 Commissioners so they can make a decision . 12 MR. BARDWELL: We have gone to extreme lengths as 13 well as other public officials in this County . 14 MR. ROGEN : Mr. Venable -stated "our contract with 15 metro sewer, " and I bid specifications with the district 16 March 2, and the bid is April 14. 17 MR. VENABLE: _I am referring to our proposal . If _I 18 said contract, which I very probably did, I will withdraw that . 19 I am talking about our proposal . We can ' t handle somebody 20 elseb proposals, including this gentleman . 21 CHAIRMAN -ANDERSON : This came out in the conversation 22 with Mr. Witwer. 23 MR. ROGEN : I am not telling the Commission . I 24 would like to suggest that any decision on this not be made 25 until the low successful bidder would come in . I think you Associated Shorthand Reporters 42 AT 3037 IN CHERRY CREEK EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLOR-ADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 would save a lot of time and maybe some anguish with the 2 present protestants . 3 MR. TELEP : If they are not the successful bidder, they 4 won 't have anything to put on this land . 5 MR. ROGEN : Tnank you. 6 MR. VENABLE : As long as Mr. Bardwell is back on the 7 stand, there is one point that i forgot to clarify . 8 You started to explain the lining and the 9 purpose of the lining. Can you staLe what the purpo-se of that 10 lining was? 11 MR. BARDWELL: In the Elmwood test plots the purpose 12 of the lining is, in fact, for agricultural research . This is 13 what, 1 believe, is commonly known as a lycemeter which means 14 an area that is walled off that its physical processes can 15 be studied in exclusion of the rest of the environment . So 16 this is the reason why the Elmwood plots are lined . It is to 17 see that all agricultural chemical_ processes that take place 18 in the test plots can be studied in isolation from the 19 surroundings . Large areas in the Illinois projects of which 20 there are 1-4 or 15 have no provision for linings . 21 MR. 'ENABLE: For example, Mr. Bardwell, in the 22 somewhat larger areas that were portrayed on the pnotographs 23 were there large apparently commercial farming operations? 24 Would that kind of a project -- were those projects lined in 25 Illinois? Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 43 AT 3037 -AST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 199 6062 1 MR. BARDWELL: No , this is not at all. 2 MR. VENABLE : The linings are confined to the test? 3 MR. BARDWELL: To research, 4 MR. V-ENABLE: And tot to commercial agricultural uses? 5 MR. BARDWELL: No. 6 MR. VENABLE : I have nothing further. 7 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON: I have one question. 8 These -pits that show here on your -map, on one of 9 these exhibits , where the sludge is stored , are they going to 10 be cemented? 11 MR. BARDWELL: They will be made impermeable perhaps 12 -by clay -- this will be the result of tests to be carried out 13 this summer. The idea, Mr. Anderson, is that there is 14 nutrient built up in these areas and that these areas be set 15 aside and tilled and farmed. But definitely they will be made 16 so that there is no downward percolating from them. This again 17 is subject to control of the County Health Department. 18 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON: That is the only control we have 19 over you people -- is the Count Health Department? 20 MR. BARDWELL: I am not sure. 21 CHAT-RMAN ANDERSON: The jurisdiction stops at the 22 county line. 23 MR. VENABLE: We are also statutorily, Mr. Anderson, 24 subject to the regulations of the State Health Department 25 as well. Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE 44 DENVER 7 OLORADO 80'06 TELEPHONE- 399-6061 1 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : That is all . This witness may be 2 excused . 3 MR. VENABLE : With the Chairman ' s permission, we will 4 call Dr. Frank Viets . 5 DR. FRANK VIETS, 6 called as a witness for examination, being first duly sworn to 7 state the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, 8 testified on his oath as follows : 9 DIRECT EXAMINATION 10 BY MR. VEN-ABLE : 11 Q Would you state your name and address, please sir? 12 A I am Frank Viets . I live in Ft . Collins, Colorado . 13 Q What is your occupation, Dr. Viets? 14 A I am not representing the Department of Agriculture 15 here with you -- that is my regular employment . I am a soil 16 scientist with the U. S . Department of Agriculture . 17 Q What has been your capacity or relationship with the 18 applicants here, Western-Agri Syst-ems? 19 A Well, over the last year, I have consulted with Mr. 20 Bardwell and Mr. Nieman on various aspects of this project . 21 I am particularly interested in the chemical 22 analysis of the sludge . flow it was going to be used and 23 handled because my main research is in this question of 24 environmental pollution; air and soil and water . 25 Q What is your educational preparation Tor consultation Associated Shorthand Reporters 45 IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENLLE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 in the fields that you just mentioned? 2 A Well, I hold a doctorate from the University of 3 California of Berkeley . I have had about 27 years now of 4 research experience in soil chemistry, soil fertility last six 5 years, pretty much in the field of environmental pollution . 6 Q Dr. Viets, with regard to the proposal of Western- 7 Agri Systems, are you familiar with the digested stabilized 8 sludge which is a part of their proposal and which is a part 9 of their suggested proposal to Denver Metro Sewage Plant? 10 A Yes, sir, I am. 11 Q Could you state what the chemical components, 12 bacterial, chemical, whatever components you consider to be 13 relevant with regard to that sludge? 14 A Well the sludge represents organic material . It has 15 had the stuffing pretty completely beat out by aerobic and 16 anaerobic digesters . In that sense it more or less represents 17 the natural humus in the soil and isn ' t like farmyard waste, 18 cattle feedyard waste . This is material which is much more 19 stable, and it is comparatively rich in nutrients that crops 20 need . 21 Q Are you familiar with the consistency of the soil 22 in the three sections which are the subject of this proposal? 23 A Indeed I am. It is valentine sand . 24 Q And you have studied this individual soil? 25 A I mapped soils in that area back in 1_935 . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK -46 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 Q Dr . Viets, what will be the effects of this composite 2 or this substance on the particular kind of soil in this area? 3 A It should help to hold the soil particles together so 4 they won ' t blow in the wind nearly like they do now with the 5 grass taken off . Nutrients there will provide a much better 6 vegetative cover than is possible on the sand by itself . The 7 additional water plus the irrigation will permit that soil -to 8 become quite a productive soil just like the sand hills of 9 Nebraska are being put under sprinkler irrigation . 10 Q Have you had occasion, Dr. Viets, to study other 11 projects involving similar types of soil and similar types of 12 chemical applications? 13 A I have visited the sites wnere the material from the 14 Chicago Metropolitan Waste Districts are being put on land to 15 grow crops, and frankly I was very very pleased with the kind 16 of results that they were getting with it . 17 Q Would you state from a chemical standpoint what 18 -similarities and what major differences exist between this 19 solution or substance and the one that is used in the Chicago 20 area? 21 A -They were practically identical within the fluctuations 22 that you are going to get in any sewage type of material . -They 23 are not going to be identical day to day but pretty much in the 14 same ball park. 25 Q Would the differences be of significance? Would they Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK Ii7 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE 't I DENVER COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 I be of such significance as to make any major changes in the 2 results that you anticipate? 3 A No. No, they would note 4 Q With regard to your specific dealings with Western- 5 Agri Systems , have you not made recommendations to that company 6 or to its other consultants with regard to any necessarysafe- 7 guards in management or application? s -A Yes , I have pointed out what I thought would be 9 hazards of using this material if it was mismanaged, and we 10 have set forth a certain specification to the Weld County Li Planning Commission that we thought Western-Agri Systems should 12 meet in using this material. 13 Q Dr. Viets , just briefly what were some of the hazards 14 that you discussed with Western-Agri Systems? 15 A Well, first on-the-site wind erosion has got to be 16 controlled, and this is also a factor when you start to stir 17 up native grassland and sand. This is one of the stipulations is that wind erosion be controlled. This is required by state 19 law, 20 Q -lave you made specific suggestions to Western-Agri 21 with regard to that control? 22 A We have. 23 Q And in your expert opinion, Doctor, if these are 24 followed, will there be any danger of wind erosion? 25 A No, there will not. Associated Shorthand-Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE 48 DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 Q What other hazards have you had occasion to discuss 2 with Western-Agri Systems? 3 A Well, other hazards involved in the use of sludge are 4 the salt content of it . At first I was rather alarmed and yet 5 a bit puzzled by the high electrical conductivity of this 6 material which could pose a problem of salination of the soil 7 profile on -the ground water below, and I couldn' t un.der_stan4 8 where this salt was coming from. But analyses that we completed 9 in the last two months indicates that most of what appears in 10 this high electrical conductivity is ammonia. Ammonia isn' t a 11 biodegradable compound SO that it does not enter into the salt 12 balance of a site. 13 Now, the other problem connected with this 14 material is that it is relatively high in nitrogen. Nitrogen, 15 of course, is a fertilizer material that any farmer buys . On 16 the other hand, too much nitrogen can be a bad thing from the 17 standpoint of polluting undergrounr" water. And one of the 18 things which we stipulated to the Planning Commission is that 19 these -profiles where this -material was applied be regularly 20 monitored for downward movement of salt and downward movement 21 of the nitrate. Now, I would like to say this that I think 22 they have -picked an ideal site from the standpoint- of nitrate �3 in that if any nitrate does escape the crop root zone , it moves 24 down -and this soil is interbedded sand and clay layers as you 25 could see on the well profiles which are on exhibit here. And Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 49 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER.-COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONr 399 6062 1 A Not controlled at all at the present . 2 MR. VENABLE : Thank you . 3 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : I have one question . _If this 4 nitrogen thing gets away from the management, we won ' t know 5 until that happens that it gets into the un-dergrounn water, will 6 we? 7 A \'Le will know if it gets five to six feet below the 8 root zone . We will know it and this is by core drilling on 9 the site . We will know this -if we are . mismanaged . 10 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : Who will cause that to be done'? 11 Who is responsible for that? 12 A I believe that in the proposal submitted to the 13 Planning Commission that it was required that these be quarterly 14 reports submitted on the nitrates and salinity in the profile . 15 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : That is all the questions I 16 nave . 17 CROSS EXAMINATION 18 BY MR. WITWER: 19 R Dr . Viets, is there any boron in this composite 20 sludge? 21 A Boron is extremely low because boron is water 22 soluable and moves right off with the sludge as it is being 23 washed in the digester. 24 Q What is the plant tolerance for boron? 25 A The plant tolerance icr boron is quite low. Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 51 AT 3037_0 03 FAST T IRD AVCNUS DENVFR. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 Q Which would mean boron, if it would be brought onto 2 the property, would be potentially hazardous on the crop life? 3 A That is right . I can give you the limits if you 4 want to , 5 Q What are those limits? 6 A Irrigation water can 't contain one part per million , 7 Q Are you familiar that the Platte River contains 8 boron? 9 A Every river contains boron . 10 Q I understand from your statement that you have been 11 particularly concerned with the chemical content of the sludge ; 12 is that. right? 13 A Yes . 14 Q Had you done any studies as to how much of these 15 various chemicals would be placed on a given parcel of property 16 if 400 gallons a day of the material were placed on the site 17 because I ti'iink this is the testimony? 18 A It depends upon how much of the sludge is used on a 19 unit acre of land. 20 Q Have you through your experience with the petition 21 here, conducted any studies as far as, let ' s say nitrogen, 22 is concerned? How much nitrogen would actually be plan-ed on an 23 acre of land given 400 gallons per day over the property? In 24 other words, how familiar are you with the plans of Western- 25 Agri Systems as far as the concentration of nitrogen that they Associated Shorthand Reporters rt IN CHERRY GREEK 52 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE !SERVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 actually plan placing on the property? 2 A I don ' t think the details of how mucn material -.s 3 going to be put on an acre and I don ' t believe that this is 4 particularly pertinent because when it comes to nitrogen, you 5 can add up how many pounds of nitrogen are going on, but you 6 also have to know how that nitrogen is dissipated? How much 7 goes into the air is lmmonia, how much is denitrified is harmless 8 on the site, how much is used by the crops and this is quite an 9 area of unknowns . This is the reason that the stipulation is 10 made that there can be significant nitrate moving toward the 11 water table . 12 Q I share your concern . 13 Are you familiar with nitrate effects on livestoc 14 in the event that this should get into the water system and what S5 nitrate would do to perhaps cows? 16 A Indeed I am. I just finished a 150 page report that 17 is going to come out published by the U. S . Department of 18 Agriculture . 19 Q Could you state generally to this Board of 20 Commissioners what that -effect would be'? 21 A Well, more than 50 to 250 parts per million of nitrat 22 nitrogen in the water can cause abortion in animals, debility, 23 sometimes can kill . The tolerance for people, infants, is even 24 less . You should have asked about babies . 5 Q are there any other of the chemicals which you have Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 53 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE_ 399 6062 1 analyzed in this sludge material that is potentially harmful for 2 humans or for livestock? 3 A Oh, indeed there is . There is copper, zinc, some 4 lead . I got a whole list of them here . Nickel, chromium, those 5 are the principal ones . 6 Now, why am a not alarmed by those amounts? 7 Because we are dealing here with a kind of soil which has a high 8 fixation capacity for all of the heavy metals . 9 Q Would you explain to the Board what a high fixation 10 capacity is? 11 A The capacity to absorb this mineral-like zinc or 12 manganese out of water so that it cannot pass through the soil 13 column into the water below. This is an old technique . If 14 you want to make zinc-free water, for example, you just pour 15 it through soil . It comes out zinc free . 16 Q What happens to that zinc? 17 A It remains in the soil . 18 Q Does the concentration of water and increased 19 minerals increase the chance of that percolating downward? 20 A No, because most of our soils now in this area contain 21 about 80 parts per million of zinc . That is about 320 pounds 22 per acre foot of soil . In four feet of soil we have got a ton 23 and a half of zinc . The amount that we are adding in sludge is 24 only a very small fraction of what is already there . 25 Q Am I to understand that concerning the nitrogen and Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 54 ,4T 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE ❑ENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 nitrates that at this moment in time you cannot say specifically 2 the amount of nitrogen that, would actually percolate downward 3 either to those core wells that you testified to or down to the 4 shallow underground water system? 5 A No . 6 Q You really don ' t know. 7 A As I said this is a matter of management . You have 8 to go out there and you have to make measurements . Anybody 9 that could tell you that they could make this prediction now 10 would be clear off base . 11 Concerning the question of denitrification? 12 A Denitri-fication? 13 Q Would you state to the Commission, -is that an easy 14 task or is that a difficult task? 15 A Well, the bacteria does it, and I don ' t know whether 16 it As easy for them or not . 17 Q Is 3t easily accomplished? 1s A Y-es . Most of the nitrogen that is in sewage is 19 already lost in this bacterial decomposition in the sewage 20 plant so most of the nitrogen in sewage is already lost before 21 it ever comes into that sludge . Now, when this is put on 22 soil in the form of ammonia and some organic material in aerated 23 soil, the ammonia is converted by bacteria over to nitrate and 24 this is what you are concerned about is nitrate . All right, 25 if this is not absorbed by plants, it can move downward . It Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK r JJ AT 303]F AST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 I comes to a clay layer where the -soil is waterlogged because 2 water cannot get through sand into clay and back into sand. It 3 becomes waterlogged. Along with this you have organic matter 4 moving which acts as food material for these denitrifying 5 organisms and it is -at this paint -that nitrate is converted to 6 nitrogen gas which irs harmless and nitrous oxide. About one 7 or two perc-ent converted to nitrous oxide. 8 Q Can you remember after it has been introduced into 9 the water system or would this process continue after it had 10 been introduced in the water? 11 A This we don ' t know whether you can have significant 12 denitrification inside a water table. No one knows that at 13 this moment. 14 Q so, it is a fierce statement , Dr. Viets , that if in 15 effect, the nitrogen or the nitrates were introduced into the 16 Hay Gulch underground water system or the Lost Creek System 17 there would be a potentially serious -problem as to the removal 18 of those nitrates? 19 A Well, it depends upon where that water goes after it 20 moves out of that watershed. If it goes into the Platte 21 River as underground flow and is colluded with thousand volumes 22 of lower -nitrate water, then it is of no significance to anyone. 23 Q It -wouldn't be real serious if it were mixed with a 24 lot of water, but it -would be more serious if you continued 25 that nitrogen introduction into that water? Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY GREEK 5h AT 3037 EAST THIHD AVENUE DENVER COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 A This depends on the ratio of recharge to nitrate 2 pollution. This gets into -a hydrological problem. 3 Q The amount of water the flow of water? 4 A And -how old that water is that is in that water table. 5 Q This is one of the unknowns that we are faced with? 6 A All over the country, not just here. 7 Q Certainly, but concerning this particular petition 8 this is one of the unknowns that we have? 9 A It is a -wonder we survived so long really knowing so I0 little about our environment. I1 MR. WITWER: I have -no further questions . 12 REDIRECT EXAMINATION 13 BY MR. VENABLE: 14 Q Doctor, you mentioned several different contents of 15 this substance which you consider either to be toxic or in some 16 way dangerous in excessive amounts . Are any of those same 17 elements or substances present in commercial fertilizer that 18 are on the market today? Nitrogen? 19 A -Yes , nitrogen, phosphorus , potassium, some of the 20 microelements are present in fertiliz-er. If you have micro- 21 elements in fertilizer, they jack up the ?rice about $20 a ton. 22 Q But there are commercial fertilizers on the -market? 23 A Oh, yes. 24 Q Are there commercial fertilizer -products on the 25 market which would contain a higher consistency of -some of Associated Shorthand Reporters 57 IN CH-ERRV CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE OENVE-R, COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 these than the substance which is proposed here? 2 A Oh, yes . You couldn ' t even sell this in commercial 3 fertilizer trade because they are so low in nutrients . 4 Q What about barnyard fertilizers? Are some of these 5 same toxic or dangerous substances present in a standard barn- 6 yard fertilizer? 7 A Yes, manure, yes, much higher than what is in this 8 stabilized sludge . 9 Q Are there areas within Weld County -- this is probably 10 not a very professional word — are the areas in Weld County in 11 which the soil has a lower capacity for draining or for the 12 process of removing these dangerous items as they go down? Are 13 there areas that have sail which have a lower capacity for that 14 than the soil under consideration by this company . 15 A I don 't know if there is any ones that have lower 16 capacity . 17 Q That would be less efficient at it is what I am 18 saying? 19 A I can 't get a material than is sandier than this 20 Band we are talking about, sir. 21 MR. VENABLE: All right, thank you . 22 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON: You have mentioned a while ago 23 the rivers . Are you familiar with the present consistency or 24 average consistency of the Platte River at the present time; 25 just the water that is in it? Assotrated Shorthand Reporters 5p IN CHERRY CREEK V AT 3037 EAST T+IRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 A Vaguely, I can' t quote you any statistics on the 2 degree of pollution now in the Platte. 3 Q (By Mr. Venable) Are you aware, Dr. Viets , of whether 4 of not any of these same substances that you consider to be 5 potentially dang-rous is mismanaged Are presently in the South 6 Platte River? 7 A Oh, yes . Phosphorus , nitrogen, nitrates , some heavy 8 metal contamination, all agricultural land has run-off regard- 9 less of its uc°. That has the same materials in it that we 10 are talking about here. 11 MR. VENABLE : Thank you. I have nothing further. 12 MR. WITWER: There is a gentleman back here. 13 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON: What gentleman? 14 MR. DUMLER: -Fred Dumler, registered engineer, And I 15 represent myself. 16 I have just one question, Dr. Viets , if I may 17 proceed. The analysis that you have made of the sludge or the 18 digested stabilized material; did you do this under the 19 auspices of government facilities? 20 A No. 21 MR. DUMLER: This is individually on your -own? 22 A The analysis here that I quoted to you on ratio of 23 ammonia to the total nitrogen I did myself. The other analyses 24 which I have been quoting here were supplied to me by Mr. 25 Bardwell. There have been no government facilities used here Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE 59 DENVER. COLORADO 80206 ILLEPHONE 399-6062 1 whatsoever. 2 MR. DUMLER: Thank you. 3 MR. WITWER: Just a couple of questions . 4 RECROSS EXAMINATION 5 BY MR. WITWER: 6 Q The underground water under the sites that we are 7 talking about now, have you examined the chemical content of 8 that water? You have testified about the Platte River, and you 9 have testified what this will do . That is fairly pure water as 10 far as chemicals are concerned right now; is it not? 11 A I would presume so, but I haven ' t made a chemical 12 analysis on it . 13 Q I think you testified, Dr. Viets, that this material 14 wouldn' t sell well as commercial fertilizer, and Mr . Venable was 15 asking you questions of comparing the two . It is true is it not 16 that we are dealing with quite different substances here and 17 we are also dealing with a situation where the applicant would 18 be being paid for acquisition of this kind of material where 19 you would actually have to pay for the fertilizer, and that 20 might make some differences in the amount applied ; would it 21 not? 22 A Well, yes indeed . 23 MR. WITWER: I have no further questions . 24 MR. V.ENABLE : Nothing further of this witness, Mr. 25 Anderson . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 6O AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVEi2. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : The witness may step down . 2 Do you have anymore witnesses? 3 MR. VENABLE: If I could have just about five seconds 4 here . 5 Mr. Chairman we certainly have our civil engineer 6 available, also our water consultant, but I don ' t think any of 7 the questions or areas that have been discussed so far have 8 dealt with anything beyond Dr . Viets ' expertise . Therefore, 9 unless the Commissioners have any further questions in this 10 regard, we will not call any witnesses at this time . We would 11 like to reserve the right to comment on the testimony in our 12 closing statement, and also reserve the right to call them if 13 other issues are raised . 14 (A short discussion was held between Chairman 15 Anderson, Mr. Telep, Mr. Witwer, and Mr . Venable off the 16 record . ) 17 MR. VENABLE : Mr. Chairman, with the reservations 18 which we spoke of by way of rebuttal and by way of right to 19 summation, we will rest at this time unless there are some 20 specific questions . Do the commissioners have any questions? 21 COMMISSIONER ASHLEY: My question was what the crops 22 were going to be -- that question was answered . 23 MR. VENABLE: So we will rest, however, I think from 24 a procedural standpoint and to offer any objectors the right 25 to make sure that they know what documents we are talking Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 61 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 about, this document is one that was prepared and which we will 2 submit as A . It was one that was prepared by Professor Thomas 3 D . Hinecly who had been referred to previously as being with 4 the University nnf Illinois and also director of the project in 5 Illinois . We ask that it be marked as Exhibit A . It is 6 identified as the beneficial utilization of liquid fertilizer 7 on land . It was prepared by that professor and by the Board 8 of the Metropolitan Sanitary Sewage District and Dr . Viets 9 has testified that the digested sludge used in the project 10 referred to in this document is very similar to that which we 11 had in our petition and our application to you at the present 12 time . This document does contain a, and probably its greatest 13 significance, is an analysis which is contained under figures 14 2, 3, and 4 within it which is a chemical analysis of the 15 product . For that reason, we would tender as Petitioners ' 16 A . 17 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : Any objections? 18 MR. WITWER: One . If I might examine it, I didn ' t 19 quite understand what this has to do with this particular 20 petition . 21 MR. VENABLE: Dr. Viets testified that it is 22 substantially the same that we intend to use . This project 23 contains an analysis of the sludge used in the Chicago projects 24 It is for that purpose that we offer it . 25 MR. WITWER: Could you have an actual chemical Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CHEEK 62 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 analysis of the Denver sludg-e by sample, as I am wondering if 2 that could be introduced along with this and I wonder IT it 3 would be appropriate . 4 MR. VENABLE: -Then for the record I guess -- 5 MR. WITWER: -For the record I will object . I don ' t 6 think the proper Foundation has been made . 7 MR. TELEP : It will be received for what -it is worth. 8 MR. VENABLE: I guess we belter go through on each of 9 the things on the record of the -Planning Commission and re- 10 introduce them. 11 MR. TELEP : You should . I have them. You should 12 introduce them for the record so that counsel _for the 13 protestants will have an opportunity to examine them. 1 (A short recess was called at -4:35 p .m. ) 15 (The hearing reconvened at 4:40 p .m. ) 16 (At this time the Reporter marked Petitioners ' 17 Exhibits A, B, 0, JD, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L . ) 18 MR. VENABLE: We are prepared at this time to tender 19 the rest of the exhibits subject to -any objections to them. 20 We tender first of all, Petitioners ' B which is an application 21 for the ground water which was the application made for the 22 well permit subsequently granted to us and contains therefore 23 most of the pertinent data with regard to that water in the 24 area . We _also tender Petitioners ' Exrribdt C which is _. letter 25 From the Board of Land Commissioners directed to this body and Associated Shorthand Reporters 63 IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. CQLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 which states that they have no objection to the rezoning or to 2 this project . 3 Petitioners ' D is a letter from the -Division of 4 Water Resources, _State of Colorado which state-s in essence that 5 there is no danger to the other water resources as the result 6 of the _applications which we had made for those permits . 7 Petitioners ' -E is directed, a letter directed to the Weld County 8 Planning Commission from the Weld County Health Department 9 which discusses the project and states that there is no 10 objection on behalf of that division . -Petitioners ' F is From 11 the State of Colorado, Department of Health, a letter from them 12 directed to -the Weld County Health Department which advises 13 Dr. Cleaver that they _feel that this is a better method of 14 disposal and would have Fewer problems than present methods, 15 and endorses the project . 16 Petitioners ' Exhibit G is an ownership map of 17 the area immediately surrounding the three sections under 18 question which -is prepared by the Security Abstract Company of 19 Welt_ County and which was previously accepted into evidence 20 before the Weld County Planning Commission in our last hearing 2] before that Board . 22 H is the propo-sal of Western-Agri Systems and 23 is simply an informative document prepared by our client for 24 this purpose . 25 I is a hydrological survey prepared by Mr. Associated Shorthand Reporters 6) IN CHERRY CREEK `4 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 Owens and his associates con2ernirig the Western-Agri Systems 2 properties , it was prepared at their discretion and prepared 3 to do this . 4 J is the transcript _of the planning he-wring 5 previously held on Nov-ember 3O, 197O in this room before the 6 Weld County Planning Commission . It is tendered for the purpose 7 of making available the contents of various testimony of the 8 other scientists . 9 K is a petition which was accepted by the 10 Planning Commission and the petition is an -endorsement by 11 residents of the immediate area of this project . It came before 12 this Board and was previously introduced without objection into 13 evidence before -the Manning Commission . 14 L is a document, original of an analysis y prepared 15 by Dr. Viets o-f the chemical content of this product, and we 16 offer it . We have the original present . Mr. Witwer has 17 examined that, and I think we will probably stipulate that that 18 is _a copy that was just made by the Clerk of the District 19 Court . We offer it subject to an explanation by Dr . Viets with 20 one minor change in it which has been discussed with counsel , '1 and we will clarify that minor _change by eliciting testimony 22 from Dr. Viets . �3 MR. WITWER: We object to Exhibits A, B, O, D, and 24 F as hearsay and there is no proper _foundation . We have no 25 objections to Exhibits G and H for the purposes indicated by Associated Shorthand Reporters 6 IN CHERRY CREEK 5 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 counsel, and we object to all the remaining Exhibits other than 2 Exhibit K for the reason that there has been no proper foundation . 3 MR. VENABLE: With regard to B, 1 can put on testimony . 4 MR. WITWER: I do not object to Exhibit L . 5 MR. VENABLE: As to B there was prepared -- 6 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : Just a minute . 7 We will overrule his objections and accept those 8 for what they are worth . 9 MR. VENABLE: Thank you. 10 Therefore, those having been accepted, we rest 11 subject to recalling Dr. Viets specifically on Exhibit L and 12 by way of rebuttal and explanation and also reserving the 13 right to rebut any testimony put in by any objector and our 14 right to summation . On that we rest . 15 MR. WITWER: If I may, I would like to state that 1 16 have previously indicated those persons I am representing this 17 afternoon, and it is the general position of the opponents 18 whom I represent, and I certainly don 't claim to represent all 19 people in apposition, but the general position of my clients 20 that the petitioners have not sustained their burden . This 21 has been shown to be a rather experimental thing . They have 22 suggested that they are doing this to help the area. I think 23 it is rather clear that they are doing this, not as a non- 24 profit venture, not for the good of the area, but to dispose 25 of sewage which they are being paid to purchase from the Denver Associated Shorthand Reporters 66 IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399.6062 1 Sewer Plant. 2 We don't feel that the various questions that 3 are obviously existent in this application concerning pollution 4 to air, ground and underground water have been adequately 5 answered. In fact, I am somewhat amazed at the dearth of 6 testimony on underground water. Even if the Commission should 7 decide to approve this request, it is our opinion that the 8 restrictions which should be placed thereon are not adequate 9 so far. I think there must be continued monitoring and testing 10 at the various levels stated by Dr. Viets. This is nowhere 11 shown except a general statement that there will be some kind 12 of testing through the wells. We don't feel this is adequately 13 going to protect the underground water supply. 14 We recommend to the Commissioners that, in the 15 event that this is approved, and we object to its approval, but 16 in the event that you should determine that it is -going to be 17 approved, that you at this time zone only a very limited 18 portion of land and let the petitioners , after they have had an 19 opportunity to live out there, present plans . Let them come 20 in six months or a year from now and advise us without 21 speculation about what is going to happen perhaps , but with 22 some assurance as to what the conditions would be. It is our �3 position that the -concept of bringing Denver Sewage to Weld 24 County is somewhat offensive in nature, and it is not offensive 25 because of the idea that it must be handled -somewhere but Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 67 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER, COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 offensive because we don ' t have any control over the 2 Metropolitan Sewage District . This is essentially our position , 3 and I would at this time like to introduce three petitions 4 containing 51 signatures in opposition and ask that they be 5 marked as Opponents ' Exhibit 1, 2 and 3 . 6 (At this time the Reporter marked Opponents ' Exhibit 7 1, 2 and 3 . ) 8 MR. VENABLE : We object to the petitions . There is 9 no indication that they are property owners . 10 MR. WITWER: We have submitted along with our owner- 11 ship reports to show a consistency between the names appearing 12 on the petition and their location with regard to the property . 13 MR. VENABLE : There j.s no such foundation here . We 14 have no idea who circulated these petitions or anything of the 15 kind . Based on the lack of foundation and the question of 16 relevancy of them, we abject . 17 MR. WITWER: These were circulated by Mr. Kingsbury 18 and Mr. Yocam. 19 MR. VENABLE: We will withdraw the objection based 20 upon counsel ' s statement that these were circulated by Mr. 21 Kingsbury and Mr. Yocam. We will withdraw the objection as to 22 the lack of foundation with regard to the names or identity or 23 testimony of the persons circulating it . We do, however, 24 object on the grounds of relevancy, and would ask certainly that 25 they be considered for what they are worth. I don ' t know whethe Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 68 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 they live in Weld County or where they live, so we object on 2 that ground . 3 MR. TELEP : On that basis, I think the Board would 4 have to overrule this objection and allow this for what it is 5 worth and it is Trotestants ' Exhibits 1, 2 and 3, and they are 6 accepted at this time . 7 MR. WITWER: At this time I would like to call Mr. 8 Cecil Osborne . 9 CECIL OSBORNE, 10 called as a witness for examination, being first duly sworn to 11 state the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, 12 testified on his oath as follows : 13 DIRECT EXAMINATION 14 BY MR. WITWER: 15 Q Would you please state your name? 16 A Cecil J . Osborne . 17 Q What is your address? 18 A Ft . Morgan, Colorado . 19 Q What is your occupation? 20 A I am a general practicing civil engineer. 21 Q What is your educational background with regard to 22 being a professional engineer? 23 A Bachelor of Science, graduate of University of 24 Colorado . I am a registered professional engineer in the State 25 of Colorado and have been since the year 1936 . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 69 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TF LEPHONE 399-6062 1 Q Are you familiar with the location of the proposed 2 site of the petitioners ' sludge disposal system? 3 A I am. 4 Q Do you have any experience with regard to the 5 application of sludge from sewer systems upon agricultural 6 lands?7 A I have . Q Would you state to the Commission what that experience 9 consisted of? 10 A At the present time, I am consultant for the Sterling 11 Sewage Plant . I am designer and engineer for the City of 12 Brush, wherein the digested sludge are hauled directly and 13 placed upon farm land . I am designer and engineer for the 14 City of Ft . Morgan . We are now expanding the sewage plant 15 there . I have designed and placed in operation sewage lagoon 16 systems at Petes and at Loglane near Ft . Morgan . I have put 17 in operation and extended the aeration plant at Wiggins, 18 Colorado together with a water system. On that particular 19 point -- 20 Q Have you had any experience recently with under- 21 ground water . questions in this part of Weld County or Morgan 22 County? 23 A In the last two months we had a water pollution case 24 arising south of Brush from the introduction of salt water from 25 oil wells burping into sandy ground and this was salt water, Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 70 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TE:L.EPHONF 3996062 . 1 and the surrounding area became polluted to a certain extent 2 at varying distances from the wellB, and I noticed in the paper 3 just last week that the Oil and Gas Commission had entered the 4 order to alleviate and clear up -- 5 MR. VENABLE: We obj-ect to the hearsay , and we abject 6 to the relevancy . What has salt water from oil wells got to do 7 with this project? 8 MR. TELEP : Why don ' t we confine him a little more . 9 I think he is setting his standards . 10 Q (By Mr. Witwer) Are you experienced, are you 11 acquainted with -the Hay Gulch channel? 12 A Y-es, I know where it is, and for the most part I have 13 some oil well locations in that area . I nave walked a great 14 share Df that particular area . 15 Q Are you acquainted with the Lost Creek drainage 16 system? 17 A I am. 18 Q Have you had an opportunity to examine and study any 19 findings made concerning Hay Gulch and Lost Creek drainage 20 systems? 21 A Yes, I have . -But, ch, it would be three or four year 22 ago, I made a comment upon the Lost Creek study that was before 23 the State _Engineer. 24 Q You did not participate in the actual formation of th 25 studies to which you refer at this moment? Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 71 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE- 399.6062 1 A No. I made objections and analysis of it before the 2 Commission. 3 Q Are you acquainted with Sections 33 and 34 in township -4 3 North Range 61, west of the sixth P.M. and Section 3 in 5 Township 2 North, Range 61 west of it? 6 A I am. 7 Q Have you actually been upon that land? 8 A I have been upon that land. 9 Q Are you familiar with the underground water at that 10 location? 11 A I should answer it in this particular manner. That 12 1 do know of -my own knowledge that southeast corner of Section 13 3 is in the -Kiowa Creek drainage area. It is also in the 14 alluvium from which they obtain irrigation water. The rest of 15 it I would be confined to knowing approximately where the wind- 16 mills are. I have never measured the exact depth of them. 17 I have tasted the water of some of them. 18 Q Have you examined which would show that underground'? 19 A I have. 20 Q Have you heard the testimony this afternoon presented 21 by the petitioners? 22 A I have. 23 Q Are you familiar with the fact that they -have 24 proposed the introduction of approximately 400 gallons per 25 day of sewage sludge on the property which I have -described to Associated-Shorthand-Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 72 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80?06 TELFHHONF 399-6062 1 you just immediately ago? 2 A I believe the figure was 11D0,000 gallons a day . 3 Q Yes . 4 A And the arrn which they propose to place this sludge 5 was set forth, yes . 6 Q Would you state whether or nut, based on your 7 educational background and your professional experience, whether 8 or not there are any risks to the underground water system 9 arising from that potential ingestion of that kind of sludge? 10 A This would be the risk incurred . As long as no 11 moisture that was introduced in the form of sludge in the way 12 of -soluble chemicals reached beyond the root zone of whatever 13 vegetation they were trying to grow and that is in vertical 14 depths there would be no particular danger. Soluble chemicals 15 that were in this sludge, and if they were applied heavily 16 enough that it percolated below the root -zone and into the sands 17 that lie above a certain clay shelf of which we call the bedroc . 18 If it percolated down below, then it would reach those 19 particular impervious layers and then commence to move laterally 20 depending on which direction the underground -flow was or 21 actually run down hill -- it would be if we followed the line 22 of least resistance . And I might add that there is also this 23 particular chance that to create optimum growth, you also have 24 to have optimum moisture conditions to the root zone and when 25 we don ' t have cooperation with the elements and have a heavy Assotioted Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 73 AT 3037EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 cloudburst or something like that, certainly then will pick up 2 the chemicals that were in this root zone and carry some of that 3 water at least down to the underground flow again or the under- 4 ground water table . Again, if there is no application of the 5 liquids, and they in turn also would be carried down to the 6 underground water and then moved laterally on outside the area 7 which it was being applied . 8 Q What would be the consequence of that? 9 A The consequence would be if nothing injurious was 10 introduced there would be nothing injurious resultant therefrom. 11 If' there was an injurious concentration introduced and it moved 12 laterally then, of course, it would move laterally to other 13 lands and it would affect the water of other people . 14 Q Have you heard the testimony of Dr. lfiets concerning 15 the chemical composition of certain sludge materials? 16 A Yes, I did hear that testimony . 17 Q What would be the result of the ingestion of that 18 kind of chemical makeup with regard to nitrogen and nitrates 19 in particular? 20 MR. VENABLE : We object . I don ' t think the gentleman 21 is qualified as an expert . 22 MR. WITWER: He is a civil engineer. 23 MR. VENABLE : I don ' t think that he is qualified as 24 an expert in the field which he is being asked to discuss . 25 MR. -TELEP : We are trying to adhere to the rules of Associated ShorthandReporters 74 AT 3037 IN CHERRY CREEK EAST 1HIRD-AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 EL£PHONF 399-6062 1 civil procedure and this is an administrative hearing and he is 2 . asking him for the opinion . The Commissioners can decide whom 3 they want to listen to and whom they want to finally base their 4 opinions on based on their background and experience and so on . 5 A If the nitrogen seems to be one of the elements that 6 Dr. Viets testified to that in small quantities or the 7 approximate quantities, it ' s highly beneficial and excess 8 quantities not only are not beneficial to crops but also is 9 injurious to livestock and even people that might come about 10 and use those particular waters . So it follows, then, that 11 an excess application of the nitrogen, an excess application of 12 one of the elements, the trace elements that could migrate and 13 leave the perimeter of this particular area would be injurious 14 to surrounding land owners and could, in time, extend to a 15 wider and wider area. Of course, we must follow this in mind 16 that the distance away is inversely proportional. In other 17 words, if you go out a mile, it is one thing . If you goout 18 two miles, it is only one-fourth and so on the concentrations, 19 but if it has an adverse affect sometimes, and then we might 20 even go as far as this that injurious chemicals or any 21 chemicals introduced upon a piece of ground over a period of 22 time certainly are going to be reflected unless they are 23 actually consumed in the fodder that is grown upon this land 24 sooner or later are going to be a part Df the whole . Now it 25 might take 20 years, 30, 40, 50, or 100 years, but eventually Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 75 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 it will be assimilated in the whole . 2 Q If large quantities are placed on the lands, what is 3 the time period that you would be speaking of for the pollution 4 of that into the underground water system under these sections? 5 MR. VENABLE : Under what conditions? 6 Q (By Mr . Witwer) What would the answer to that questioi 7 depend on Mr. Osborne? 8 A The answer to that question would depend upon that 9 the strength of the chemicals . By that I mean part per 10 million . The volume that was applied thereon . The rate of 11 transmissibility and the rate of travel from the underground 12 water, from the particular area and the area which it might 13 become assimilated in at a later date . There are a lot of 14 variables in there . 15 Q I hand you what has been marked Petitioners ' Exhibit 16 L and ask you to examine this document . 17 Mr. Osborne, if there are 400,000 gallons per 18 day of materials with the chemical composition as indicated on 19 the exhibit which you are examining placed upon the soil, can 20 you state whether or not or can you state the period of time 21 within which that would take to be introduced to underground 22 water in that location? 23 A I should state it this way . That it would be intro- 24 duced upon the surface of the ground upon the contact and then 25 the time that it would take to reach the underground would be Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 76 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80205 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 dependent upon the rate of application and the length of time 2 of which it was applied because of how much was applied . In 3 other words, if I put three or four drops on the surface or if 4 I put three or four gallons on the surface, it would be a 5 considerable difference and the rate would be dependent upon 6 those two factors . 7 Q Is there a range which you are familiar with which 8 would take in time for these chemicals to be introduced into 9 the underground water system? 10 A I can answer that in this way . This is what Dr. 11 Viets calls valentine sand and I call it just blow sand and 12 this, to my knowledge, is most of those sands where the water 13 holding capability is about one inch per foot of sand -- something 14 like that -- or in that nature . If sand from the surface goes 15 on down, they had a clay layer, it is variable, of course, but 16 so consequently the root zone will go down on good growing 17 crops three feet or so . So three inches of application would 18 probably, with perfectly dry soil, would probably penetrate 19 three inches . 20 Q Three inches or three feet? 21 A Three feet I should say . Three inches of equivalent 22 rainfall or even three inches of moisture that came with the 23 sludge which they will penetrate about three feet . If that 24 was the end of it, it will probably then remain there or go 25 back in the root zone, but if there is six inches of moisture Associated Shorthand Reporters [N CHERRY CREEK 77 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 applied, the chances are the penetration would be three feet or 2 six feet in depth and the lower three feet would find its way 3 to the underground water stream. If the three inches was 4 applied and it penetrated three feet to grow crops and then we 5 had one of our periodic thunder rains and there is no particular 6 runoff in that and there is another three or four inches, whether 7 the rain fell at that time, it would very likely not only carry, 8 penetrate the six or seven feet, but it would also carry some 9 of tne chemicals that was introduced in the top three feet of 10 sludge down beyond the root zone and then become a part, that 11 fraction thereof, become a part of the underground water and at 12 sometime later in date would find its way out of the outer 13 perimeter from the area on which it was applied . 14 Q Based on your knowledge of tne area, do you know 15 whether there is anything under the top soil which would 16 prevent the chemicals from joining the underground water upon 17 continued rain falling as you have testified to? 18 A I don ' t know of anything that would prevent them from 19 joining; no . 20 MR. WITWER: I have no further questions . 21 CROSS EXAMINATION 22 BY MR. VENABLE: 23 Q Mr . Osborne, you said you examined the Hay Gulch area 24 for a soil study? 25 A No, for locations on surface . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 78 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 Q Just on the surface? 2 A That is correct . 3 Q Have you ever made a geological survey? 4 A I have . 5 Q Are you a geologist? 6 A No . 7 Q Have you ever done any water geology studies at all? 8 A Quite a number; yes . 9 Q But not as a geologist? 10 A No, I instigated a well battery deal to supply 11 considerable quantity of water to an irrigation system. 12 Q You said you are familiar with an area in which 13 sludge is being applied to the surface? 14 A I am. 15 Q Have you ever done a geological survey of the water 16 below the surface to which it is being applied? 17 A I know what lies under the surface in the way of 18 clays and sands and that sort of thing . 19 Q In the area that you are discussing as being familiar 20 with where they are doing this, have you ever done a study after 21 the application was applied, a geological analysis of the under- 22 lying water? 23 A You mean a water quality analysis? 24 Q Yes, water quality analysis . A No, I have not . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK I AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 Q Have you ever done a study of the lateral impervious 2 layers which underlie -- geological study of the layers which 3 underlie the project which is before this Board on these three 4 sections? 5 A I have made an examination of the cross sections in 6 the test holes and that stuff, and I failed to find that there 7 is any vertical barriers . I find that there are horizontal 8 barriers, but no particular vertical barriers . 9 Q Are there any impervious layers underlying this 10 property? Have you ever studied it for impervious layers? 11 A There are impervious layers ; yes . 12 Q Do you know what their location is or what their 13 depth is? 14 A I would rely upon the study made by -- the paper that 15 is -- 16 Q By whom? 17 A That is presented by your organization . 18 Q But you haven ' t studied it . 19 A I have studied the results of this particular paper. 20 Q Of our experts? 21 A Yes . 22 Q Now, you have mentioned the potential dangers which 23 essentially are the same ones that Dr . Viets discussed . Isn ' t 24 it true that this same thing, under given conditions of high 25 amount of rainfall, fairly narrow, if you will, impervious Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK So AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE V DENVER. COLORADO 00206 I ELEPHONE 399-6062 1 layers and under a lot of other factors, given a lot of other 2 factors, isn ' t it true that every conventional farm using every 3 kind of conventional fertilizer, barnyard or otherwise, to some 4 extent runs some greater or lesser extent, runs the identical 5 same risks? 6 A I think that is correct ; yes . 7 Q You don ' t know where the outer perimeter of these 8 impervious layers is that underlie these? 9 A I don ' t believe there is an outer perimeter as I 10 would say they continue until they either are intersected by 11 an open stream or something of that kind or eventually they 12 probably appear or the ground water table is high enough to 13 make them appear as surface water probably many many years in 14 the South Platte River as far as that is concerned . 15 Q But you don ' t know how many years or have any way of 16 determining because you don ' t know where those are ; is that 17 correct? 18 A I would like to know. I think there are a lot of 19 other people that would like to know. 20 Q That is true . 21 The same risks you are talking about, they exist 22 on every conventional farm that uses conventional fertilizer 23 to some greater or lesser extent . Isn ' t it a fair statement 24 that the degree of danger depends on number one, the quality of 25 control, management ; number two, the varying conditions of the Associated Shorthand Reporters (] IN CHERRY CREEK 81 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 land and the atmospheric conditions -- result of atmospheric 2 conditions; and number three, the degree of chemicals that may 3 exist between this product and barnyard fertilizer and 50 4 different kinds of commercial fertilizer tnat all have these 5 variables go together to determine what the risk is? 6 A I think that would be a fair statement . 7 MR. VENABLE : That is all . 8 REDIRECT EXAMINATION 9 BY MR. WITWER: 10 Q Just one question . Do you have an opinion as to the 11 affect as of the quantity of materials that have been proposed 12 by the petitioners to be placed thereon and to whether or not 13 that is an increased risk from the normal farming operation 14 that Mr. Venable was asking about? 15 A Let me answer it this way . I am engaged in this 16 particular operation that they are talking about . The fact is, 17 I set it up and we are operating with a sludge deal of about 18 28,000 gallons of sludge a week of which the City of Brush can 19 utilize on 220 acres of irrigated farm land to place this 20 sludge upon . Now, so, if that is a fair ratio of what is safe 21 to apply upon the land, these problems have gone through my 22 mind, then I think it is fair to assume somewhat the same ratio 23 to the application of Denver Metropolitan sludge, and on that 24 basis you can figure out perhaps the number of acres that that 25 should be distributed upon . Associated Shorthand Reporters 82 IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 Q Have you done those calculations? 2 A Fairly well, not to the extent that Dr. Viets would 3 or anything of that kind . 4 Q What is that? 5 A It may be perhaps a rule of thumb if you would have it, 6 but we do know that you can go back and farm it, you can set a 7 certain number of acres aside and apply it for that particular 8 year. We have found there are lots of practical ways of doing 9 this . We have found in this particular application that during 10 the process, while it is being applied during the summer, you 11 aren ' t going to go on by letting it fall on it . We have found 12 that we have met irrigation and do fairly well by row crop . 13 Q Do you have a rule of thumb as to the maximum quantity? 14 MR. VENABLE: We object to the rule of thumb . It is 15 nothing but a guess . 16 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON: Let him answer. 17 MR. VENABLE: I withdraw the objection . 18 A I would say this, that for a period of three months 19 they utilize about ten acres of land for the 28,000 gallons a 20 week. For a period of three months during the season then the 21 rest of the time it is either introduced in that or another 22 piece is applied . 23 MR. WITWER: I have no further questions . 24 RECROSS EXAMINATION 25 BY MR. VENABLE : Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 83 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE .J DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 Q Have you ever examined -- done a chemical analysis, 2 sir, of the Denver metropolitan sludge? 3 A Not personally, no . 4 Q Have you ever done a chemical analysis of the sludge 5 that is being used on this project that you are referring to 6 28,000 gallons a week? 7 A This we have had approximate analysis, and we do have . 8 Q You haven ' t done it? 9 A Not personally; no . 10 Q Do you know what the consistency of that sludge is, 11 and I am not talking about a chemical consistency, I am talking 12 about a consistency with regard to the ratio between water and 13 solids? 14 A It is probably somewhat less than -- 15 Q Have you done an analysis of it? 16 A It is about four percent solids . 17 Q About four percent solids, and you know that because 18 of your research? 19 A That is right, and again it is done by farmer 20 methods rather than precise laboratory methods . 21 Q What do you mean by "farmer methods?" 22 A I mean that is how a big share of people have lived 23 all these years . 24 Q It is a guess? 25 A No, it is a little bit better than a guess . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 84 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DD ENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 Q A little bit better? 2 MR. WITWER: Mr . Chairman, do you have any questions 3 of this witness? 4 (A short discussion was held between Chairman 5 Anderson, Mr. Telep, Mr. Venable and Mr . Witwer . ) 6 MR. TELEP : We will stipulate for the record that 7 although one of the Commissioners may be absent tomorrow, that -8 after he has had an opportunity to read the full record, that 9 he can participate in the decision making of the Board . Is 10 that agreeable with both Counsel? 11 MR. VENABLE: Yes . 12 MR. WITWER: Yes . 13 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : Ladies and gentlemen, the hour 1-4 is late and we will continue this at 10 :30 tomorrow morning 15 if that is agreeable with Counsel . 16 (WHEREUPON, the proceedings were concluded at the 17 hour of 5 :15 p .m. ) 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 AssociatedShorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 85 ST 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE CCJJ DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399.6062 1 PROCEEDINGS OF TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1971 2 Appearances : 3 Chairman Marshall Anderson, Mr . Harry Ashley, Mr. Sam Telep, Mr . Burman Lorenson, Mr. Edward Venable and Mr. Stow 4 Witwer. 5 WHEREUPON, the following proceedings commenced at 6 the hour of 1O :3O a .m. 7 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : Gentlemen, we will continue this 8 hearing from yesterday . I don ' t know where we were when we 9 left off. If I remember right, it was fifteen minutes after 10 five . I forget who had the floor. I think Mr. Witwer did . 11 If you want to proceed, we will listen Mr . Witwer . 12 MR. WITWER: I would like to call Mr . Floyd Yocam. 13 Would you stand and be sworn . 14 FLOYD YOCAM, 15 called as a witness for examination, being first duly sworn to 16 state the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, 17 testified on his oath as follows : 18 DIRECT EXAMINATION 19 BY MR. WITWER: 20 Q Mr. Yocam, would you please state your name . 21 A Floyd Yocam. 22 Q What is your address? 23 A Orchard, Colorado . 24 Q I would ask at this time if you would please turn 25 to the board and examine what has been introduced into Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 86 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 evidence as Applicant ' s Exhibit 1). I notice that you have in 2 your possession a map . Is that identical to the shadings which 3 is shown as Applicant ' s Exhibit D? 4 A Yes, the map is exactly like that one . 5 Q Would you demonstrate to the Commission those sections 6 marked 33, 34 and 3, those in question before this Board? If 7 you would identify to the Commission what land you own or have 8 leases on from the State of Colorado . 9 A I own all the land around this here on the east, all 10 on the north and three-quarters of a mile on the west side , and 11 I have a well here about 200 yards from tnis west fence and I 12 . water 200 cows there . 13 Q You are now indicating in section 32? 14 A Yes . 15 Q And this would be in the northeast corner of 32? 16 A And this well is -- we run 200 cows or better in that 17 pasture and this well, it is about 50 feet deep and it is about 18 20 feet of water and we have the best water, I think, maybe in 19 the State of Colorado or in that district and if nitrogen gets 20 into that well it will probably break a person and this goes 21 straight on north and the next item it would hit the Flying M 22 and it would hit Kingsbury and eventually it would get us all 23 between this and the river . 24 Q Are there other wells that you have in the vicinity? 25 A Yes, I have one well here . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 87 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 You are indicating in section 21? 2 A I have two wells in section 21 and these two wells are 3 about 70 to 80 feet deep, and they are down clear to the bottom. 4 I have got to consume so many feet of water and if they go to 5 pumping water here and it lowers this water level two feet, my 6 wells will dry up in section 21 . I have another well on the 7 west side of the water, and I think I have plenty of water in 8 that . We put down 20 feet of pipe last year, and I still think 0> we have plenty of water there . 10 Q Have you seen from the testimony in this hearing where 11 the well has been approved for location by the petitioner? 12 MR. VENABLE: For the record we object . This is not 13 a clearing concerning our right to water wells . That is within 14 the province and jurisdiction of the State Water Resources 15 Commission . They have approved it . Public hearings were held. 16 The permit has been issued and the well dug, and we object to 17 any testimony concerning our wells on the grounds of relevancy 18 to it, and the incompetency of this witness to testify . 19 MR. WITWER: If I may comment very briefly, I think 20 that there is nothing that would prevent this Board from 21 considering water sources in terms of quantity and this is 22 what we are presently concerned with at this time and with the 23 introduction of minerals and chemicals into the area is another 24 matter that has been adjudicated in any way affecting the 25 opponents to this hearing, and I think it is inappropriate to Associated Shorthand Reporters 88 IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUL ❑ENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6067 1 suggest somehow that the final arbiters in this matter, the 2 Board of County Commissioners, cannot hear this issue . 3 MR. VENABLE: First of all, as to the water, it is 4 true that this Board does not have jurisdiction in this area . 5 The final arbiter of that is the Water Resources Commission of 6 the State of Colorado, and it has been adjudicated . 7 MR. WITWER: The Applicant ' s Exhibit D has been intro- 8 duced and the question of water sources and water quantity has 9 been raised and we are inquiring of this and the door has been 10 opened . 11 MR. VENABLE: Also there were introduced into evidence, 12 I don ' t recall the number at this time, a letter from the Water 13 Resources Commission of the State of Colorado which determines 14 that the source is adequate and that there would be no damage 15 to any contiguous owners . Therefore, it has been answered . 16 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : For my own personal information, 17 this is one thing that concerns the Chair . I want to know 18 about this water. 19 MR. VENABLE : We understand that this is the decision 20 of the Board at this hearing about the condition of these wells 21 as of today . 22 MR. TELEP : Objection overruled . Let the record snow 23 it . 24 Q (By Mr. Witwer) Mr. Yocam, would you identify on 25 Applicant ' s Exhibit D the location of the well which they have Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 89 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE J DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 located pursuant to Applicant ' s Exhibit B? 2A Yes, it would be . Here is an identical map . He went 3 down to the State House and he said they have a permit for 4 their -- 5 MR. VENABLE: This witness is not competent to 6 answer those questions . 7 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON: This objection should be -8 sustaired . 9 MR. WITWER: I would like to offer for a stipulation 10 tnat Plaintiff' s Exhibit B or Petitioners ' Exhibit B locates a 11 well which is in the south half of the south half of Section 12 32, 13 MR. VENABLE: We acknowledge fur the purpose of 14 stipulation the correction of our application with regard to 15 statement as to the location of our wells . As to anything to 16 do with quantity, or potential damage to anybody else, we 17 object to and we will not stipulate . Not before this Board 18 because it doesn 't have jurisdiction to -- 19 MR. TELEP: I think that again I am going to remind 20 you that while we try to adhere to the rules of civil 21 procedure, this is an administrative hearing While we try to 22 keep out hearsay, and I think that last objection was a good 23 objection, it was sustained, but I think this Board as a Board 24 of County Commissioners in their respective capacity as 25 administrators have a right to hear, including hearsay in some Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 90 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 instances . 2 MR . VENABLE: My objection is to what this Board has 3 jurisdiction over . We note our objection to any considerations 4 of the water supplies and sources or potential damage to water 5 areas because it is our contention that the Board does not nave 6 jurisdiction to consider those matters . It has been adjudicated 7 pursuant to notice and public hearing . 8 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : This hearing wants to know the 9 condition of these wells now, and if anything happens to them, 10 we want to know later on, so proceed . 11 Q (By Mr. Witwer) I would offer for consideration of 12 the Board that Applicant ' s Exhibit B which has been intro- 13 duced before this Board and without objection, indicates that 14 the maximum pumping rate of the well is 800 gallons per month 15 and that the average annual amount of ground water to be 16 appropriated is 600 acre feet and that that well is located 17 and if you could indicate such, Mr. Yocam, where that is with 18 regard to your wells . 19 A Right below my fence in Section 32, right about in 20 here . 21 Q Now, Mr. Yocam, would you tell this Board what your 22 ranching operation consists of? What do you do on your ranch? 23 Do you raise livestock? 24 A Yes, cow ranch, cow and calf business . 25 Q And how many cows do you raise? Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 9l AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 0062 1 A Around 500 cows . 2 Q What is your income? Do you sell those cows? 3 A We sell every fall . 4 Q Where do you sell your cattle? 5 A We go to the major shows . We have showed at Denver 6 and Chicago and showed practically all over the United States . 7 Q How long have you been running that ranch? 8 A Well, since ' 36 . 9 Q That would be 1936? 10 A ' 36. 11 Q Would you just state to the Board at this time very 12 briefly what your opposition consists of to the application of 13 the petitioner? 14 A You mean the damage I think it would cause? 15 Q Yes, what are your reasons for opposing? 16 A The water pumps by the wells and by the nitrogen in 17 polluting the water and -- 18 Q What is your concern about nitrogen? 19 A Makes our cows barren, and if we are out of business, 20 we nave to keep going to produce cows . Those Cows of ours -- 21 I have spent 48 years breeding these cows up, and I kind of 22 hate to have something go wrong after I spent a lifetime gettin 23 this breeding herd built up the way it is . 24 Q You have adjoining land in Sections 32, 29, 28 and 25 27? -Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 12 AT 3037 EAST-THIRD AVENUE / DENVER. COLORADO 90206 7CELEPHONE 399-6062 1 A Yes, that is deeded land -- it is all deeded . 2 Q And you object to the application? 3 A Very much so . I don ' t want it in no way . 4 MR. WITWER: I have no other questions at this time . 5 CROSS EXAMINATION 6 BY MR. VENABLE: 7 Q Mr . Yocam, are you trained in any particular way in 8 water resources? 9 A No . 10 Q What do the objections that you have -- and I 11 appreciate these, I am not being antagonistic -- but the object- 12 -ions that you are raising are simply fears that you, in your 13 own mind, think might occur; is that correct? You are saying 1-4 we could get minerals -- that project could put minerals into 15 the water that might damage your animals and that we could do 16 other kinds of damage to you, but it is pure conjecture? 17 A Yes, that is my fear . That is what I am afraid of. 18 MR. WITWER: You don ' t have any qualifications as 19 a water engineer, and we have not suggested to the Board that 20 you have? 21 A No, I have not . 22 Q @By Mr . Venable) You are a rancher? 23 A That _is my trade . 2-4 Q But you know about cattle? 25 A Well, I hope so . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK (]J3 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE J -DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 And you know about what kind of water cattle need? 2 A Yes, pure water . The better the water the better they 3 are . 4 Q This is not a marginal operation that you have, is it 5 Mr. Yocam? 6 A No . The purer the water, the cows will drink water 7 that is not really good water but if you have got it they will 8 go across the poor water and go to the good water. 9 I think that is ail, Mr. Yocam. 10 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : I have got one question . Floyd, 11 on that green area, how much of that drains down on you:; off 12 of the green? 13 A About half of it would come this way to me and the 14 other half would go to the Bob Lucy side . He lives about a 15 mile from 33 . 16 C-HAIRMAN ANDERSON : I mean, if we get a big rain out 17 mere, is there a possibility that that green area will wash 1$ over on you? 19 A Oh, yes it would come right down on the basin . 20 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : That is what I thought . 21 Do you have any more questions, Mr. Venable, of 22 Mr . Yocam? 23 This witness is excused . 24 MR. WITWER : At this time I would like to call Dr. 25 Morton Bitti.nger . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 94 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 MORTON W. BITTINGER 2 called as a witness for examination, being first duly sworn to 3 state the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, 4 testified on his oath as follows : 5 DIRECT EXAMINATION 6 BY MR. WITWER: 7Q Doctor, would you please state your name . R A Morton W. Bittinger. 9 Q And what is your address? 10 A Ft . Collins, Colorado . 11 Q What is your occupation or profession'? 12 A I am a professional engineer; consulting engineer . 13 What is the area of your practice? 14 A I am in private practice in the area of water 15 resources engineering . 16 Q What is your educational background with regard to 17 water resources engineering? 18 A I have a Bachelor' s of Science Degree of Agricultural 19 Engineering with a major in Soil and Water Engineering from 20 Iowa State; Master' s from Iowa State in Agricultural Engineer 21 ing with Soil and Water Engineering as the major and Soil 22 Physics as the minor. I have a Ph. D. from Utah State Univers' y 23 in Water Resources Engineering . 24 Q When did you obtain that doctorate? 25 A 196-8 . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK a5AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE J DENVER COLORADO 80206 TFLEPHONE 399 6062 1 Q When did you obtain your Master' s? 2 A 1951 . 3 Q How long nave you been engaged in your present 4 profession? 5 A I have worked in water resources work ever since 6 graduation with my Bachelor' s Degree . I have been in private 7 practice about three and one-half years in Ft . Collins . 8 Q What is the nature of your private practice at this 9 time'? 10 A It is entirely in the water resources field . Some of 11 1t is involved with finding water sources for clients ; ranchers, 12 farmers, industries, municipalities, evaluating present water 13 supplieB, their availability, their dependability, their 14 quality, on through the design of water utilization facilities, 15 irrigation systems, so forth and to waste disposal systems . 16 Q Have you had occasion to become familiar with the 17 Hay Gulch and Lost Creek drainage system in Weld County, 18 Colorado? 19 A Yes, I have . 20 Q and what is the nature of that experience? 21 A It has been principally for one client, the F Quarter 22 Circle Ranch, Krouse Ranch, known by both names, in helping 23 them develop their water supply and utilize their ground water 24 supply . 25 Q Have you had an opportunity to determine the quality Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 96 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE lCJ DENVER. COLORADO 80205 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 of the ground water in that area? 2 A Yes , I have , particularly in the Lost Creek drainage 3 area. I have not made any measurements of the actual quality 4 in Hay Gulch, although I do know it is normally considered as 5 good -quality water. 6 Q What is the quality of the Lost Creek water? 7 A In general, quite good. It degrades as it goes on 8 towards the Prospect Valley area as one approaches the mare 9 intensive irrigated areas to the south, so depending on where 10 in the area you are speaking of, the answer would have to be 11 different . 12 ZZ Doctor, I would ask if you would please approach the 13 board and -with whatever diagrams that you have in your 14 possession, if you would illustrate to the Coimuission the 15 general underground water flow in Sections 33 and 34? 16 f1 Well, basically, it is to the north. Actually, there 17 is a varied channel, a shuttle channel, in the bedrock that 18 has been filled back with permeable materials , sands and from 19 gravel, and the water table slopes to the northward and 1 20 believe probably slightly northwestward in some of this area 21 that we are looking at right here. But generally speaking, it 22 would be northward. 23 Q In Section 34, -would that be the sane ? 24 A Well, there is a divide , and again I would have to 25 refer to other maps probably to get this -no-a exactly, but Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 97 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AV F_NUE DENVER. COLOH-ADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 in approximately the Section 33, 34 area there is both a 2 topographic divide and a ground water divide in which ground 3 water to the east is flowing east and north and to the west if 4 flowing north and slightly west . 5 Q What area would that portion of Section 33 that goes 6 east flow into? If you recall . 7 A This would flow into the Kiowa Creek Basin and Kiowa 8 Creek itself, or if it did not surface, since Kiowa Creek is 9 nuL a perennial stream, it may not surfaci actually until it 10 reaches the Platte River . 11 Q Would you locate, or can you locate, the approximate 12 location of the Krouse Ranch and the F Quarter Circle Ranch? 13 A This map has only a small portion of it . I believe 14 all of Section 8, and I am sure Mr. Seyfried can verify this 15 better than I, and all cf Section 8 is within the Krouse Ranch, 16 and this is the area that we have been doing some work on 17 potential water development . 18 Q Can you state for the Commission whether or not the 19 underground water in Sections 32 and 33 correlate in any manner 20 with the underground water which you have testified to with the 21 Krouse or the F Quarter Circle -Ranch? 22 A It is the same aquifer, what we call an aquifer, 23 which extends from the South Platte River upslope to an area 24 off of this map actually and it is the same water, the same 25 system. Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 98 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE 77 DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 Q Thank you Doctor, you may resume your seat . 2 It is your testimony that there is pure and clean 3 water underlying the area that you are familiar with? 4 A Yes . 5 Q Did you hear the testimony yesterday that the 6 applicant proposes to introduce approximately 400,000 gallons 7 per day of sewage sludge on Sections 33, 34 and Section 3? 8 A Yes, I did. 9 Q Have you made any calculations as to how much land 10 that would cover per day or over a given period of time if it 11 were -spread one inch thick? 12 A Yes, in general I have . 400,000 gallons is approximately 13 I think, as was stated in testimony yesterday, approximately one 14 and a quarter acre Feet . Actually, it As 1 .23. This would 15 fAgure out something like fourteen and three-quarters acre inch 16 per day or if -spread one inch thick covering something like 17 fourteen and three—quarters or let ' s say fifteen acres each 18 day . 19 Q And that in -a ten-day period it would cover 20 approximately 150 acres one inch thick; is that right? 21 A That is right . 22 Q -If there were the minerals such as nitrogen placed 23 thereon, what would happen to those minerals; if you know? 24 A I would not know how this disposition would he 25 entirely . Certainly some of the nitrogen can be taken back Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 99 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TFLFPHONE 399-6067 1 immediately into the atmosphere ; some of the nitrogen would be 2 utilized by crops grown, if crops are to be grown on the 3 property; some of the nitrogen could be leached downward either 4 by rain storms or by application of -excessive applications of 5 irrigation water that might be applied . 6 Q Would heavy rain constitute the same threat to the 7 underground area? 8 A Well, yes . Of course, the water that Is in the 9 aquifer now has come from that source over many years and 10 normally would come in addition to that supply which comes from 11 the major storms, not the light rain falls . 12 Q Which of the sections poses the most severe ground 13 water problem as far as your opinion? 14 A From the geologic work that has already been done 15 and, I have no dispute with this, the Section 33 would be 16 almost entirely over the drainage area of the Hay Gulch region 17 and since its water quality is somewhat better at least than 18 that in Kiowa, it would be that section that would be of most 19 concern to the -people interested in the water supplies in flay 20 Gulch . 21 Q Doctor, you, in your professional experience, have 22 you had occasion to deal with County and State Health _Depart- 23 ments? 24 A Yes, _I have . 25 Q Have you had occasion to deal with the State Health Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 100 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVFP. COLORADO 60206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 Department of Colorado? 2 A Yes . 3 Q Are you familiar with the area of their principal 4 concern in terms of underground water? 5 A Yes, generally speaking I am. Normally, health 6 officials and sanitarians -- 7 MR. VENABLE: We object to an tmpcachment of people 8 or to speculating as to what they do and how they intend to 9 go about it . It is pure conjecture . 10 MR. TELEP : Let him answer. Let the Commissioners 11 decide . They will decide what is relevant and what isn ' t . 12 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : I want to see if 1 agree with 13 him about the State Health Department . 14 MR. WITWER: I would point out for the record that 15 there is before the Commission what is a testimonial response 16 or which is on its face and without proper foundation; and we 17 are, because of this introduction, it is an appropriate 18 concern for witnesses who are competent to testify with regard 19 to the matters stated therein . 20 Q (By Mr. Witwer) Doctor, do you recall the question? 21 A Yes, I do . I will start out by saying I certainly 22 don ' t mean this as an impeachment or as derogatory in any 23 sense, but historically Health Department officials have been 24 mainly concerned with the pathogenic situation, the disease- 25 causing bacteria, virus and so forth, and quite often have not Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK IT AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE VJ. DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 been too concerned about the chemical constituents that may be 2 of some danger to individuals or livestock. I have had 3 occasion to note this many times . 4 Q And what is your area of concern, if any, in the 5 present application that this -Board is considering concerning 6 the ground water? 7 A Well, there are two ar three factors that I think -8 certainly should be fully studied and considered that may or 9 may not have been already. I understand possibly they haven' t 10 been. I am looking at this not only from the standpoint of 11 the client, but from the standpoint of the area as a whole . 12 We do have a very valuable resource involved here. It is one 13 of the few fairly untapped aquifers , shallow aquifers , in this 14 area of good quality water, potable water. I think that we 15 are all aware that the quality of the ground water -in the main 16 stem of the South Platte and the people that are having to use 17 it for their water supplies are having difficulties because of 18 nitrogen problems , very severe hardness , very extreme total 19 dissolved solids . This is a zone that by analysis contains 20 some 20B,00O acre feet of good quality and high quality water -- 21 average recharge of some 7000 acre feet. This analysis would 22 have to represent a very valuable resource. 23 I do not dispute the f-act that the proposed 24 facility cannot be run without any danger to the resources ; 25 in fact , I have designed similar situations in which we have Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 102 AT 3037FAST T+IRD AVENLLE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TFLEPHONF 399-6062 1 purposely put the affluent From such a situation underground bor 2 recharge purposes . But we didn ' t have an untapped, highly 3 valuable, high quality resource to work with to begin with . I 4 think the question of the wisdom of placing such a facility over 5 such a resource when we know -all these factors, and when we know 6 that there -are many acres off' -areas other places, that this type 7 of an operation could be carried on with not this danger. I 8 just would like to present that as whether this is a wise thing 9 to do . 10 Historically, of course, we have done a lot of 11 these sorts of things with ignorance where we have gone in and 12 established some new Facility that has through our ignorance 13 because of not knowing the technology or the physical situation 14 have ruined a resource . I expect that the city of Denver is 15 going -to be existing many more than the five years that are 16 being talked about . _They are going to be putting out saudge I7 for many more years than that . Many more years than any of us 18 in this room are going to be living . We have a lot of barren, 19 dry land that has no water resources that in the foreseeable 20 future would ever be considered as something th-uL would be 21 reclaimed or reused or reused at all I should say . So, I 22 think this is a consideration that this Board and that this 23 group should look -cit . 24 MR. WITWER : Thank you Doctor . I have no other 25 questions . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD-AVENUE 103 DENVFR. COLORADO 80206 TLLEPUONE 399-6062 1 CROSS EXAMINATION 2 BY MR. VENABLE : 3 Q Dr. Bittinger, you make the statement that you agree 4 then with Dr. Viets that this can be run without any danger to 5 the underground system? 6 A Unfortunately, I didn ' t hear Dr. Viets ' testimony. 7 I certainly -have a great deal of respect for his ability in this 8 field, and I -would not dispute that particular statement ; no. 9 Q Doctor, did I understand you correct in your testimony, 10 regardless of Dr. Viets ' testimony, make the statement that you 11 agree or you believe that this system could be run without any 12 danger to the underground water system? 13 >4 I do agree that it can be done, yes , if the proper 14 safeguards are built in. 15 Q Now, isn' t it true, Doctor, that the same dangers 16 that you foresee as a potential under improper manag-ment 17 conditions , that those same potential dangers would exist under 1s improper application of barnyard fertilizer? 19 A Normally barnyard fertilizer wouldn ' t be applied in 20 the depths or thicknesses or amounts , I expect, as might be 21 considered here . I have not heard and I don't -know if this 22 has been brought out in testimony whether there has been any 23 maximum limit put on what amount of sludge would be put or 24 per year per acre , let 's say. 25 Q isn 't it true that equally as important as the thick- Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 104 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 ness is the degree of concentration of the toxic or dangerous 2 chemicals within the substance ; am I right? It is the amount 3 within the substance. So that a very thin layer of commercial A fertilizer carried a high degree of toxic or dangerous chemicals , 5 that an extremely thin layer of it can be thrown into the 6 stream just as fast through an excessive rain storm as could 7 something applied in a much thicker layer that could have the 8 same consistency? 9 A Well, I think we need to be talking about the actual 10 amounts of elements of concern on a per-acre, per-year basis . 11 Q That is my point . It is the chemical consistency 12 of it that is also extremely important -- the level of the. 13 chemical consistency? 14 A Certainly. 15 Q And the same danger would exist or could possibly 16 exist under improper management from the mix or not only barn- 17 yard fertilizers , but perhaps even more from the application of I8 some commercial fertilizer? 19 A Normally under any prudent operation the farmer is 20 not going to be spending money on excessive amounts of 21 fertilizer. 22 Q Normally under our prudent operation, we wouldn ' t 23 be massing or misapplying this substance . 24 A Well, I go back to my point that Denver is going to 25 be producing sludge long after many of us are not here , and I Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE 105 DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 299 6062 1 think that these safeguards definitely need to be built into 2 the situation . 3 Q Of course . You testified to your familiarity with 4 the Health Department . You are aware, of course, that anytime 5 it became a danger that it would be their duty to stop it 6 regardless of what -this Board has zoned it for? 7 A We shouldn 't let it get to that point . The monitoring 8 finds out the problem after it has taken place . 9 Q Have you studied the hydrological report done by 10 Willard Owens and Associates? 11 A Yes, I have . 12 Q Have you reviewed the recommendations, Doctor, in 13 that report? 14 A To some extent I have; yes . 15 Q Do you feel that you are familiar with those 16 recommendations to discuss that? 17 A Are you principally referring to the monitoring and 18 the well point system? 19 Q Principally, yes, but to the over-all general 20 recommendations as to management and application? 21 A I don 't recall there being any recommendations as to 22 the amount of sludge applied ar the amount of water supplied 23 per acre per year. 24 Q No, I don 't . 25 Does the report, however, include recommendations Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 106 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 [ELEPHONE 399-6062 1 on the monitoring of the water quality, the monitoring 2 specifically? 3 A I think it does, but it doesn ' t say whaL would be done 4 or what standards would be set as to what increascs might be 5 allowed or not allowed . Certainly the physical problem of 6 monitoring isn ' t difficult . It is what you no with the answers 7 or the measurements that you get afterwards . 8 Q Which, of course, is the province of the Health 9 Department . 10 Are you familiar with the provisions defined in 11 the application itself as to supplying the Health Department 12 with those samples? Have you _reviewed those? 13 A a am not sure that I have, sir. 1d Q 'Phis has been marked, Dr . Eittinger, as exhibit B . 15 I am referring specifically to the permitted uses and 16 conditions that appear on the application . Have you had an 17 opportunity to review this? is A I have not . 19 Q But you do Seel, _I think in your words, the physical 20 specifications as to the actual removing of the samples, that 21 those recommendations are adequate in your opinion? 22 A I don ' t recall reading any specifications on how 23 many or how often or anything of this type . 24 Q -Ann you haven ' t reviewed any f the conditions set 25 forth on this? Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 107 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVFR. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONF 399 6062 1 A Not those . 2 Q All right, fine . 3 Is it your general recommendation that no 4 fertilizer at all be used on land-s that lie above aquifers? A No, I certainly didn 't say that . 6 Q Is it your recommendation that we set up some kind 7 of an over-all policy for the chemical content of fertilizers 8 that are used and vary those from area to area? 9 MR. WITWER: If the Board please, I will object . We 10 are getting rather far afield . There is absolutely no testimony 11 before this Board that there is any injection of any fertilizer 12 into the underground . 13 MR. TELEP: The testimony was that this sludge should 14 be put on land in areas other than this area because of the 15 water underneath this particular land . He could answer that . 16 Q (By Mr. Venable) Dr. Bittinger, you are making very 17 -specific recommendations and I am interested in the foundation 18 -and reasons for those recommendations . 19 A My recommendation was that areas be considered other 20 than those areas in which there is a valuable water supply 21 lying undernr-cth because we do have such areas available . 22 Q So then would it also be your recommendation that 23 this Board attempt, through zoning, to control the application 24 of commercial fertilizer on this same land if they have a 25 certain degree or consistency of what you consider to be Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 108 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE 1J DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6962 1 dangerous material? 2 A No, I would not . 3 Q Why would your opinion differ as to that'? You stated 4 that the same dangers could potentially exist . Why would your 5 recommendation be different as to the substance if the same 6 danger exists? 7 A The individual applying _commercial fertilizer will 8 normally apply the amount that he needs to grow his crop and no 9 more . Granted, this has been not always the case . 10 Q So your reason for the difference in your op inion as 11 to us is based on an assumption that we are going to over - 12 fertilize it? 13 MR. WITWER: If the Board please, I abject . It is 14 argumentative and I suggest that the witness complete the 15 answer. 16 MR. TELEI' : Let him answer . 17 A You have twisted that around a bit . I think I am 18 saying that if this is allowed that tne of the safeguards would 19 be to limit the amount that is put on . 20 Q (By Mr. Venable) 411 right . 21 You made similar recommendations with regard 22 to your client on the Krouse Ranch and the F Quarter Circle 23 Ranch. Have you made similar recommendations to him with 24 regard to fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, anything? 25 A We have not in this particular case; na . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 109 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 Q Is that your formal function to make that kind of 2 recommendations to your water clients? 3 A Yes . 4 Q But you haven 't done it on this Circle Ranch? 5 A No . 6 Q Yet, I think, it was your testimony it overlies the 7 same water system and the same aquifer? 8 A Well, the wells that have been drilled in the Hay 9 Gulch area, the work that we have done previously on developed 10 water, has been over a different aquifer. 11 Q Over a different aquifer? 12 A Right . 13 Q But I think your testimony was that, in your opinion, 14 it was the same water system? 15 A No, you misinterpreted that . 16 Q Excuse me . Would you explain what you did mean? 17 A Mr. Seyfried or the Krouse Ranch overlies two fairly 18 separate aquifers . They are shallow water bodies . One has 19 been known as the Lost Creek Aquifer; the other as being called 20 the Hay Gulch Aquifer. The one under consideration is the Hay 21 Gulch system. 22 Q In your opinion, is the one under that we are 23 considering, is it within the same water system as Mr. Seyfried ' s 24 property at the Krouse Ranch? Are we talking about the same 25 water system? Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 110 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE ❑ENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 A When we talk about the Hay Gulcn Aquifer, yes . A 2 portion of his land overlies that and his land overlies another 3 one . 4 Q But a portion of it overlies the same Aquifer, and 5 you have made no recommendation to him concerning pesticides? 6 A No, sir. 7 Q Are you familiar with the potential dangers or 8 problems which arise from calcium chloride in irrigation water 9 or do you believe there is? 10 A In general, I have been familiar with it, yes . 11 Q Do you consider that to be a danger? 12 A It can be if it is excessive . 13 Q Are you aware of the present content of the Platte 14 River of calcium chloride? 15 A Not in specific numbers, no . 16 Q Does your study in your expertise, Doctor, extend int 17 the area of land or soil qualities and the different properties 18 of the soil with regard to their retentions of chemicals or 19 straining qualities of the soil? 20 A To some extent, yes . 21 Q Are you familiar with what the soil properties are in 22 that regard underlying the project that we are discussing? 23 A My familiarity with that would be entirely from the 24 hydrological survey study that has been made . 25 Q Would you agree with the fact that the danger which Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 111 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-8062 1 is potentially present, the danger you have discussed, that that 2 danger is in some degree at least proportionate to the soil 3 qualities, to the ability to strain the things out? That the 4 danger can be lessened if the soil has properties which do tend 5 to retain them rather than allow them to go through such as a 6 clay soil? 7 A To some extent I would agree, yes . This is a factor, 8 right . 9 Did you hear Dr. Viets ' testimony yesterday to the 10 effect that, in his opinion, having studied this, that he felt 11 that this was an ideal location? 12 A I didn ' t hear this . 13 MR. VENABLE: I have no further questions . 14 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : I have got one question . 15 What happens to Sections 27, 28, 29 and 3 on 16 surface drainage if we happen to get four inches of rain in 17 about thirty minutes? All that sludge washes down on those 18 three or four sections? 19 A Let me look at those sections -- 27, 28, 29 -- 20 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : The one off to the left there, it 21 all runs that way, and 3 . Well all that area around tnere; say 22 we get one of those four inch rains out there and that one inch 23 of sludge washes off there . In ' 65 it rained for a week. 24 A The lower sections would be the most vulnerable, 25 maybe the lines between 29 and 30 is about the lowest area, Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 112 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 60206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 actually 27 is about a topographic divide, the slope is certainly 2 in that direction . I don ' t know the area well enough to know 3 what the surface run-off situation is generally, but under 4 severe conditions certainly some could run off, I would expect . 5 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : I want to know what happens to 6 cattle when the sludge runs off. 7 A I don ' t believe I could really be qualified to answer 8 that further other than that the topography would indicate that 9 run-off could go in that direction . 10 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : I am concerned about the disease 11 of those cattle in that area where that could transfer disease 12 down there on them. 13 A I really would not be qualified to answer that . 14 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : How do we know when this area is 15 over-fertilized and who is going to control it if we got good 16 water under there other than the State Department, who is 17 going to control that for over-fertilization? You could answer 18 that, Mr. Venable . What assurance do we have that this area 19 won ' t be over-fertilized and if this nitrogen gets down to the 20 water? 21 MR. VENABLE: The only one that controls is the State 22 Health Department and they have the most control over the thing 23 that we are discussing here . It is just allowing somebody to 24 build . If you can zone for it and if they don ' t build it 25 properly, then it is some other authority certainly that should Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 113 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 i FLFPHONE 399-6062 1 clamp down on it . In our case, we feel like we have got a 2 pretty substantial investment and we are more than willing to 3 cooperate with any State Health Department and County agency 4 that wants to monitor us, but I think that you are going to 5 find out that because of our investment and our seriousness 6 about the project, we are probably going to place a much closer 7 restriction on our own operation than the Health Department 8 would place on us or perhaps even the neighbors would insist on 9 because I think we are going to be doing more careful monitoring 10 and if we destroy our own water system, we have destroyed our 11 own ranch. 12 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : Are you going to be, in your own 13 monitoring system, to be able to find out how much of this stuff 14 is going? 15 MR. VENABLE : Yes, sir. 16 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : The County won ' t have to pay for 17 that? 18 MR. VENABLE: No, sir. In fact, we have agreed that 19 the conditions on there, Mr. Chairman, pretty well spell those 20 out . We have agreed that we would be responsible for the 21 removal of the samples . Of course, if the Health Department 22 wants to come and check on our removal, that is certainly 23 within their province, but certainly we will be responsible for 24 the expense of the monitoring, for the removal of the samples, 25 transportation of them if they wish, and we will probably be Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 114 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TFLEEHONF 399-6062 1 taking samples of our own more frequently than the Health 2 Department is going to be interested in checking. So you will 3 probably have a duel check system. Our client, it is obvious 4 by the testimony, retained several people who will not 5 terminate their involvement with the project when it is built . 6 In fact, their involvement with it will just be started . 7 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : Are you going to be able to hold 8 that sludge on your property in case it becomes a nuisance? 9 MR. VENABLE : Yes, Mr. Chairman, we have present the 10 gentleman who did the water survey and the topography surveys, 11 and we intend to call him to explain some of these things since 12 the concern has come up . Mr . Owens has done a complete survey 13 of this problem for us, and I think he can answer whatever 14 questions the Commission has with regard to it . I will just 15 let him testify to it, but we have the testimony available . 16 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON: Do you have anything else, Stow? 17 MR. WITWER: I would like to call Mr . Bob Seyfried . 18 BOB SEYFRIED 19 called as a witness for examination, being first duly sworn to 20 state the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, 21 testified on his oath as follows : 22 DIRECT EXAMINATION 23 BY MR. WITWER: 24 Q Would you please state your name? 25 A Bob Seyfried . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREFK 115 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 00205 TEL FPHONF 399-5062 1 Q What is your occupational profession? 2 A Rancher. 3 Q And is your ranch the ranch that has been referred to 4 as the Krouse Ranch or the F Quarter Circle Ranch? 5 A Yes . 6 Q And is that in the location generally indicated by 7 Dr . Bittinger in his testimony? 8 A Yes . On the one section that he referred to . 9 Q What is, from that section, the remaining portion of 10 your ranch? 11 A Well, the remaining portion of it, some of it, is 12 north basically, the big end of it would be west . 13 Q You have retained Dr. Bittinger on occasion 14 previously; have you not? 15 A Yes . 16 Q And what has been the nature of that? 17 A Well, mainly to develop a water system to try and 18 find where we had our sources of ground water. Where this 19 could be used and utilized to the best advantage . 20 Q Can you state whether or not you have been concerned 21 about ground water in your area previously? 22 A Yes . 23 Q Have you heard all the testimony brought out in this 24 hearing? 25 A Yes . Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 116 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 Q And can you state whether or not you favor or oppose 2 the application? 3 A Well, I oppose it . Q What are your reasons? 5 A Well, if the Board will pardon me and Ed will pardon 6 me, because you can tear me to pieces if you want to get in on 7 legal things . I am going to speak strictly and quite frankly as just a rancher out there that I am concerned about the 9 nitrate situation . We do have a good clean source of under- 10 ground water in the Hay Gulch area, which I am sure you people 11 are as well aware of as I am. I have gone through the 12 experience of nitrate problems with cattle . None that originated 13 on this ranch, but cattle that were purchased outside and brought 14 in . I know the grief and the financial loss that can result 15 from nitrate . 16 Yes, I am concerned about it . I have heard the 17 testimony, but I am not sure yet exactly what I have heard from 18 the standpoint of numbers . I have heard safeguards talked, I 19 have heard health services talked, possibly you folks here can 20 answer a question for me . I am a little dumbfounded on the 21 amounts that we are talking here . Now it has been stated in 22 testimony that the amount of sludge that would be delivered 23 daily would cover approximately 15 acres one inch thick. Of 24 the deposit, I mean five percent solid, ninty-five percent 25 water . Also, that in a period of ten days we are talking Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 117 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 approximately 150 acres . Now, I understood yesterday, and 2 correct me if I am wrong, that you gentlemen were talking about 3 starting out with one sprinkler operation to cover approximately 4 a quarter section . I will take that on assumption because I 5 don ' t know. W-ell, it seemb to me in a ten-day period of time 6 yon have covered with one inch of this material what is going 7 to be under this one sprinkler system, and what is going to 8 happen the other 355 days out of the year as you are going in 9 there? It seems like every ten days you are going to 'be adding 10 one inch of this material -- and, well, now wait a minute, I 11 am just trying to find out -- but approximately now Dr. 12 Bittinger gave me this analysis sample which I think probably 13 is the one that Dr. Viets has worked out from the sludge 14 analysis, and here again look at it and tear it apart, but it 15 appears that there is approximately -496 pounds of nitrogen 16 would go on per acre inch on this analysis . Well now, if we 17 have got 4s6 pounds of nitrogen going on, and I don ' t know how 18 much is going to the air, haw much will be utilized by crops, 19 and corn crop is going to use a little over 300 pounds a year, 20 is what the farmer is going to put on this thing . But we are 21 adding by this, it seems to me, in 30 days we have put 22 approximately 15OO pounds of nitrogen over this area. Now 23 maybe I am -- I don 't know if my figures aren ' t correct or this 24 is the way I am looking at it -- now from what 1 have heard 25 Mr. Venable, certainly I wasn 'ttrying to get in and tear Associated Shorthand Reporters p IN CHERRY CREEK 118 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 anybody apart . Maybe I nit the crux of the thing, and I would 2 like the Chairman ' s permission if we could just ask Mr. Viets 3 and Mr. Bardwell to answer that question and discuss it . 4 DR. VIETS : You have this table that you are looking 5 at 496 pounds per acre inch was based upon undigested sludge 6 and after that you state in parenthesis 25 . This is based upon 7 digested sludge which is running about two and one-half percent 8 nitrogen, by weight basis, and a recent sample of sludge has 9 only about a third about as much nitrogen in it so it could be 10 as low as 150 pounds per acre inch. 11 MR. SEYFRIED: Well, Dr. Viets, now you say, "a more 12 recent sample ." In other words, then, it is possible for this 13 nitrate content to vary coming out? 14 DR. VIETS : Yes, it depends on how the sewage plant 15 is operating . 16 MR. SEYFRIED: Well, what assurance do we nave then 17 that this thing is not going to also go way up? I mean, I don ' 18 know, I am just asking questions now. I am spooked of the 19 thing frankly . 20 MR. BARDWELL: The operation of the plant operators 21 are involved in the last year sequence of digestion procedures 22 which produces the bulk, but also reduces the nitrogen very 23 significantly . We are embarking on this program on even a 24 broader program. They are now installing aerobic digestion 25 equipment which from their point is desirable in order to Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 119 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80706 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 reduce the quantity of the sludge and improve its properties 2 for transportation . It is definitely our intention to apply 3 the material at a rate which is consistent with the nitrogen 4 us-e . Periodically moving the pivot -system during all the good 5 weather zone . 6 MR. WITWER: Won ' t you be obliged to accept sewage 7 as it comes out of that plant, and you have got to put it some- 8 place? 9 MR. BARDWELL: We are not obliged to do so . It is to part of our proposal to the District that they provide -- 11 MR. WITWER: What is the tolerance as far as nitrogen 12 content is concerned? 13 MR. BARDWELL: It is a number of numbers . We can -- 14 I don 't have this with me -- but in any event, it is a thing 15 which is under control . 16 MR. SEYFRIED: This is one of the things that has me 17 concerned . I have heard this all through this hearing, "this 18 is under control, " or "this we have regulations for, " but no 19 one ' s come up with what they are saying. This is what I am 20 trying to find out because invariably, and maybe I have been 21 snake bit, gentlemen, but invariably when somebody comes up and 22 says, now this isn 't going to hurt me, if it has hurt me, it �3 has cost me a bundle to prove it and the other guy sits there 24 and it is up to me to prove that you have hurt me, and I just 25 hate to get myself in this jackpot again . And so far I haven ' t Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 120 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE G DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399.6062 1 heard a thing, and I am not being contradictory now or trying 2 to cut anybody down, but I still haven ' t heard anything, I have 3 heard restrictions, and I have heard safeguards, but I haven ' t 4 heard anything on what they are . We are talking here nitrogen, 5 you are not coming up and saying, "all right, we are going to 6 put a maximum amount of nitrogen per acre on this ground per year. " 8 MR. BARDWELL: We will say the condition, I . think, 9 you are looking for the existence of nitrogen and its position 10 in the soil; am I correct? 11 MR. SEYFRIED: Well, the fear of it coming there, but 12 once it gets there we are hurt . 13 MR. BARDWELL: Well, what we are saying is we are 14 supplying the core drillings of the area in order to analyze 15 by department and position the nitrogen concentration . I am 16 not contrary to standards, but I think at this point we don ' t 17 know between the organic and ammonia nitrogen . The condition of 18 the early -- 19 DR. VIETS : Jan I elucidate a little bit on this 20 problem and what the pollution potential of total nitrogen is? 21 I am going to start with the farm out here where 22 the farmer puts on 150 pounds of commercial fertilizer. At 23 most, about 50 to 60 percent of that is absorbed by the crop . 24 Where the rest foes, nobody knows for sure . Some of it can 25 leach, some of it can remain in it, some of it can be Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 121 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 denitrified , some of it can go in the air as ammonia. Now, what 2 would come to a cattle feedyard? We have excreted about 25 3 tons of nitrogen a year, half of which is in ammonia form, and 4 we don' t know but we think probably all of that ammonia, 5 practically all of it , escapes into the air. Now we come to 6 sludge , and we talk about how much total nitrogen can I put 7 on that land . We have got so many unknowns for example , BO 8 percent of this nitrogen in sludge is ammonia. We don' t know 9 whether we will get 20 percent or 30 percent of the nitrogen 10 in the soil , the rest going off into the air. We don't know 11 that for sure -- which nitrogen that does get into the soil . 12 Then we have to pattern it between what is absorbed by the plant , 13 what is converted to nitrate and comes down and becomes 14 -denitrified , and one cannot give precise answers to these 15 questions on the total accurate basis on what is a safe level . 16 The only thing one can do is proceed and then keep track of 17 what is moving down and as soon as it gets below the root zone , 18 then you know you have nitrogen on the way to the water table. 19 Now there is a safeguard. You can go into alfalfa, which is 20 a -deep-rooted crop, twenty feet deep, and it will fill it all 21 back up so you have a safeguard here if it does get below the 22 root zone , you can by crop management get it back up. 23 MR. VENABLE: This is one of the reasons that 24 yesterday somebody was examining and questioning Bardwell with 25 regard to the exact length of time it was going to take us to Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 122 AT 3037 FAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 move those sprinklers; how long it would take us to complete a 2 whole project on this section; how long it would be before we 3 went on to somewhere else . This is the same question I have 4 asked and have been told by Dr. Viets and the others that we 5 don ' t know because we don 't know what the properties of this 6 nitrogen is going to be . Therefore, we don ' t know how long it 7 is going to take ; therefore, we don ' t know how long it is before B we move on . I think all they are saying is that we don ' t know 9 what the nitrification or the changes that may take place will 10 be since we don ' t know how rapidly it will take place . All we 11 can do is set up the system in one area and apply it and test 12 it until we find out that the top soil or the usable part of it; 13 the part that we are interested in, has been built up into 14 humus and has started, in very unscientific terms, letting it 15 seep on through, and when we determine this, I think it is fair 16 to say, Dr. Viets, isn ' t it, that when we determine by excess 17 quantities of it going beyond the root zone as you said 18 yesterday, Ithink four or five feet beyond it, there I know, 19 and I am sure that on the second or by the time we made the 20 second or third move, it is going to be a more predictable 21 thing assuming that weather conditions and soil conditions 22 stay about the same . But in the initial stages, we are just 23 going to have to keep a constant monitor on it until we learn 24 what the properties of this are and what, it will do and there- 25 fore learn how fast we have got to keep moving . 'The point is -Associated Shorthand Reporters IN G-HERRY CREEK 123 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 when we talk about safeguards, we mean we -are going to be making 2 these checks . We know how much nitrogen is going, and we are 3 going to have it analyzed and we are going to have the soil 4 analyzed on a regular basis . We are not just going to go on 5 through the system and keep pouring the nitrogen and all of 6 the other properties to it . It is not going to be that kind of 7 an indefinite operation . 8 MR. SEYFRIED: Is that all down in writing or are we 9 just visiting about this today? 10 MR. VENABLE: We are not visiting about it at all . We 11 have in the first place discussed the methods by which we have 12 removed it which Dr . -Bittinger said he has removed and how to 13 figure out how to remove, hoW to remove the samples . We nave 14 very specific recommendations which we intend to follow and 15 which are a part of our evidence here as to how we are going to 16 operate and how we are going to remove and the recommendations 17 there as to the -methods and all we can say is meet sanitary 18 standards or meet the standards act by the Health Department, 19 the County Health Department regardless of what the -Health 20 Department ' s interests may be or may not be . If we take it 21 to them and ask them for an analysis, a think we are going to 22 get it . �3 MR. SEYFRIED: What Dr. Viets said yesterday, he had 24 a little fan with the baby and the cow situation and I agree, 25 but I do think that I haven ' t heard of anybody that has talked Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 12l�`t -AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 to any veterinarians on this thing . Now we do have some unique 2 problems whether we want to admit it or not with the livestock 3 fields that we do not have with a public health situation . For 4 example, and I think Dr. Viets will agree to this, on this 5 nitrogen thing where we may not agree strictly a nitrogen 6 poisoning can lock out any assimilation of vitamins . Where you 7 get into a vitamin A deficiency in cattle which can to just as 8 big a problem on a breeding herd as you can with the straight 9 standpoint of a nitrogen poison, and I think I am taking too 10 much of your time . I just wanted to say what my fears were on 11 the thing and that I still haven ' t seen anything really in 12 black and white that this is going to happen and if it doesn ' t 13 happen this way it is shut down, so I don ' t think this is up 14 to the Board to decide . 15 MR. WITWER: We have no other testimony . I would 16 like to present a summation . 17 MR. VENABLE: I would like to ask Bob just one 18 question . 19 CROSS EXAMINATION 20 BY MR. VENABLE: 21 Q You do understand, though, and agree that from the 22 testimony that we have got many other pre cntly existing method 23 of fertilization ; barnyard operation, feedlot operation, and 24 other things that do constitute the same hazards and they are 25 not being checked or tested in any method whatsoever? Don 't Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 125 -AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80205 TELEPHONE 399 5062 I these concern you, don 't you agree that -there should be less 2 reason to be concerned about a method which, not only by our own 3 choice, because we are experimenting with it, but also because 4 we have been subjected to some pretty heavy scrutiny, that no- 5 body -else is subjected to in this area, that we are probably 6 a saf-er operation because we are being regulated toward an 7 optimum maximum control where there are other operations that 8 the scientists have testified are not that same dangers exist -- 9 would you agree that we are probably less of a threat from that 10 standpoint? 11 A Ed, I am concerned in the Lost Creek area because of 12 the situation that you are speaking of. We have the fertilization , 13 and this is why that I am doubly concerned and I think that 14 probably your gentlemen will agree that we do not and have not 15 had the farming situation in the Hay Gulch -area that we do 16 have in the general Lost Creek drainage . There is not the amount 17 that has been go3-ng on . We have npt reached the pollution 18 problem, if you want to call it as such, and you bet I am 19 concerned about it, Ed, I -am not sitting here trying to throw 20 brick bats at you people or your idea, but I am just plumb 21 spooked of, like I say, 1400,O00 gallons a day going out . This 22 farmer isn 't going ant, you bet I am concerned about him if he 23 overdoes it, but he is riot going to go out and apply it every 2i day and this is maybe you folks have got the answers to these 25 things, maybe you hav-e got the control ; I don ' t know. Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 126 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER COLORADO 80205 TrLEPHONE 399-6062 1 Q In some ways, Bob, wouldn ' t you agree when we are 2 putting 400,000 gallons only five percent of that is anything 3 but water and in some ways it would seem, wouldn 't you agree, 4 that it is a little safer to have us applying that five percent 5 over a long period of time that there is less danger than in 6 the instance when the farmer puts his entire year' s supply of 7 fertilizer on at cne time and then you get a heavy rain storm 8 that night? 9 A I don ' t know. I couldn 't answer that question . 10 MR. VENABLE: I have nothing else . 11 REDI-RECT EXAMINATION 12 BY MR. WITWER: 13 Q Do you fertilize yourself? 14 A No . 15 Q Dr . Bittinger had no occasion to warn you about 16 fertilizer because you don ' t have that kind of an operation, an 17 that is generally true in the Hay Gulch area. This is a ranchi g 18 area principally . This is not a farming area? 19 A Well, the Hay Gulch area, we are thinking about, is 20 probably a non-fertilized area . This is an area that we are 21 speaking of . 22 MR. WITWER: I have no other questions and we have 23 no further testimony . 24 MR. VENABLE: Before you ask us to finish, would you 25 like to hear the testimony from Mr . Owens concerning the Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 127 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 topographical problems that you have inquired into? 2 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON : I want it in the record . I want 3 to know who is responsible . 4 WILLARD OWENS, 5 called as a witness for examination, being first duly sworn to 6 state the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, 7 testified on his oath as follows : 8 DIRECT EXAMINATION 9 BY MR. VENABLE : 10 Q Would you state your name, please? 11 A Willard G . Owens . 12 Q What is your occupation, Mr. Owens? 13 A I am a hydrogeological engineer, which means ground 14 water geologist and ground water engineer. 15 Q L'ould you state briefly to the Commissioners what 16 your educational preparation and qualifications for this type 17 of work is? 18 A I ran a well drilling business in Mississippi in 19 the ' 50 's, and I got my Bachelor ' s of Science Degree from the 20 Mississippi School of Mines where I majored in geology and had 21 a large number of engineering courses along with my geology 22 courses and specialized in ground water geology and ground 23 water engineering. I worked two years in West Pakistan on a 2A ground water development and land reclamation project . I was 25 with a consulting firm in Denver for a little over four years Associated Shorthand Reporters 128 IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-606? 1 working as a ground water geologist and as a ground water 2 engineer. I was associated with Nelson Haley Patterson & 3 Quirk Engineering here in Greeley for a little over two years , 4 ' 67 , ' 68 and part of ' 69 . I now have my own firm, Willard 5 Owens & Associates , in Denver which we specialize in water 6 resources engineering, but especially in ground water geology 7 and ground water engineering as it relates to the development 8 of ground water supplies . 9 Q Are you familiar with the project which is the subjec 10 of the application to the Commission at the present time? 11 A Yes , sir. 12 Q How long have you been familiar with that project and 13 in what capacity are you related with it? 1-4 A I have acted as consultant to Western-Agri Systems 15 for Mr. Nieman and Mr. Bardwell for almost a year now, and we 16 did a hydrogeological survey of the area. Prior to that time 17 in 1967 while associated with Nelson Haley Patterson & Quirk, 18 I studied. the Lost Creek area for the Colorado Ground Water 19 Commission and offered the engineering report on the lost 20 Creek drainage basin that included the geology and hydrology of 21 Hay Gulch area and since working with Western-Agri Systems , or 22 for them, I continued the previous study of the Hay Gulch area 23 by studying specifically Sections 32 , 13 , 34 and. Section 3 of 24 the project area and supervised the construction of six 25 observation wells , test holes in which we took soil samples all Associated Shorthand Reporters 129 IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 the way down to the underlying shale bedrock. The summary or 2 the result of this report is included in our report on the 3 hydrogeological survey of the area and it is an exhibit, I -4 don ' t remember the number, but the exhibit that has been 5 presented in evidence here . 6 Based upon your -- I realize that the conclusions are 7 there -- based upon your tests, did you reach any conclusions or 8 make any recommendations concerning the advisability of this 9 project in this area? 10 A Yes, I did . Mr. Nieman, when he first asked me to 11 do this study, was concerned and his request was to study the 12 underground water conditions to be sure that enough information 13 is known about the area and we can make recommendations on this 14 development or this area for development so the ground water 15 that occurs in the area will not be polluted, or contaminated 16 and if there is any chance for this, what would we recommend 17 be done to protect this from happening. This was actually part 18 of our agreement when we started because I am as concerned as 19 Mr. Bittinger is about the quality of our aquifers . 20 Q Did you reach any conclusion as to whether or not 21 dangers existed? 22 A Yes, sir. 23 Q What were these conclusions? 24 A The conclusions of this, of course, that if there is 25 an unmanaged, uncontrolled mix of fertilizer on an area where Associated Shorthand-Reporters IN LHERRV c-REEK 130 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 3996062 1 the soils are sandy, where they overlie shallow ground water, 2 the potential hazard of pollution and contamination is there 3 throughout all the drainages and throughout the South Platte 4 area; yes . 5 Q Are there reasons why, in this particular area, eithe 6 because of the speed of the water or any reason, are there any 7 reasons why the danger is not as prevalent here as it might be 8 in other areas? 9 A Yes, sir . First of all, we are relatively remote 10 from other developments, including the cattle developments, 11 cattle operations immediately north of there with respect to 12 ground water movement anyway . Second, three and a portion 13 of Section 33 does overlie a bedrock high, which is shown in 14 the cross section in our report and this bedrock high separates 15 the Kiowa Basin drainage from the Hay Gulch drainage and 16 associated the bedrock high as shown in the cross section are 17 numerous clay layers which are quite thick; I don ' t remember 18 the thickness, but they are shown in the record which retard 19 the vertical migration or movement of water to the water 20 table . In fact, there is essentially no water table in portion 21 of 34 as shown on our map . This means the water must, if any 22 goes down at all, must go down a number of feet, 30 feet before 23 it even gets to the bedrock and in this, within this 30 feet 24 area, it must go through numerous clay layers which, as Dr. 25 Viets described, sort of has a fixation for these minerals, Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 131 AT 3037 EAST THIRD-AVENUE DENVER. ACH_OHADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 these components in the water. So this negates any kind of 2 sapid movement of water down. Also, this is a geological part , 3 also the water that underlies this area is an old sub-surface 4 channel. It doesn 't migrate , the water does move from south 5 to north through the channel and this area is on the very eastern 6 edge of that channel. The water table is quite flat , which me ns 7 the ground water movement or rate of movement northward is ver 8 slow, what the actual rate is is hard to determine , but the 9 sands in this water is or has a relatively low permeability both 10 vertically and horizontal compared to the alluvial sands and 11 gravel to the South Platte drainage. So it isn' t the kind of 12 rapid ground water movement that one might visualize. Because 13 of this, the transmissibility of formation would be somewhat 14 less than real good clean sand and gravel. It is because of 15 this the rate of migration of any of the chemical components 16 under those conditions will be very slow, if they even get 17 down there. The depth of the water table is 20 to 30 feet in 18 the far western part of the area, those water levels and dates 19 taken are also shown on our report. As a safeguard then 20 described previously in the report since it is really a 21 summary report , but when the well is put into operation, the 22 well for which we have a permit which we have yet to construct , 23 the water level will decline in the immediate area of the 24 well , the rate of movement toward the north will be retarded 25 and so the rate of movement of the water toward the north Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE 132 DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 393-6062 1 will actually be left once this thing is in operation because 2 we are going to pump some water out which will either flatten 3 or reverse the trends of the water table . This water will -then 4 be blended with the imported water, which by the way 4O0,000 -5 gallons per day is less than 300 gallons per minute, so it 6 isn ' t the large quantity that it sounds . When we talk about 7 400,O0O , it is a lot larger sounding than 300 gallons per 8 minute , which is less than a third of normal well irrigation 9 level, This is 95 percent water that we are talking about. 10 But the movement that there is , we will slow it down and I 11 have recommended in the report and I have recommended to the 12 consultants and before the other Commissions to the company 13 and before the Court Commissions that their monitoring be done 14 on the stock wells in the area. We recommended this , I 1-5 personally did to the State Health Department that all the 16 monitoring be done and any kind of concentration of nitrates 17 or other components that might take place, if for some reason 18 there is some mismanagement , which we surely hope will not be. 19 This concentration of nitrates will be denitrified by the 20 natural ground water that is in the area anyway. If the 21 monitoring is such by the county and state and by the other 22 people in the area, the nitrate content can be determined 23 while it is still at the very low level and stopped before it 24 does reach any higher level. This is the kind of monitoring 25 that I am talking about. You don' t wait until the problem gets Associated Shorthand Reporters 133 IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE ❑ENVER. COLORADO 80206 7t LEHHONE 399-6062 serious and then say, "Let ' s shut it down. " I think it should 2 include quality analysis , how often we don ' t know yet. It 3 should be done often enough because when nitrate content starts 4 to climb at all, then much care would -have to be taken by all 5 the concerned about this . 6 Q With specific reference , Mr. Owens , to the question 7 asked by Commissioner Anderson, he asked what is to prevent 8 problems arising from sludge running across the top of the 9 land; from being carried across the top of the land. Have you 10 studied the topography or do you have any opinions based on 11 your studies concerning this danger? 12 A Yes . This is one of the questions that those Mr. 13 McCall and I discussed at some length when we first got started 14 on the contract. You might recall, Mr. Anderson, that the 15 slides that were shown yesterday on the area showed no drainage 16 whatsoever in any direction in this area, and I have been 17 through there. I have been stuck in those sand dunes by is myself for four hours on one occasion and there is no drainage. 19 The water that does run off of these sand hills accumulates in 20 loT,' areas and those were the green patches -in those slides . 21 Although the general topography, if you look at it from the 22 general sense , would be off from the east and to the west and 23 somewhat to the north, but from a local runoff standpoint and 24 particularly with the benches and put in there solely in the 25 design of the area, the drainage would be locked to the extent Associated-Shorthand-Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 134 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER COLORADO 80206 1 ELEPHONE 399 6062 1 as it is now. 2 MR. VENABLE: Do you have any further questions , Mr. 3 Chairman? 4 CROSS EXAMINATION 5 BY :MR. WITWER: 6 Q What is the quality of the water in the Bay Gulch 7 aquifer at the present time'? 8 A I don' t h6ve any detailed quality analysis of the 9 water. I sample the stock wells in the area of section 3 and 10 I submitted them to Western-Agri Systems and I haven ' t seen 11 the results of it. It is good quality water. Now I suppose 12 those analyses are available . 13 Q But it is good quality water? 14 A Yes . 15 Q The water replacement that you are speaking of from 16 the sewage sludge that would not be as high quality as presently 17 in the area? 18 A No , sir. 19 Q Did you mention anything about alfalfa planting? 20 A Dr. Viets mentioned this , but I was here when he 21 stated this . 22 Q Let me ask you a couple of things . You were talking 23 about a bedrock high in section 33 and 34. This is in one 24 area. There are water tables of 20 to 30 feet in depth in 25 certain areas . [ Associated Shorthand Reporters 135 IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST T-HIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 A Yes , sir. 2 Q And so the Commission understands when you are talking 3 about the bedrock high, you -are talking about one portion of it 4 and this is somewhE re in the center. 5 A A large portion on one of the plates in my report 6 -were below the -bedrock elevations , and WE also show the water 7 table elevations were presented by contours and describes that s area that is shale high which is' actually just not a small 9 -portion of it. It i:- a fairly large area. It is large enough 10 that the water table on the east edge of section 34 is entirely 11 separated from the water table on the west side of the divide 12 which is under the western part of the property. The water 13 table sits like this an the west side and the east side and 14 this shale boundary, clay boundary, also on tap of the clay, 15 actually separates this area above the bedrock high. 16 Q You said there was eventual slaw movement and that it 17 would take a long time to pollute or contaminate the undergrounc is water in this area. Isn' t it likewise true that it would take 19 a long time to decontaminate if it once occurred because of 20 that same fact? 21 A If you let it get to extreme proportions , absolutely. 22 Q Once it becomes polluted, if adverse chemicals -were 23 introduced in enough quantities , it would be a doubly difficult 24 problem to recharge because of the slow movement; is that 25 correct? Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037{-q5T THIRD AVENUE 136 DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 A That is true. In fact , the water is moving very 2 slowly. The ground water mare is actually water from Kiowa 3 Creek and it is coming from the area that is being fertilized 4 and everything on ultimately this water table will not be under 5 present conditions because of the farming upstream will not be 6 of the quality it is now. Probably not of the quality now, 7 it was fifty years ago and the quality is going to get worse 8 because of the commercial fertilization, and absolutely no 9 controls whatsoever in the Kiowa Creek area, and those soils in 10 the Kiowa Creek area are very sandy soils . In fact , they are 11 gravelly i-n many areas and they immediately overlie the same 12 water tables that is 20 or 30 feet down here, -So what we are 13 talking about, there is the concern over this fertilization, 14 is a basin-wide concern outside of Hay Gulch and these materials 15 are now getting into the ground water of the quality of the 16 water and the Kiowa system is deteriorating. I am sure Mr. 17 Osborne is vary well aware of this. The quality--this ground 18 water movement is going northward and is going into the -Hay 19 Gulch area--and actually this quality will deteriorate even 20 down in this area, so we aren 't introducing something that has 21 not been existing at all, And I personally feel that with 22 proper management and the agricultural community consultants to 23 manage, whereas in the past each man applies whatever he feels 24 like applying. 25 Q I think -we share your concern that we keep this Associated Shorthand Reporters 137 IN CHE-RRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 uncontaminated and unpolluted as possible. 2 MR. WITWER: I have no further questions . 3 MR. VENABLE: We have no further rebuttals . 4 MR. ASHLEY : Would these consultants still be nn the 5 payroll after we approve this? 6 MR. VENABLE: Yes , Mr. Bardwell as well as Dr. 7 Hinesly from Illinois . 8 MR. WITWER: If this all moves so slowly as you are 9 talking about, where does the 7000 acre foot annual recharge 10 come from? How do we get the fluctuation from our wells out 11 there in the summer time where that right now we are probably 12 sitting at well roughly 12, 1-4 feet to our water. This goes 13 down then during the summer months when the pumping is going on. 14 Then if this moves so slowly, where do Zoe have the same water 15 level then the following spring? 16 MR. OWENS : In Hay Gulch the recharge to this Hay 17 Gulch area is made up of two things . First, the underflow from 18 the Riowa drainage. Secondly, it is made up of the seasonal 19 migrations . A year of heavy parts precipitation will show a 20 rise in the water table. Perhaps the next year or the year 21 after that , there is a delay in that very sandy soils with 22 thirteen inches of annual rainfall on the average fluctuating 23 considerably, so you have some years of high level or some 24 years of low level , but the effects of precipitation are 25 founde-d upon the base flow that comes into the area. Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CHEEK 138 HAT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80200 TELEPHONE_ 399 HUED MR. WITWER: Other than your own pumpings , what 2 causes it to come back? In other words , if this all moves in 3 so -slowly -- I am not grasping your idea. In other words , we 4 are talking about the surface area where you people are and 5 that this can' t possibly get to us fora long time yet. Where 6 does this water get to that we get each year? 7 MR OWENS : First of all, the water recharges the water 8 that gets into the aquifer and moves northward. In addition to 9 this water in transient storage and when a well is under 10 operation, it creates a zone of depression so the water will 11 flow to the well and this migrates outward, depending on the 12 thickness of the formation, the character of the materials , and 13 everything else. You are actually filling hack that zone of 14 depression and that zone will come back to the static water 15 level of the year before or something similar to that because 16 the water that is surrounding the -well itself is filling in 17 that hole. That is what is coming back, it is the storage that 18 you are pulling from temporarily that fills the zone back; not 19 just the water moving down. 20 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON: Let 's sum this thing up. 21 MR. VENABLE: Without going into too much of the same 22 details that we have -been through and that we opened with, I 23 would just like to point out a few very basic things. 24 When we first started, we were a little 25 surprised quite frankly. Our clients came to Greeley simply AssociatedShorthand-Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 139 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80306 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 with the intention of informing on this project. We have never 2 been certain why we were concerned with zoning for agricultural 3 use and we are still not , but it seemed to us to be a reasonable 4 and prudent way and acceptable method to County officials to 5 air the problems and discuss them and make available what 6 information was desired so that we would have a better under- 7 standing of the entire project. 8 As far as the reason for my objections , and 11 9 mope the Chairman doesn' t object to them too bad, the reason 10 for my objections , for going into things with regard to water 11 levels and water tables and so forth is simply that this is not 12 the jurisdiction a£ this Board; and because it is not the 13 jurisdiction of this Board, it is mot a subject that we went 14 into that hearing and into this hearing prepared to argue the 15 points that are proper far this Board' s jurisdiction. But we 16 certainly don' t object to any giving you full information on 17 the way. We appreciate your concern with the problems and 18 especially as those problems relate to the passible transporta- 19 tion by water of harmful elements. We all concede, our people, 20 our experts have conceded, the people who testified for the 21 opponents have all conceded that this danger exists . We are 22 probably more aware, I shouldn' t say we, the two principal 23 experts who have -testified for us are probably more aware of 24 those dangers than anybody else in this room. And they are 25 aware of them because they have studied them in detail. 'They Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 140 AT 3037 EASTTHIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80,06 TELEPHONE 399-6062 I are also aware, however, and the opponents witnessesare agreed 2 on this point that the vary same dangers , the very same potential 3 dangers exist as a result of the use of commercial fertilizers, 4 as a result of the use of barnyard fertilizer and as a result of 5 general mismanagement . Simply to say that one person who is 6 applying one kind of fertiliser is going to be prudent in his 7 application of it and assumes that we are not going to be 8 prudent in our application of it seems to fly in the face of 9 reason, in view of the fact that there is no testimony that 10 anybody else in Weld County has ever had the -kind of staff that 11 we have and analyst that we have hired to protect against 12 mismanagement . 13 In response to Mr. Ashley's question, yes , we 14 are not through with them, and we hope they are mot through with 15 us . We intend to keep them to protect not only our neighbors , 16 but also to protect ourselves . I don' t think that I was trying 17 to infer that the only reason we are involved in this whole 18 problem in Weld County was a benefit to Weld County. I certainly 19 intended to suggest that we are mere for a profit motive, and I 20 think that every other person who has testified here have come 21 ecause of a profit motive. Trying to point out the benefits 22 hat would incidentally accrue to Weld County in terms of higher 23 ax structure and -so forth, and primarily in terms of removing a 24 ot-ential danger, in fact a very real existing danger, by 25 emoving the calcium chloride that we are now getting thrown at Associated-Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE 141 CfENV ER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 us from the Platte River. Removal or the -increased tax 2 structure was the reason for our being here. 3 If some of our opposition has included people 4 who have suggested that -we should be delayed until somebody els -5 gets a chance to bid or gets a bid completed, this is unrealis- 6 tic. At this point we are requesting a governmental agency to 7 come in and try to control contract negotiations that don't 8 concern the governmental agency at all. We are simply 9 dismissing that argument as being wholly irrelevant and entirel 10 unimportant to even be suggested to this Commission. 11 The fact is that there are potential dangers . 12 They exist ; we know they -exist under improper management . 13 There are, certainly if we don' t , number one, make ourselves 14 and if the Public Health Department are a complete bunch of 15 ineffectual people and incapable or unwilling to do their lob , 16 then there is certainly the potential danger of having us da 17 damage to someone else. We are not here to do that damage 18 because if we do it someone else, sae are going to get hit first 19 and the hardest with our investment . We have examined every 20 means of reasonable analysis and we intend to continue to do so 21 We have followed the proper channels and we feel that we have 22 gone much further than should have been required of us in 23 terms of time and expense. And our j ustificatian for that is 24 perhaps we have learned some things about our own operation too 25 that will be helpful to us in the operation. We intend to Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 11 2 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE LFL DENVER COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 1 operate , probably -we mean to operate, and we ask the Board' s 2 indulgence in not delaying us any longer and if necessary and 3 allowing us to continue with what is a perfectly legitimate 4 application of a substance that is recognized in the statutes 5 of the State of Colorado as being a fertilizer and this is 6 pointed out as in the record of the Planning Commission, Sectio 7 66/1/7 of the statutes of the State of Colorado, and this comes 8 from a statute originally enacted in 1961 and rec-odified in 9 1963 . That particular section again offers further controls as 10 to application and gives the Health Department of the State of 11 Colorado the absolute authority to establish and enforce 12 minimum general sanitary standards as to the quality of the 13 water supply, and either as a result of fertilization, as a 14 result of the use of municipalitiesdumping things , it covers 15 the whole area and very specifically ends up by referring to 16 excretion of human beings or from the sludge of sewage disposal 17 planes to be used as fertilizer. We would state that this is -no 18 difference in application. It will certainly require different 19 kinds of testing, and we know that , but it is a fertilizer 20 recognized as such by the Statutes of the State of Colorado and 21 defined by the statutes as being a fertilizer. C-ertainly 22 fertilization of agriculturallands is not a new concept. Twenty 23 years ago or maybe thirty years ago it was a new concept to use 24 some kind of a powder chemical standard of barnyard fertilizer. 25 Maybe this is a little bit new. Because the State has r-ecogni ;, d Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 143 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 90206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 it for over ten years , but perhaps it is a little difficult 2 concept , but we submit to the Board that we are doing nothing 3 -which is not already recognised in other states and rerogniced 4 in the State of Colorado and providedfor by our statute. 5 We appreciate your time and ask that you indulge 6 in the -pursuit of our projects . 7 MR. WITWER: I think we have heard a very 8 outstanding presentation. We have heard various kinds of 9 assurances . I think that after we leave the slides and the 10 rhetoric and after we leave this room today, -what happens in 11 Sections33 and 34 and 3 will be a matter of grave concern to 12 that area of Weld County and to the entire County for many 13 years to come. The assurances that we have had it provided in 14 your conversations this morning, specifically those which are 15 absent from the specific proposal, I think we recognize as well 16 intended, but I do not believe that we can take them in terms 17 of a zoning question very seriously. I in no way am suggesting 18 that there is any deceit or that they don' t , in fact , intend as 19 of this time to follow through, but in zoning -matters , as the 20 Board is well aware, we must deal with hard facts. We must 21 deal with existing enforceable regulations that this Board has 22 control over. We do not feel that in any manner, the 23 suggestion that the Health _Department will pass adequate 24 regulations that is somehow going to protect the very major 25 underground water questions . And if there is , I think it is Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 144 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 important to realize that this , in fact, in our judgment is not 2 an agricultural use. it is agricultural incidental only. We 3 have not seen the proposals or the contract , whichever it is , 4 we do not know precisely what the agreements that these people 5 -will be obligating with the people of Denver. We don' t know 6 any more than what is stated. As far as I know that there will 7 be stabilized and digested sludge. I think that is the closest 8 thing that we have to objective standards as to what will be 9 placed upon this property. If we know nothing about their 10 obligations and the economic effect that it will have on the 11 petitioner in terms of their obligation to accept any kind of 12 sewage if in any condition and they will be obliged to dump it 13 on the property. We heard about Buckley and Lowry and other 14 things that will happen in the event of a slowdown or stoppage 15 of the plant . But I don' t think that this Board can make a 16 determination, number one, until we know precisely what you are 17 talking about dumping on the property. I think it is certainly 18 clear that it is acquisition of this product from the 19 metropolitan sewer plant that is the profit motive and I don' t 20 think there is anything improper about a profit motive at all, 21 but I think this is where the dollars are. I think it is 22 somewhat unusual to suggest they are being paid to take away 23 the metropolitan sewage from Denver. I think it is terribly 24 unfortunate that we have this problem today because there is 25 absolutely no way that this Board has any control over that Associated ShorthandReporters IN CHERRY CREEK 145 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELE+HONE 3996062 1 quality of the Denver sewage. I am somewhat surprised that, if 2 it is as workable a plan that it works so many places before, I 3 am somewhat surprised that we have to go seventy miles out of 4 Denver to find that suitable location. Z think we must be 5 frank to admit that the lack of density of the population and 6 the lack of political force to tome forward and object is a 7 significant factor because I don' t think that this would be 8 permitted across the street in Lincoln Yark, -1 don't believe 9 that the golf course in Denver--maybe they will , but if it is 10 such a beneficial use--I am surprised that we must go seventy 11 miles away to find its location. 12 Now, I am somewhat reminded that we have 13 attempted on various occasions to find out specifically what 14 these -objective standards are. The only ones that I am aware 15 of are those listed on the plan. Now there are references to 16 recommendations by Willard Owens , but I don't find that even 17 those are embodied in the promises . We don't know what we are 18 being given. This is a Pandora's box. We don't know what is 19 inside, and I think that we can all admit and acknowledge this 20 date that the gentlemen presenting the petition are in good 21 faith and they are well meaning. We have absolutely no 22 assurance that they will not sell or that they will remain 23 -owners . We must he assured in the zoning enactment alone as to 24 what protection we are going to have. I don't feel that we 25 have adequate safeguards . Dr. Viets indicated we have got some Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE 146 DENVER COLORADO 80,06 TELEPHONE 399 6062 unknowns , and I think Dr. Viets ' testimony impressed everyone 2 in this room because of its frankness . I think he is highly 3 competent gentleman and frankly testified with real 4 forthright statements. We got some unknowns . I am somewhat 5 astonished that we have some unknowns in a company that 6 according to the plan yesterday had experienced in identical areas or knew about identical projectsin other states. I 8 am somewhat astonished that we must rely upon conjecture, future experimentation in Weld County, Colorado, to determine 10 whether or not this plan will actually work or not. 11 It is not the burden of the opponents to come 12 forth and to prove or to disapprove anything. We ask questions 13 and the questions that were asked by the opponents have not 14 yet been answered, and I think until these questions are 15 answered without experimentations , until we have assurances 16 somehow that the grave questions that we have raised can be 17 answered with assurance, until those things , I don' t think this 18 Board should approve the zoning. 19 Now, I would just comment that there is one 20 alternative. Now we oppose this zoning but if you do decide 21 that you are going to grant it , I will recommend that you 22 involve some limited area of land at this time and require the 23 petitioners within six months or shortly thereafter to come 24 forward and to show exactly what is happening with respect to 25 the introduction of these materials, how far down is it , how Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037°-4ST T-HIRD AVENUE 1/.'F7 DENVER COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399606: 1 far has it moved; we don' t know. The opponents are not in a 2 position to tell the proponents what winhappen and I don' t 3 think the proponents have told this Board what willhappen. I 4 think until that occurs that this Board will he making a rather 5 grave decision which I think the ramifications of which 6 involving the entire southeast -portion of the south could be 7 dramatic and could be serious . As long as we can say that and 8 as long as there are so many unknowns , 1 think this Board must 9 reject the application. 10 Thank you very much. I appreciate the 11 courteousness of the Board in listening to the testimony of the 12 opposition, and I will also compliment the proponents in the 13 way that they have made their presentation. 14 MR. VENABLE: Just briefly on a couple of points. 15 We certainly appreciate the concern of everyone. 16 Unfortunately, the opponents are asking the Board to be the 17 godfather of this project and to exceed the jurisdiction of the 18 Board. 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 148 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 00206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 The controls that are necessary, the evidence that are necessary 2 to be checked on, the authority to do that is now specifically 3 vested In the Health Department of the State of Colorado and 4 the Health Department of Weld County. 5 It is a statutory vestment of authority. I am 6 aware of no such vestment of authority in the Board of County 7 Commissioners . We certainly appreciate your concern -with any 8 project located within the county, but we would submit that if 9 we have a wholly ineffective Department of Health that can't 10 handle the job, then that the alternative is either to get on 11 their back or to have the statutory authority re vested in 12 the Board of Commissioners and remove the Health Department if 13 they are not taking care of it, 1-4 I don't know if our economics are based not just 15 in what somebody is paying us . Our economics are based in 16 land reclamation as to location ofrail facilities which have 17 been discussed in the testimony as being an -important factor 18 and land type. 19 Dr. Viets has testified to this thoroughly as 20 being one of the reasons for the-- the major reasons -- for 21 the selection of this site. 22 Anything that is zoned by any Board of County 23 Commissioners anwhere in the world is subject to, after being 24 zoned, having somebody doing something within it which may be 25 consistent with the zoning that could be theoretically or Associated Shorthand Reporters 149 IN CHERRY CHEEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 80206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 ] possibly create a tremendous danger -even though within proper 2 zone to somebody else but the denial of zoning is not -the 3 solution -to the handling of that kind of problem. We ask -that 4 tae be considered not as applicants to a health department or not 5 as somebody's guess work potential but -as a legitimate proposal 6 which is entitled to your endorsement. 7 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON: With -that we will declare the 8 bearing closed. 9 MR. LORENSON: Mr. Chairman, I would like to indicate 10 the unusual consideration -that the Planning Commission did give 11 to this zoning question. 1-2 I -would refer to a 70-page documented t-e-stimony 13 that was given before the Planning Commission .and they're deter- 14 mined to find out if this was factual and feasible proposal by 15 the applicants- 16 This was before the Planning Commission too. A 17 field trip -was -went on by Mr. Philip Bowles of the Planning 18 Commission, by Stan Boice, our extension agent, by Glen Paul, 19 the County Health Department, and myself. And we took on-site 20 inspection in Illinois of two different faciliti-es, one the 21 University of Illinois test facility where this was being done 22 on a test plot and one at A-rcola where it was being applied in �3 large areas such as this might be, and there was a hearing 24 called before the Planning Commission which is not the normal 25 procedur-e which did result in this 70 pages of testimony. A-ssociated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 150 AT 3037 EAST THIR D-AVENUE DENVER COLORADO 80206 TEL.EPHONk 399-60b1 1 We, the Planning Commission, did also utilize 2 to determine if the proposal was factual and feasible by using 3 the following resource agencies : State of Colorado, Division of 4 Water Resources ; University of Illinois; Colorado State 5 University through the extension agent; Board of Land Commis- 6 aioners ; Department of Natural Resources , State of Colorado; 7 the State Health Department Engineering Section; the Air Pollu- 8 tion Section, the Water Control Division, the Water Pollution 9 Control Division, and also the Weld County Health -Department . 10 What I am saying is that the Planning Commission 11 did not treat this lightly and over three different hearings 12 did consider and look on it very skeptically as to whether 13 this was real and feasible and all the facts they felt have 14 been checked out and so with that 1 will now read their 15 recommendation. 16 "The Planning Commission recommends 17 to the County Commissioners approval 18 for the following reasons : (1) The 19 proposed site presently has little 20 agricultural use, vegetation is sparse, 21 and surface soils cannot retain water, 22 (2) there are no dwellings within one 23 mile of the site, (3) the sludge to be 24 applied would fertilize the soil and 25 improve the soil' s ability to retain Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 151 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO SO 06 TEIFPHONE 399 6062 • 1 moisture, sludge application would build 2 surface soils in making the ground 3 cover possible, (4) sludge, this sludge 4 as we have, has no offensive odor, 5 (5) salt pollution of the South Platte 6 River would be _decreased and this is 7 of benefit to us because of a change 8 in the filtering process at the Denver 9 Metro Sewage Plant if this system of 10 disposal is used. -The Planning Commission 11 also recommends -that it be subject to some 12 of the following conditions and these have 13 been written into the _Planned Unit Develop- 14 ment, and these were done with the aid of 15 the State Health i)epartment and the Aid of 16 the local health department And with regard 17 to their response of whether they would 18 enforce -it or not, we feel this is one of 19 the few occasions where there has been 20 coordiznation All the way up ant _down the 21 line through a _number of state agencies , 22 that they -are well aware ghat the situation 23 is and it is our feeling of -the _Planning 24 Commission that they will be enforced by 25 the approval that they are suggesting. Associ-ate-d Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CRELK 152 -AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER COLORADO 80206 TLLEPHONE 399 &0(i2 So, they are subject to conditions of 2 general site cleanliness and screening, 3 continual testing program to determine the 4 downward or lateral movement of salt in the 5 soil below the holding ponds and area of 6 mix. Methods of providing ground cover to 7 prevent erosion of materials to be applied, s operation be controlled by the Weld County 9 Health Department with the ability to shut 10 down the operation if health standards are 11 endangered in any form and more specifically 12 in addition to this, they would require 13 chemical analysis of the sludge provided 14 from Denver and a bacterial analysis to be 15 provided." 16 These, all these items have been included in the 17 Planned Unit Development requirement. There is one thing that 18 has not been brought up to this point, and it is only after 19 thought and it was not part of the Planning Commission' s 20 recommendations , but I would like to possibly suggest that 21 there be some type of performance bond developed for some amount 22 which could hopefully attempt to rectify any possibly situation 23 that may arise. That is the end of my comments . 24 MR. ASHLEY: Mr. Chairman, I move that we take this 25 under advisement, Associated Shorthand Reporters 153 IN CHERRY CREEK AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER. COLORADO 60206 TELEPHONE 399-6062 1 CHAIRMAN ANDERSON: 1 second the motion. 2 This hearing is recessed. 3 (WHEREUPON, the above proceedings concluded at the 4 hour of 12 :35 p.m. ) 5 6 7 8 * * * :'c * * * * * * * * * 9 C E R T I Fl CAT E 10 I , KAREN, General Shorthand Reporter, do hereby 11 state that I was present at and reported in shorthand the 12 proceedings herein set forth, consisting of 154 pages , and 13 that the same is true , complete and accurate. 14 15 _ / 16 Kar n E. Ghiasi General Shorthand Reporter 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 2-4 25 Associated Shorthand Reporters IN CHERRY CREEK 154 AT 3037 EAST THIRD AVENLLE DENVER. COLORADO 60206 TELEPHONE 399 6062 Al J Zvediint R. O. BARDWELL • THE METROPOLITAN SANITA y:50 OF GREATER CHIC Landfill,nIersityoruild g 1020 Uiversit Build in Denver,Colorado 80202 303/222-1882 Chief Soil Scientist—Soil and Water Conservation Research Division—Agricultural Research Service U.S.D.A. FRANK G. VIETS, Ph.D. Pre ident Soil Science Society of America PHONES: OFFICE 303-482.5733 P.O. Box E F T 6 303-484-2201 FORT COLLINS,COLORADO HOME 303-482-6081 80521 THE BENEFICIAL UTILIZATION OF LIQUID FERTILIZER ON LAND PRESENTED AUGUST 18 , 1970 WASHINGTON D . C. ‘VAN SAN,9 e i%I • p66 W o 4s M '_ Ith IC l� � �r 11� X14 T ,g r r M Y II YACdI M1il �� Ali. I � _. •�`•n.. �o� 70 a II SIG I, 4 n ,IIIn die }900 le u�illflKlhll.I 'IKIP111 'II�Ir ,I 'Ant i ii I I+^F rrl.l aplryl {II I. I it I!. I I M ,:✓ � ih { 1 If II INTRODUCTION W The Board of Trustees has adopted the policy of returning the by-product from waste water treatment back to the land as the best method for satisfying the ecology requirements intended by nature. Applying this material to the land meets the most stringent criteria ever established for utilizing such a commodity, namely: 1 . It does not contribute to any environmental pollution (air or water) 2. It conserves the organic matter for beneficial uses 3. It is economicial 4. It is permanent-ie. it completes the natural cycle The "liquid fertilization" concept has the potential of solving one of the most pressing urban problems in an environmentally safe way. The choice is simply between continuing to waste valuable urban land with nuisance causing incinerators and lagoons or to r utilize the by-product of waste water treatment as liquid fertilizer to enhance production of crops on farmlands and in non-productive areas . The utilization of this concept is not restricted to our area and our problems alone. Liquid fertilization could be applied in cities across the United States to : eliminate the water pollution caused by sea dumping , the air pollution caused by incineration , and the waste of valuable urban lands by lagoons . The following documents have been assembled as testimony to this concept. For additional information please address your _ inquires to the Office of the General Superintendent of the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago. UTILIZATION OF LIQUID FERTILIZER r Prepared By : Engineering Department Metropolitan Sanitary District of •rheater Chicago UTItIZATION OF LIQUID FERTILIZER The Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago is responsible for processing all domistic and industrial waste water which originates within Cook County, Illinois . Cook County includes the City of Chicago plus 114 other municipalities containing 5 1 /2 million people plus industry which has a water use equivalent to another 3 1 /2 million people . The Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago therefore processes the used water of a community the size of approximately 9 million people . The function of the Metropolitan Sanitary District is basically to remove solid materials from used water . After the used water has been treated , it is returned to a river system which flows to the Mississippi River and on to the Gulf of Mexico . THE SOLID MATERIALS WHICH HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE USED WATER ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS PAPER . _. The solid materials which have been removed from the used water are considered by the District as a resource which has BENEFICIAL - USES which must be recycled RATHER THAN A WASTE PRODUCT TO BE DISCARDED . This concept is NOT new since it is presently being used on a relatively small scale nationally and on a larger scale _ internationally. What is new is the application of this natural system to an urbanized region of over 8 million people . — Utilizing solids is the only known method of returning organic materials to their natural cycle . Liquid fertilizer , the by-product of treated waste water can : 1 ) enhance production of crops on presently productive soil , 2) be used to reclaim substandard arid land , 3) eliminate air and water pollution problems caused by other methods . For purposes of identification , all have called this process "Liquid Fertilization . " For every one thousand persons living in an urban area , approximately 7 acres of liquid fertilization are needed to enable continual disposal of this treatment plant by-product . The " liquid fertilizer" concept has two basic parts : The first , and by far the easiest to solve , is the engineering scientific area . The second is the very difficult job of implementation . — The engineering of " liquid fertilizer" is divided into : a . Stabilization . b. Transportation . c . Distribution on the farm sites . d . Planting and harvesting a crop or crops which will remove the nutrients which have been applied to the soils . e . Continuous monitoring of all environmental and ecological factors . • STABILIZATION At present the District is processing and stabilizing approximately 900 dry tons of solids by four processes : Quantities Processed — Name of Process in a Daily Basis Imhoff 50 dry tons — Heat Drying 450 dry tons Wet Air Oxidation 200 dry tons High Rate Digestion 200 dry tons TOTAL 900 dry tons Figure #1 indicates the present and forecasted solids — production . The District has currently standardized in the High Rate Digestion which will be used in concert with lagooning as the method to achieve stabilization prior to distribution on a farm site . The High Rate Digestion process has been selected for the following reasons : a . Achieves uniform quality stabilization , b . Capable of retrieving and using gas by-products , c . Has the lowest unit cost . TRANSPORTATION The transportation cost of the stabilized solids after they have been processed by digesters and further stabilized in holding reservoirs is a function of distance to the farm site , quantity of solids transported and reliability of the system . Figure #2 demon- strates that the most economical method of transportationfor any distance is a pipeline . The second most economical system is a barge . The District does have the advantage of having available within a - EXISTING CONDITIONS' M.S.D.G.C. I SOLIDS PRODUCED / r /�� NORTHWEST AREA //./ POPLAR CREEK MIN (POPLAR CREEK) UPPER DU PAGE IIYER RASIN_�ANOVER) UPPO SALT CREEK BASIN (SALT CREEK) UPPER DES Pt AIMS RIVER BASIN (0'HARE) '4" a aT �.� MAIN SLICE AREA ' '44.4,,,,,,,, NORTH SIDE DRAINAGE IASIN (NORTH SIDE) V ',4L Y1, c F CENTRAL DRAINAGE BASIN (WEST-SOUTHWEST) ; ,� er SOUTH DRAINAGE RASIN (CALUMET) 4 e LEMONT DIANIAGE BASIN (LEMONT) `i E4r, s 1510 '154O 11570 11550 Iwo 1495 29,200 1470 27,375 1500 TOTAL M.S.D.G.C. 1315 _�� 104 45,5s0 $LcEY no 0•0'// 020,075 .. 1000 N4 18,450 900 mTIAFY T\1HMINT M{16,145 800 .{11,600 ... 700 14,775 600 r11O,950 500 -4 9,14s 100 'i 7,300 3 .i 5,175 'NORTHWEST AREA -(3,6so 400 100 , � 1,n5 am• T��TINT ANT O.0 .. 0 1170 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 4030 4010 2050 2060 ACRES YEAR REQUIRED - est FIGURE 1 TRANSPORTATION OF/ DIGESTED SLUDGE - BASIS OF ECONOMICS /'�J ll t,r . G.2 ( 'i rev ,2. , � �. i�• r� COST PER DRY TON — MILE S1.40 _. 1.50 t.�o � � ‘ 'rmk: ';:':''''144 :;:,,,,filA7V ,-,-,<„ v�vA\\w A��\Vv 'cf.' "`, ,"� TRUCK ..44` ,1qt` �ta ,. «". \yAv \AvVA�� cA' .0 � :,;;Se: " 1.10 \ \\ a . ,s ,p!y \\\\\\\\ e;• ',5.? x,ri:i w ';,h syt gar��' ',, Loo � � � g _ 4k\\\\\\\\\\\ 'ff ' ' ''. r. m� A \ A \V A�\ ti'g5/ m '/nom 0.10 AVA�MV\ A\ vvy yVv v�vvvy vQ 0.70 \� \�0.10 ` `\\ \w't\\\\\\ \ ? ` V�\\: VvvvAvv�Vv1\\\ � �V��V� \�V ` _ >�\ \\'\\ \\\\\\\o \\\ \\\\ 4 &k\Q \\\\\\ \ "` \ \ \,,, v v vv, V\\ \ vv vAv\\ wvv �A` '' \vv U\v y \; „�a�v vvvvA�\\�\�\\\,v , v vvvV�\ � , � y\��` \v ,\V A\ � ,AA\�V ty v v\� v ov VA\v VAV vA \w\ \v �V�\v A v� �Av bh v aV AAA\ \\)�\ � � A �` �RRII 0tt0 V A\QA\�A"\A � v A� v VA�� v \p \ \A 0.50 A ` qVA \ \� ' v `\ V\ v A VA v\ \VA \ __ \\ vVV�\V\V v v� wAVV A�Vv A ��\\V v` \\44\,\k \,,A AAA\ �� aq A VC \��AVV vAVP A A� v vvVA A \\Av \.. \\,\V VAS v,A , cvv \Av VA VA v v \\\\vV ,A� V�V�V\V AAwv v,, \ \VVV\A \ � 0.10 �p .� v vvAvAAvv k, vv P oy ` � � ` A _.. aC AAA q v vAv o vv Av\vvAV v b vA \t$.. V\ v A d V ` ��vv � \vvAU `\ A 0.30 �ey ,�v vVVAVA\y'\ V`�AAV \ 0.20 1ARGF 0.10 .. __� -. PIPE_ LINF -.-__. _._- $0.00 0 , ' I I Soo I I I I I E E E I 0 1000 1500 DISTANCE IN MILES pPFgoin a PLANNING, COL. FAC. N FIGURE 2 two-hundred mile radius of Chicago , sites for solids farming for which a transportation system could be economically developed for either a pipeline or a barge system . DISTRIBUTION It will be necessary to develop holding reservoirs at the farm sites for the solids . One of the significant advantages of having holding reservoirs at the farm site is their ability to further reduce the total nitrogen in the solids . We have determined as a result of our three years of work at Elwood that solids that have been in holding reservoirs for periods of time in excess of six months have a significant reduction in nitrogen content . We have also determined that our limitation on loading rates is established by the nitrogen content in the solids rather than heavy metals build-up . By reducing the nitrogen content we can apply loadings to the soils at a rate of 20 dry tons per acre per year without incurring the possibility of overloading the soils with nitrogen . The highest degree of utilization of this liquid fertilizer can best be determined by: a . Analysis of topsoil and subsoil conditions . b . Analytical determination of the contents of such waste water treatment residue . Metropolitan Sanitary District testing has developed two methods for application : irrigation on properly contoured and contained fields , and a spray system for irregular , temporary, or non-engineered sites . MONITORING AND OUALITY CONTROL Each site will be completely monitored and controlled . All runoff and interflow waters will be intercepted and treated by facilities located on site . This will insure that all waters leaving the site will meet water quality standards . — . IMPLEMENTATION In response to this growing problem the Metropolitan Sanitary District has intensely reviewed solids use and solids disposal alternatives and these are shown on Figure #3 . This study has concluded that the safest , potentially most — beneficial and most economic solution to this entire area is to have solid material placed on land and used in a farming operation . Since 1967 , the Sanitary District has embarked upon an extensive program of research and testing . The resulting engineering reports , demonstration projects and experimental farms have proved that the solid material removed from the used water , once stabilized , can safely , economically and productively be used to — rebuild soil , establish conservation and recreational open space and encourage a more diversified agricultural base . The most significant demonstration project has been a cooperative effort — between the Sanitary District and the University of Illinois Agronomy Department under the sponsorship of a federal research grant; — a test farm at Elwood , Illinois , for the monitoring of long-term developmental uses of the solids . This project is continuing . The Sanitary District to date , even with its extensive engineering and agricultural research , has been unable to implement a significant " liquid fertilization" program . Attempts for land — Z D I-- -,- 44. C CO CO of 0 O 0 LO N V CC CV CO M CO C W 01 r0 d 4q 4.04- 444) Vi .- C r o to •,- 0 1' 0 Vt — a) an V N - E C) +-' .4•+ vi r0 -r0 r0 o i v c rn n . AS O C = O C V VI N L - E C) •r +I•r•r CU 4- a m > C i S- -C +' V +' V E ..- •••-• .0 4-) O r0 r (0 J r V W O•r +' U•r C) it V C) N Y 3 0 r= C) VI an b c i V r .a C QS r C — nO0 VV C) V • CO r Iv) •r •r 4- C) C CL C)r r O V J fl .C +> N 40 r J C C V 0 • CO R3 VI • J r •0.=•O O •r R•r r +' W Z U N C '0 N 3 > r Vl K 0 0) O i-' O C1.10) - C) V) C) Y .r O O 4.4 = r-. L r a•r L C C) - a C) VI • L C V w U W H r0 4) ++ r0 •r +•' ra = C)V r0 et C ' r•. CI- O VI r0 E rd N 4 •r C) r•r N 4-' Lt. — N 4-I N N +' IOU) +- N VI d C C CC V i•r V d H V 0) C)•r•r V C O 0) — 0 •r r -C)r r i L r r r=•r •r E W O ,r0 +4 +' O Y= O 0) _= Y O r0 1F- r0 f0 CI IN i 0 J N V) +.' ✓n C 3 r0 J N 0) O i C) C) S- CL Y - O C) i V 9 J 4- r V - C) C 4- •r -r0 Vf O ++ C CO O O U V 5 '„ W .. CO W r r N -(h d O Z Z -44 acquisition within the Chicago and upper Illinois regions have constantly met with failure because of an almost complete lack of public acceptance . The Sanitary District is faced with the dilemma of having the most economical , beneficial and safe method of solids disposal stymied for reasons it is least able to control . The Metropolitan Sanitary, however, has not abandoned its idea , but is searching for , and may well have found a way to success--multiple use benefits . _ The key to public acceptance can be divided into two basic areas : ( 1 ) education , and ( 2) the inclusion of a series of multiple use benefits which will provide the incentive necessary for acceptance at the local level . Recently the Sanitary District has embarked on a program _ of public relations and education in the field of solids disposal on land . The District' s test farm at Elwood and it on-site , working — solids farm at the Hanover Water Reclamation Plant have been opened for public view and groups of interested citizens , farmers , students , and research scientists from all over the State have visited and are encouraged to visit these facilities . To demonstrate to the residents of communities outside of — Cook County, that " liquid fertilization" is safe and non-objection- able, we constructed at least one demonstration project in each of the eight service basins of urbanized Cook County . In addition , the Sanitary District has made available a team of speakers for talks to civic , fraternal and political groups , and — numerous articles have been published in national and regional professional journals and agricultural periodicals . This education program is developing the basis for acceptance of the entire " liquid fertilization" program. Ultimately, however , it is the concept of multiple-use benefits that the Sanitary District feels is going to be the real key to the success of this program . Figure #4 suggests a typical "Liquid fertilization" project. The site includes approximately 10, 000 acres , of which 4 ,000 acres are used as buffer zones , natural environmental pollution barriers and flood and pollution control reservoirs . These ancillary areas will become recreational and conservation open space in the form of local or state parks . These facilities will also enable the adjacent areas to develop and expand industry. The solution is ro longer only one of disposal , but includes within its multiple use parameter a more diversified and balanced agricultural base , a flood control program , recreation and conservation land , and the shared acquisition of permanent open space within the developing regional urban corridor. DETAIL I ' REGIONAL WATERWAY PLAN ' SITE DEVELOPMENT 99 G2� of y y Re- R 1 i a �.a '3). ��4'� a�'�" tis: 1 �� ,� /i''4 1Y^ 4"y ,,,,,0,-Sol a^ y. UI// °Gig La.ge /i'i is I '� t si, ;),?;?,31,/' Uj/// /i i (lU^ rllrlJ�//:i u, ,,,,, -i /�' .may/ 1 s ^t: DJuu � LEGEND _ A. DETENTION POND A S. PUMPING STATION C. MAJOR MISSION LINE ti 0. ON SITE DISTEISUTION SYSTEM p,:p — Y �Y.. S. SUIRt ZONE 4a I. SIVq `_— I N. EECDIATIONAL DIVILOPMINT __ J. STRIP MINIS i.• FIGURE 4 -AGRICULTURAL BENEFITS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF DIGESTED SLUDGE ON FIELD CROPS Prepared by the Research and Development Department of the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago With Cooperation of the College of Agriculture , -Department of Agronomy University of Illinois , Urbana , Illinois AGRICULTURAL BENEFITS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES RESULTING • FROM THE USE OF DIGESTED SLUDGE ON FIELD CROPS Public sentiment will continue to demand a greater removal of solids from waste treatment plant effluents in the interest of cleaner streams . The public will also continue to demand that air — pollution by organic waste incineration or drying cease . Thus , what is really being demanded is that water and air no longer be — used as vehicles for the disposal of these materials . The materials separated from water during various waste treatment processes are a complex array of organic and inorganic residues called sludge . _ During the treatment of waste several different kinds of sludges are produced . The volume , properties and concentration depend upon the wastewater characteristics and method of treatment used . These sludges may be subject to a biological stabilization process known as anaerobic digestion . Anaerobic digested sludge , as drawn from heated digesters , contains 3 to 5 percent solids as finely divided and dispersed — particles . It has the appearance of crude oil and an odor which many people describe as earthy or tarry. Since the flow properties -of fresh digested sludge vary very little from water , it is easily transferred by pipes using ordinary pumping techniques and equip- ment . — In the past a variety of methods have been used to dispose of digested sludge . At some waste treatment plants digested sludge has simply been stored in lagoons . Operators of large waste treatment plants favorably located along the coast have sometimes used ocean dumping for final sludge disposal . At waste — Page 2 treatment plants serving small communities digested sludge is sometimes dried on sand beds , stockpiled and given away to anyone wanting to use it as a soil amendment. Personnel operating other small waste treatment plants dispose of all or a large portion of their liquid digested sludge by trucking and spreading on farm land . The disposal of liquid digested sludge on land is a practice which has the advantage of returning the materials to a natural cycle which could be agriculturally beneficial . Public awareness of the possibility of coastal shore pollution and adverse changes in the ecology of shallow coastal waters where dumping of sludge is a practice may eventually force some large coastal conurbations authorities to look for alternative methods of sludge disposal . Authorities for many large inland cities are already faced with the problem of finding space for lagooning operations . There are many reasons to believe that in the near future the staffs of more and more of the larger sanitary districts will consider land disposal as the best possible solution for a rapidly growing problem . First , there is at present no method of sludge disposal that is not more expensive than land disposal . Second , local authorities of small cities have demonstrated that anaerobically digested sludge can be directly applied at low rates on land without creating immediately obvious problems . Pipeline technological developments have made it economically feasible to transport liquid suspensions of solids over long distances . Irrigation distribution systems are available which can be used to apply anaerobically digested sludge containing less than 10 percent solids on pasture and crop land with a labor requirement signifi - cantly less than was required for most systems a few years past . Page 3 Last', but probably the most important factor contributing to the -- potential utilization of waste treatment plant solids as a fertilizer has been the advances in sludge stabilization by anaerobic digestion . Heated anaerobic digesters have provided the means for economically achieving a degree of waste stabiliza- tion that eliminates obnoxious odors and fly breeding problems . Anaerobically digested sludge can be used to supply nitrogen , phosphorus , and other nutrients for the growing of crops . A liquid material containing about 3 percent solids will provide about 225 to 250 pounds of NH4 nitrogen when applied at the rate of 2 inches per acre. It will at the same time supply approximately _ 300 pounds per acre of organic nitrogen which will be slowly re- leased in an available form to crops by mineralization processes . With the same rate of application about 200 to 300 pounds of phosphorus (P205 ) will be supplied of which about 80 percent is present as a constituent of the sludge organic matter . About 40-80 pounds per acre of potassium would be supplied at the rate of application considered above . Also , calcium and magnesium would be supplied at rates that would be greater than average annual losses of these elements by leaching from the soil . Sulfur would also be supplied in adequate amounts for crops . Thus digested sludge can be used to supply all of the major essential elements for crops . On soils very deficient in potassium , it may be necessary to supplement the anaerobically digested sludge with an inorganic potassium fertilizer to obtain high crop yields . Crops respond equally as well to fertilization with digested sludge as they do to inorganic fertilizers when potassium availability is adequate . Page 4 Before initiatinc a widescale digested solids to land disposal operation , an experimental program including laboratory , greenhouse and field investigations was undertaken to investigate : 1 ) The most practical amount , frequency and time for applying digested sludge on land 2) Crop responses to sludge application 3) Factors relevant to the possibil ' ty of chemical contamination of water , soils , and crops 4) Physical changes in soil properties 5 ) Factors relevant to possible ha:teriological contamination of drainage and runoff . These studies are being carried out by members of the Department of Agronomy of the University of Illinois . The major portion of the research funds for the project is supplied by USPHS , Bureau of Solid Waste Management and the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago . An experimental facility was established on the Northeast Agronomy Research Center near Elwood , Illinois . The present investigation is centered on collecting and analyzing soil , water , and plant samples from a large and unique lysimeter facility which has been constructed at this site . It consists of forty-four 10 ft . wide x 50 ft . long farm plots , each separated by a plastic moisture barrier. The volume of water leaving each plot as runoff and drainage is measured and samples are collected after a given volume of flow by automatic samplers . The digested sludge has been applied at four different loading rates on three different soil types . The treatments are divided into two series of 22 plots each on which soybeans are grown on one series and corn on the other . Page 5 _ • While collecting and analyzing several hundred plant , water , and soil samples from the main lysimeter facility , additional information has been obtained from a smaller lysimeter installation and supplementary field plot studies . Alfalfa , corn , kenaf , Reed canary grass , grain , sorphum , and soybeans have been used as crops during the digested sludge utilization study . In 1969 , a green- house study was designed and initiated to evaluate the effects of high levels of waste applications on the soybean plant . Findings from the University of Illinois studies were recently summarized in a preliminary report as follows : 1 . Digested sludge has been shown to be an effective source of nitrogen , phosphorus , and micronutrients . Crop response to the water content has also been observed . 2 . Nitrogen contained in digested sludge is the most immediate limiting factor to rates of application . Our data indicates that about 2 inches of sludge would satisfy nitrogen needs of non-leguminous crop without producing excessive nitrates in drainage water . if higher loading rates are desired , reduction of the nitrogen content of sludge or removal of nitrates from drainage water would be desirable . Such a reduction of nitrogen content may be accomplished during an interim lagooning , or storage period which would also be used to contain the solids until they could be applied to the land . 3 . Studies have shown that the sludge fecal coliform population decreases following application to the -- Page 6 soil or upon aging after removal from the digester . Lagooning of digested sludge prior to applicaton would serve the purpose of reducing the fecal coliform population to a safe level . 4 . Heavy metals are an ubiquitous -constituent of digested sludge and they occur usually in the solid phase . After application to soil , they remain in the plow layer with the sludge residue . Solubilization is negligible in soil of neutral or higher pH . Plant uptake of the essential trace elements Zn , Mn , and Fe has generally been enhanced by sludge applications . There is evidence that the uptake is not altogether the result of direct metal :addition with the sludge , but an induced mobility of the metals native to the soil . Crop plants have shown no uptake of Cd or Cr and only occasional uptake of Pb . 5 . Sludge residue decreases the bulk density of the soil . Grease contained in sludge has not proven to be a problem in clogging soils . Organic carbon has accumulated in amended soils , but has presented no observable problem . 5 . The rate of infiltration of digested sludge is low regardless of soil type . Thus , on sloping land special precautions should be taken to control the distribution ~� of sludge applied to the soil surface . After drying , digested sludge does not affect the infiltration of water into the soil surface. Shallow ponding of sludge in the furrow for even a few days does no apparent harm to plants . Page 7 7 . Seed germination is inhibited by fresh digested sludge but not by aged sludge . Thus , seed germination is not affected when the sludge is applied a week prior to planting or if lagooned sludge is used . 8. Observations indicate that properly digested sludge will produce no offensive odors or fly breeding problems after application to soils . REFERENCE MATERIAL TABLE OF CONTENTS PART ONE - TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS r WATER AND SEWAGE WORKS DIGESTED SLUDGE DISPOSAL ON CROP LAND LAND RECLAMATION - A COMPLETE SOLUTION r PART TWO - NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS r ARCOLA RECORD HERALD JOURNAL GAZETTE PENNSYLVANIA FARMER NEWS TRIBUNE DAILY TIMES PART THREE - DETAILED STUDY LIBBY - OWENS FORD PART ONE - TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS 41st Annual WPCF Conference - Chicago, Illinois ` A Scranton Gillette Publication cMember 22-27 SEPTEMBER 1968 Y` , t µ . . '4' '' WATER & SE1/AGE '�}TM kiksligis x " � r WORKS :. �� . • ..- INCLUDING INDUSTRIAL WATER AND WASTES aft 1 ► < w,w ��: .4 t . r - Pt �—..�.;.. i � fi� A ill .. .,_ y a Ill 'S'' '..�S '( w, N 1 . ��,.�- emu:• '�`� �,�,c+�E y,;�� t h�� !!!� IiiIkr,loon �'q ti a er;IID• jet x !�•x!, • *6 xi ,,. ,;`i q se 0:- i.bJI !! ! a ! # !lia ' r ; i , lkx r� !!!! a� p w ?.. rt ?} • I ( 'ay a r A *' " +`�...Y �yr��^r ..it �y ' 4 r�'1wS i n WT 'dyh\' "" t M' Wi4 Ili 1. d F pYk t%'yA Artist's conception shows a Chicago Sanitary District canal after completion of the 10-year plan to eliminate pollution in the inland waterways and make them fit for recreational purposes. - .. Vi Ail •� � "�' � 1 • • •r' l� . friv, .: ' tl x. Y � . e1 Chicago Style: Sanitary District Puts Sludge To Work In Land Reclamation By B. A. Rose. ❑ When the Metropolitan Sani- West-Southwest Sewage Treatment Works is world's largest, handles approximately 1.0 bgd. tary District of Chicago was creat- ed in 1889, its purpose was clearly defined: protect the water supply a ' of a thriving metropolitan area of 750,000 people from pollution by its , :477- own sewage. History books are full >:. 3 . ... :_ of accounts of how the District carried out its assignment by re- :� _ f versing the flows of the Chicago and Illinois Rivers to make the /f "area the healthiest metropolis in the world. By-products of this r _ - - -16 mighty undertaking were pure F drinking water, safe beaches and /� ship canals which made the city „�� _— >: -,.-. ,�� the transportation hub of the con- a - . - ' tinent, the connecting link between ll '`� / . — •C c- , ! •4 + + the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Tcof Gulf of Mexico. Techniques and ` vow machines developed in what was ` f called the"Chicago school of earth- moving" moved 29,558,000 cu yd . of earth and cut, blasted and hauled away 12,261,000 cu yd of r rock to dig the ship canals and ^` consequently made feasible the »< W . / construction of the Panama Canal. A Supreme Court decision to "„nt •^aaa. INN` limit by 1938 the dilution waters .T•4-,' •Presentation Editor, WATER & SEW- AGE WORKS. - i • - /�c • 46�� # I0' .- overflows in deep underground tunnels. Tunnel storage is expect- ; • ". w, ed not only to solve pollution ` .e ,.- problems, but to deliver corn- . ., _ _ � " ` ,� pletely reusable water into the waterways which flow past down- u e -y: r —'- — ' --- stream cities. It calls for temporary P Y A ",-sr-_ ;:w�^ �' ` `w--- � c `y storage of contaminated combined - .._r' ,.�, _. _ . ., , . f sewer overflows in a system of • ter..,., tunnels and large chambers exca- ---- vated in solid rock, deep under �4.. the city. After the storm, stored ,�' `�„,„,—�� • "'""- .„\c,‘,." ,,, water will be pumped to the silt- . -., � ... _7----''.--1•---.__ -,,,,,,,,„ -..�p� tea€ a--— i'r,� face where it will be treated to a x _ remove pollution before being dis- charged. �,... ,F ,%" Put Sludge to Work - Yet when the WPCF conference _ --.y convenes in Chicago on Septem- ?. .'- ber 22, the big topic of discussion - -- ` may well be the corn harvest. ,. Corn is a major crop in the Dis- trict's experimental soil improve- o' ment and reclamation program Chlorination of effluent went on line at the North Side plant in advance of 10-year plan which puts digested sludge to schedule. work fertilizing and irrigating crops and forming top soil. Early this summer fields adja- I I flowing from Lake Michigan into Thanks to engineering know-how, cent to several plants were seeded the District's system to 1,500 cu chlorination at the 300-mgd North with corn and soy beans as part ft per second resulted in the con- Side Sewage Treatment Works of a concerted effort to solve what 1 struction of three giant sewage went on line in July, 1967, a year Bacon labels the District's single Illl treatment plants to improve the and a half ahead of schedule.There biggest problem today: sludge dis- -.:as ,,1 quality of the effluent. Today chlorine is injected into the efflu- posal. Disposing of the more than these plants have a combined ca- ent conduit, which, together with 900 tons (dry basis) of sludge pro- pacity to handle 1.3 bgd. The the North Shore Channel, pro- duced each day by the District's West-Southwest plant at Stickney, vides the necessary contact time. three principal drainage areas and still the world's largest, treats ap- Twenty-one minutes of detention is sewage treatment plants not only 064 s proximately 1.0 bgd. achieved in 2,000 ft of the channel, takes an enormous bite (46 per- r Late in 1955 the American Soci- the receiving waterway. cent or $14,500,000) out of the ety of Civil Engineers recognized Removal of visible and settleable annual maintenance and operation r the District as one of the Seven solids is scheduled by 1969. Terti- budget, but creates problems of Modern Engineering Wonders of ary treatment must be underway air and water pollution which the United States. Today the Dis- by 1971. The District's first tertiary interfere with the goals of the ten- trict is embarking on further his- plant went into operation this year program. And Dr. Jerome tory-making plans to justify its re- spring at the Hanover Works, one Stein, the District's Director of M tention of that title. of several smaller plants located Research and Development, ech- in the outlying suburban areas.The oes the concern of all District I Clean-up Inland Waterways final step in the ten-year program personnel that a beneficial mate- In 1967 Superintendent Vinton calls for the equivalent of corn- rial is being wasted. W. Bacon announced a bold, pace- bined sewer separation by 1972. The District is now using four setting ten-year plan aimed at The price tag put on this massive disposal methods to handle the ' eliminating pollution in the inland program is approximately $1.8 bil- current sludge load: heat drying waterways to make them fit for lion; partial financing is anticipated of activated sludge (435 tons per other uses, such as fish and wild- from federal and state funds. day), wet air oxidation (145 tons ' life habitation, irrigation, recrea- One of the vital keys to maxi- per day), heated digestion (190 tion and eventually swimming. mizing water uses in the area is tons per day), and Imhoff tanks The plan's timetable calls for chlor- the District's $1.0 billion plus plan (145 tons per day). According to Iination at all plants by 1968. to store combined sewers storm Bacon, these methods have done time nor does it significantly change r. ` " _ ,wa. -: �s $, . IL.% a the nitrogen and phosphorus con- ^� w .a. r r•tc• • : tent of the sludge. Its purpose is a A e, . - •`7Q� —• "�� to eliminate any odor problems at 4 ^ ^i " i .e". --lour.. F^ - ^• -, .. - the lagoon or disposal sites. $' >R <+s. . ^�' � �.w�: ` - ." The quantity pumped to lagoons .—. . .-.— —— is the same volume that entered �.. '� ' _ the process. After the sludge has '.4,7,..... r',�„ concentrated and settled out in the ..... .-m'.-,,, a lagoons, the liquid is decanted and - "`" returned to the plant for recycling, _ �� ,__. r providing an increase in available lagoon capacity. However Chica- - Y - - —41 m go requires 350,000 cu yd of addi- ..` at 1, �: s 4 a.� tional lagoon storage capacity each C w" ti , year to continue the use of this ',. _ _ E "y 3 , k,e� process. 4 ,, ,�- `' ns The decantate contains nitrogen -- V'- t t1* k44 • 1,, rT ,r ent that is discharged to the water_ c'. Imhoff tanks, like the other methods, provide stabilization d only. Sludge drawn off from the Aerial view shows Hanover plant nestled in suburban area. In foreground is new tertiary Y g treatment plant, first to be placed on line in the Chicago District. Placed in operation this Imhoff tanks is air dried on sand spring, the tertiary treatment here has already upgraded the quality of receiving stream. filter beds, where approximately all the job reasonably well, but in- corresponding weight reduction of of the liquid is filtered and re- herent disadvantages in each about 50 percent. The quantity of turned for recycling. The sludge l method preclude their usefulness sludge (in gal) which leaves this left on the drying beds is removed as solutions into perpetuity, par- process and is pumped to the la- and hauled to a dump site. Approx- ticularly in a rapidly growing ur- goons is the same quantity that imately 150,000 cu yd of dump ban area. entered the process. After the ash storage capacity is required each Heat drying of activated sludge is separated by settling out in year. to manufacture fertilizer is simply lagoons, the supernatant is re- Cost studies made by the dis- a massive filtering and drying op- turned to the plant for recycling, trict revealed that drying of acti- eration to reduce the moisture con- increasing the available lagoon ca- vated sludge for sale as fertilizer tent in the final product to 5 pacity. Yet every year 100,000 cu costs about $60 per dry ton. The percent. The filtered liquid is re- yd of additional lagoon storage sale price nets $15 per ton. Cost turned to the water treatment cy- capacity is required for this meth- of dewatering and incineration, I cle. While the process disposes of od alone. And these lagoon sites not in use in the district, averages sludge by turning it into a useful are fast becoming scarce within $57 per ton. Wet air oxidation costs product, it contributes to the air the District's 858 sq mi. Yet state about $50 per ton; digestion with pollution problem. In order to re- law forbids the condemnation of disposal into present lagoons aver- duce air pollution at its West- areas outside the District for la- ages $49 per ton. Southwest plant (Stickney), the goon and dump sites. After careful analysis district district installed scrubbers to re- The supernatant from the la- personnel determined that its cur- move particulate matter from the goons has high nitrogen content rent sludge disposal systems: 1) stacks. These scrubbers require and some phosphorus. Returning are too costly; 2) create severe 3,000 gal of water for every 1,000 this difficult-to-treat supernatant air pollution problems; 3) fail to , gal of sludge processed. The scrub- to the water treatment cycle re- make beneficial use of nutrients; ber water containing particulate sults in a buildup of these chemi- 4) cause significant problems in matter is returned to the plant and cals which manifest themselves in the waste water treatment process 1 recycled, causing a deleterious ef- the effluent discharges of the re- due to the buildup of fines, nitro- _ feet on the treatment process. ceiving waters—thereby exerting a gen and phosphorus; and 5) re- Wet air oxidation stabilizes deleterious effect on the quality of quire dump capacity in an amount sludge: it does not remove the the receiving waters. of about (XX),0tX) cu yd each year, - nitrogen and phosphorus. Organic Heat digestion stabilizes the eslirr,atrd to cost .$15 In $2.0 0,11 solids ale.-jduced to ash with a sludge; it does not reduce the vol- lion annually. ' }iV, i i. L A r • - 3.n tom./ 7 n ^- !! r'{t9 l_•• re agwk ? - .f 'Y J : ' rya Before: Aerial view shows sludge lagoons near West-South- > ,4 i,' „I west plant. The land reclamation program aims to eliminate „e these unsightly areas and put sludge to work raising crops. . a -e r • J w . After: Corn crop at Hanover plant was fertilized end irrigated with digested sludge. Gravel strip in background is special drainage area to test wells. Notice the proximity to residential area. `I a1 .: i A . J S yy caw- 3 w .RAJ( X` Piping used to apply digested sludge to corn end soy been crops e# w s• -,sue 9 _ West-Southwest plant. This summer's experiments may lead to massive ,�^ .. J program to reclaim over 50,000 acres of poor soil. . ' *s .tw " 4 !�^K;m..•••44-1;24' ....P", k^' District staff member checks corn crop at Hanover. Corn was planted 't45,4 1i. s. - �1 \ 4.1 on the ridges, contrary to established agricultural procedure. Notice sludge in furrow, applied here to irrigate and fertilize. AU sludge from "\ Hanauer plan# is now being used for crop experiments. -1 .o I To guide their search for a ments necessary for vigorous plant urn, manganese, iron- aluminum. better sludge disposal method, the growth. Broken down into its two sulfur, chloride and silicon. district set up four stringent re- components, the water contains Before the district can under- quirements: only a small portion of the nitro- take this grand scale reclamation J I 1. It must be compatible with gen and phosphorus, but a large job, it must answer several ques- the environmental standards of the amount of the potassium. The lions. What is the maximum rate urban area; i.e., no air, land or solids portion contains most of the of sludge application? \\'hat crops I I water pollution. nitrogen and phosphorus, but only can be cultivated most successfully ii 2. It must be one which solves a small portion of the potassium. on the areas on a rotating basis? the problem into perpetuity. Applying the solids via the water Will the nitrates and phosphates i 3. It must be economical. vehicle salvages the fertilizer con- in the sludge cause underground J i 4. It must conserve the organic tent of the water which is lost in water pollution problems? If so, material in both water and solids the drying operation. how can a fail-safe control system for beneficial use. Farm agents report that 2 in. of be developed? What total acreage £f this sludge-carrying water applied is required? What irrigation sys- Questions Must Be Answered to a corn field when it is in tassle tems are best suited to use on the The proposed solution which results in an increased production terrain and crops? i I seems to meet all these require- of 36 bushels per acre. Expressed To answer these questions, the ments is land reclamation. In mak- in the usual way, the fertilizer con- district has entered into a contract ing his proposal, Bacon indicated tent of the total digested sludge with the University of Illinois that such a solution is not new. (water and solids) is; nitrogen, 5 Department of Agronomy for a 3 ill - It has been used successfully both percent; phosphorus, 3 percent; year $744,000 project which be- in the U.S. and abroad. But what and potassium, 0.5 percent. Two gan April, 1967. is new about the Chicago plan is in. of digested sludge applied To conduct the experiments 36 the scale. Digested sludge pro- intermittently throughout the year plots, each 20 x 30 ft, have been duced at both the Calumet and would satisfy the average corn crop located at Elwood, an area where Stickney plants would be pumped requirement of 150 lb/acre nitro- impervious clay strata separate the through high pressure pipelines to gen, 40 lb/acre phosphorus, and surface test plots from any ground- reclaim 50,000 acres of poor farm- 80 lb/acre potassium. water supply. Experiments there land south and southwest of the Digested sludge contains addi- will cover sludge application, crop- ■ district. It would be applied to tional growth promoting ingredi- ping and rotation, underground L the land through irrigation systems, ents. Being a natural organic ma- drainage and influences on under- tilled into the soil and farmed on terial in contrast to inorganic com- ground water. a rotating basis. District studies mercial fertilizers, it provides in- L indicate that it will cost about creased humus content, increased Experiments Lead to Answers $22 per dry ton to dispose of soil fertility, improved soil struc- In addition, experimental crops sludge in this manner. ture, increased water holding ca- planted this summer at the Stick- Digested sludge (2.89 percent pacity and controlled moisture ney and Hanover plants are ex- solids and 97.11 percent water) is supply. It contains vitamins and petted to result in further refine- rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and trace elements essential to growth: ments of the land reclamation pro- potassium, the three basic ele- sodium, boron, calcium, magnesi- gram. A look at the Hanover oper- L Diagram of 10-year plan to upgrade inland waterways. Graphic illustration of sludge components. I GRAPHIC UPGRADING Of ISLAM RIAIRNAYR WATER AND FERTILIZER VALUES rain w OP DIGESTED SLUDGE 33 - A s- . s � L p uur�rai—wwrarxswrmsr � �t�U; 5 I .� R _ - ww n.-+nrocrrawv }' � .. 'bt`�`' i = - Wilt L E ..«. *s, P r. '1H , tin i N R ,a.:.. Raf M o'+R Pit; is 1#.+ . P ;. f.. - - OA j r N°r_rr_�` serves a population of 5.5 million, ki is ' rz with an industrial waste load iI equivalent to that produced b i. 0[.r. ..a CO WS y �� , y another 3% million people. nt-�f :)1 Such massive operations would `u not be expected to interest offi- 4 I j 1 0 ° a x vials trying to handle the problems I ,,,,,,:,.4 , of the thousands of smaller eom- t• -t-— --7 , '� r ; munities across the nation. Yet ' e J r s rz much of the work done in the ( -- ..n " 1M District results in programs which �a- can readily be applied to these .K.a - * same smaller communities. I Plant of the Future A articular case in"1 C P point is the i *eft. Hanover Sewage Treatment Works. Located in the northwest "w suburban area of the District, the ,, 1.5 mgd plant is built to eventu- k . ass . A ' �+ ` ' � , ..e,,, ;`" ally serve a population of 20,000. The original primary and second- " ary works were put into operation ...ert November 2, 1964. P n This spring the tertiary p ' g plant, started in the winter of 1966, went se.wN. into operation. Now the effluent 1 "mil Ip�l w wMrc from the primary-secondary treat- ., , • ment which yields 90 percent re- II 7 7 jj moval of BOD and suspended solids goes either through pre- 1 -iv,r chlorination and sand filtration or r through microstraining and post- iin ,' u •- chlorination to post-aeration before a ,, it flows into the DuPage River. a �• ` ' � The result is a very high quality .:,. aFl 1 Y1 P LTi F rz,4 #ham "' effluent, definitely better in quality Shaded circles indicate the location of current experiments in land reclamation. More than the receiving waters. Tests Than 50,000 acres of poor farmland in the area south of Kankakee and Momenta are being q,,.I considered for reclamation in the District's plan to use sludge for beneficial purposes. show that the quality of the re- L•N Sludge would be piped from the Calumet Sewage Treatment Works. ceiving stream has been signifi- ',y, cantly improved since tertiary J treatment began. M t ation provides a clear picture of and phosphate and spot any ac- The land reclamation program the extent of the experiment. cumulation of nutrients or undesir- has now diverted the plant's entire 5 There six plots, each approxi- able elements. All fields drain into production of digested sludge to mately 1k acre, have been con- a specially constructed central adjacent corn fields. Located liter- strutted to handle the total sludge sand drain bed with a pumping ally in the backyards of suburban supply produced by the 1.5 mgd station which feeds into four ana- homes, the fields enhance the plant. Contrary to normal agricul- lytical wells installed on the site. appearance of the area. And there al tural practice, the corn was plant- Continual monitoring of the wells is no odor to irritate the residents. ed on the ridge, not in the furrow, is expected to answer questions Within the tertiary plant, fish of the prepared fields as a test about the amount of runoff and are living and growing in a tank J of irrigation methods. The slope its effect on groundwater. filled with the effluent to evaluate of the field varies, as will the In 1889 the Metropolitan Sani- effluent quality in terms of fish amounts of sludge applied. These tary District of Chicago served a survival. Thus far the study has re- factors will be compared with the population of 750,000. Today it vealed that even sport fish such J crop yield to provide guidelines covers 858 sq mi and serves the as trout can survive in the tertiary for future plantings. city of Chicago along with 114 effluent. The ultimate plans are to Soil and plant tests will deter- other cities and villages, including maintain a fishery in all streams Jmine the crop uptake of nitrogen 20 smaller sanitary districts. It receiving reclaimed water. Bacon and Stein enthusiastically oxidation pond will become a fish- eliminate the cost of bussing with- discuss Hanover as the model ery in the future. The river quality in the school district. "plant of the future: Every effort has been improved. Now 1(X) percent of the sen-a4e has been made to prove to the not The attractive plant with its flowing into the 1Luaosor plant always cooperative citizenry that surrounding green fields and well- being used for beneficial uses sewage treatment reaps untold landscaped lawns is not detrimen- Certainly now in the days of spiral- benefits. It certainly is protecting tal to real estate values. ing costs and ever-increasing pres- the health of its residents and When the location of the plant sures to solve our water pollution eliminating the nuisances of over- cut a big residential area off from problems and conserve water re- flowing septic tanks. Recreational the school, the District constructed sources, this is an accomplishment facilities already exist there in the its famous "Kiddie Walk" to pro- of vital interest to every com- form of baseball fields. An existing vide a safe route to school and to munity.■ r Reprinted from Water & Sewage Works, September, 1968. L L DIGESTED SLUDGE DISPOSAL ON CROP LAND BY DR. THOMAS D. HINESLY ASSISTANT PROFFESSOR OF AGRONOMY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS -AND BEN SOSEWITZ ACTING CHIEF OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION METROPOLITAN SANITARY DISTRICT OF GREATER CHICAGO PRESENTED AT THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FEDERATION'S 41ST ANNUAL CONFERENCE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS SEPTEMBER 26, 1968 DIGESTED SLUDGE DISPOSAL ON CROP LAND Stabilization of sludge by the digestion process is a technique which has the confident approval of Sanitary and Chemical Engineers concerned with sludge disposal problems. Not only are costs known, but continuous operating improvements and a wide range of possibilities suggest expanded use of digestion technology. While sludge digestion followed by lagooning is a traditional method of solids disposal in many communities, large urban areas and increasingly smaller communities are faced with serious land use problems, aesthetic considerations, and costs when reaching a decision on a solids t-sposal program. If the ideal solution to the solids disposal problem is to be found, it must meet the foil-owing criteria : I . _It will not contribute to any environmental pollution (water and air) . 2 . It will have beneficial use. 3 . It will be economical . 4. _It will solve the problem into perpetuity. With these criteria in mind, the staff of The Metro- - politan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago and consultants 2. made an exhaustive study of existing technology, including land disposal, drying, oxidation, incineration and dewatering . It was concluded that the one solution which met all criteria was digestion followed by land disposal and that the Metropolitan Sanitary District could handle all of its sludge production (1 , 000 tons - per day) by disposal on crop land at a cost of $20 to $23 per ton . In order to guarantee the validity of this conclusion , - the problem was assaulted on several fronts simultaneously. In April 1967 , a contract was signed with the University of Illinois, Departments of Agronomy and Civil - Engineering for an extensively detailed three-year $600, 000 project to determine the agricultural benefits and environ- mental changes resulting from the use of digested sludge - on field crops. The principal objectives of the investigation are: 1 . To investigate factors relevant to the - contamination of both surface waters and ground water when large amounts of digested sludge are frequently applied on crop land; 2 . To investigate factors relevant to the pollution of soils with heavy metals, total dissolved solids, - grease, and other organic compounds; 3 . 3 . To investigate, under field conditions, factors relevant to the method, frequency rate and time for safely applying digested sludge on land. During 1968 demonstration projects were established on District owned lands at the Hanover Park and West- - Southwest Sewage Treatment Works and other sites . (See Appendix A and Appendix B) Early yuidelines for all of these projects included quality control of all sludge used for land disposal projects. The criteria were as follows : 1 . Sludge shall have a pH of greater than 6. 7 . 2 . Volatile solids of applied sludge should be no greater than 45% wherever possible. 3 . Application of sludge should be made in such a manner that the sludge will drain and dry as rapidly as possible. 4 . Provisions should be made to cover sludge if nuisance odors developed. The solids content of digested sludge used in the land disposal projects ranges from about 3 to 5 per cent . The results of various analyses presented in Table 1 are typical with regard to amounts and variability of constituents. At the University of Illinois, existing greenhouse, laboratory and field facilities are and will continue to be used for conducting various studies, but the core of the 4. investigation will be made on a specifically designed field research facility. The field research facility consists of forty-four plots, each occupying an area of 50 x 10 feet and isolated from the surroundings by a continuous sheet of nylon reinforced plastic buried to a depth of six feet as a plot border. Three different soil types are represented in the plots which are essentially non-weighing lysimeters. As part of the instrumentation, equipment for measuring and recording total runoff and drainage water was provided for each plot. Samples of water from each source for chemical and biological analyses are automatically collected after a selected given amount of flow from each plot. Construction of the main research facility was completed on June 18, 1968. Half of the plots were planted to corn and the other half to soy beans. However, sludge has not yet been applied because by the time the irrigation system was installed the crops were too near maturity to expect a response to sludge applications. Thus, since sludge could not be applied at an earlier date in the growing season, it does provide an opportunity to make an evaluation of the variability between replicated plots . Sludge treatments will be started immediately after 5. crops are harvested and will be continued throughout the year at weekly intervals. The field research facility will provide the means to determine the accumulative concentration changes of plant nutrients, nonessential heavy metals, and organic carbon, along with the change in the biological status of soils and water from cropped land irrigated with various rates of digested sludge. An experiment in which soy beans (1967 ) , and Reed canary grass and grain sorghum (1968) were grown on existing lysimeters was initiated as a supplement to the field research described above. The lysimeters were irrigated with digested sludge at the rate of 1 inch and 1/2 inch every 8 days. A total of 10 inches was added in 1967 . Soils, crops, and leachates were analyzed for nutrients and trace elements . The soils contained an abnormally high amount of Zn derived from metal used in the lysimeter construction. The Zn content of soy bean tissue reflected the higher Zn concentration in soils, but only soy beans on the check plots showed Zn toxicity symptoms. Mn and Ni were found in higher concentrations in soy bean leaves from sludge treated lysimeters . 6. Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, and Zn concentrations in the soil, as measured with a 0. 1 N HC1 extraction, were higher in sludge treated lysimeters . Ammonium acetate extracts did not reflect sludge treatment for all of the above elements. Leachates were analyzed for the above metals and for nitrate concentrations. Zn, Mn, and Mg were present in greater concentrations with sludge treatment. Nitrate concentrations were also much greater with sludge additions . - Occasional reports of seed germination inhibition are found in the literature. Usually a salt effect is cited as the cause of the inhibition. Experiments were initiated to investigate the effect of digested sludge on germination and seedling development of corn and soy bean. It was found that digested sludge does inhibit seed germinations. This inhibition was observed in the liquid phase of the digested sludge and was partly caused by ammonium and/or ammonia. Following aerobic fermentation of the digested sludge for one week, the inhibitory property is lost. This explains why erratic results have been reported about seed germination in soils amended with sludge. It is likely that fresh digested sludge added to a soil which has already been seeded will prevent germination. However, if the seeds are put in the soil one wee.. after the fresh sludge 7. application, or if the sludge used is old, e. g. has been stocked in open lagoons for weeks, germination will proceed normally. Greenhouse experiments with corn planted 1 inch deep in a sandy soil have shown that a 1 inch fresh sludge application will inhibit seed germination, and that a 0. 5 inch application will hamper seedling development. With a 2-inch application of old digested sludge (aerobically fermented for one week) , seed germination and seedling development were good. Soil columns have been assembled for lab scale studies relating to the fate of microorganisms, heavy metals and nitrogen when digested sewage sludge is applied to soils. Procedures are being developed for determining densities of coliforms and other indicator organisms in sewage sludges. Additional studies on occurrence and persistence of coliforms into digested sludge samples are under way. At the Northeast Agronomy Research Center, digested sludge was applied by furrow irrigation at weekly intervals on crop land planted to corn and kenaf. The rates were 1, 1/2, 1/4 and 0 inches for a total of seven weeks. Neither of the two crops have been harvested at this time, but there is little doubt of a favorable response to all rates of digested sludge applications. 8. An 8-acre site located adjacent to the Hanover Sewage Treatment Works in the northwest part of Cook County, was designed to receive all of the digested sludge production of the 2 mgd activated sludge and tertiary plant at this location. Located in the center of one of the most rapidly growing communities in America, this project was designed to examine the efficacy of extensive land preparation prior _ to actual dosing with digested sludge. Factors entering the design concept were comparative slopes of ground, ridge planting as compared to level planting, various rates of _ sludge application and drainage (Fig. 1) . At Hanover Park all sludge applications were accomplished by furrow irrigation of corn at rates of 1/2, 1/4 and 0 inches. _ For the highest rate, a total of six tons dry weight equivalent of digested sludge solids have been applied to date. Although the corn has not been harvested, its favorable response to _ higher rates of sludge applications was obvious throughout the growing season by leaf color and number and size of ears. When sludge was taken directly from the digesters at _ Hanover Park, some noticeable odors occurred. Because scum and grease were traditionally sent to the digesters, it was felt that this had an odor—producing effect on the sludge. _ 9. Subsequent information suggested that the high ammonia nitrogen concentrations in the digesters contributed to the odors. After the initial odor problems, sludge was put on the land only, as it came from the old sludge lagoons which was the final disposal site after digestion. It was confirmed that the ammonia nitrogen concentrations of the lagooned sludge were lower than in the digestion. Since the use of the lagoon sludge, no significant odor problems developed or were reported in spite of the back yards of the neighbors being adjacent to the sludge farm. _Odor problems have not developed with land disposal of digested sludge from the Calumet or West-Southwest Sewage Treatment Plants . Four test wells were drilled to 20 feet, one at each corner of the Hanover Park field. Samples of water from the wells are analyzed weekly for various chemical and bacteriological contaminates. The bacteriological analyses revealed high counts of total coliform, fecal coliform, and fecal strep in two wells one time, after extremely heavy rainfall which caused flooding of the plots to a depth of 12 to 18 inches. 10. Subsequent decreasing bacteria numbers and inspection of the well casings confirmed the suspicion that the high counts were caused by entry of surface water into the wells. Corrective measures to prevent the entrance of surface water are being made. At the West-Southwest Sewage Treatment Works approximately 30 acres of land was designated for a sludge demonstration site, which is within 100 feet of residential homes . The physiographic area is located in a creek bottom area which has been used as a fill area . The water table ranged from 1 to 3 feet below the surface over 80% of the area . Surface drainage ditches were installed to partially drain the soil for plowing. Soils of the area are classed as medium textured, - composed of sandy loam types. The chemical characteristics of the soils are des- cribed as having a pH range of 5 to 6. 5. The organic matter varies from 0. 5 to 3 . 0%. The available phosphorous of this area has a low supplying power of 20 to 30 pounds per acre. Cation Exchange Capacity will range from 10 to 15. Two systems of sludge distribution were installed. One consisted of surface distribution making use of a 11. -ridge and furrow technique. The other system utilized sprinkler heads for sludge spraying. For the demonstration two crops were selected. The torn variety was DeKalb XL306, and soy beans, Chippewa variety. The program was designed to yield the following: a ) Effectiveness of planting on the ridge when using liquid sludge as the nutrient. b) Maximum rate of sludge application. c) Crop yield (corn and soy bean) d) Nature, if any, of aesthetic nuisance. There was very little land leveling done to adequately prepare the site for surface irrigation, thus the irrigation grades ranged from 0 to 3% slopes (Fig. 2 ) The field was laid out in 9 plots (Table 2 ) with various application rates and check areas in each plot. The application rates ranged from a total of 7 . 7 to 29 .4 tons of solids per acre, on the various plots . Total amount of solids applied to the farm as of September 19, 1968 is 216. 15 tons at a concentration of 2 .8% solids. 7� moyno pump was used to pump from the digesters at a rate of 400 gpm, with a furrow application rate of 66 gpm. 12 . The corn was planted at a very late date of June 13, 1968. This is not a normal practice for farmers in this area . Thus, with supplemental liquid digested sludge the plant was forced to grow at an accelerated rate and will mature by October for harvest . Routine land preparation plus the added practice of ridge and furrow was performed. Heptachlor was added at planting for insect control and Ramrod was applied on corn for weed control . For soy beans, Amiben was used as a pre-emergence herbicide. Plant population for the corn was based on 6. 5 inch spacing between the plants within the row and on 40 inch row widths. Thus, a 24, 100 plant population was the goal . Data will be forthcoming on yields per plot in relation to number of plants per acre. At this time the yield is estimated at over a hundred bushels per acre. While all of the results are not in for the first year research and demonstration projects, some observations may be summarized as follows: 1 . With good cultural practices, all crops tested responded favorably to digested sludge, even though most applications were made rather late in the growing season. 2 . Offensive odors from well digested sludge application haw not been a problem. 13. 3 . Flies were never a problem, even where application rates exceeded the soil infiltration capacity. 4. From the standpoint of aesthetics, furrow irrigation is preferred over sprinkler irrigation, although no burning of crops was observed where sprinkler systems were used. 5. Digested sludge application rates, which supply nitrogen in amounts greater than those needed for crop production will increase nitrate levels in drainage water. Thus, -further research will be directed toward determining soil and water management practices to deplete the soil of excessive nitrogen contents by denitrification processes. CALUMET DIGESTER SLUDGE — Units 7/66 7/66 6/67 — Total Solids mg/1 27500 29305 34300 Mineral mg/1 13200 13200 17800 Organic mg/1 14300 16105 16500 — Specific Gravity - - 1 .011 pH 7 .0 7 . 1 7 . 7 Maximum Part Size - - 10 mesh Conductivity umho 3800 3800 6000 Hexane Soluble mg/1 1727 - 4200 Alkalinity as CaCo3 mg/1 2745 2750 2460 Al mg/1 - 227 636 As mg/1 - BDL' - B mg/1 0 .9 1.9 5. 1 Cd mg/1 1 .9 1.0 2 .4 Ca mg/1 1180 1240 - C1 mg/1 490 490 170 - Cr mg/1 46 49 26.0 Co mg/1 - - BDL' Cu mg/1 32 24 31 .0 — Fe mg/1 1666 1598 1500 K mg/1 114 152 - Mg mg/1 332 291 446 Mn mg/1 143 14 - Mo mg/1 - 0 .06 BDL' Total N mg/1 1512 1450 1767 — Ammonia N mg/1 528 603 790 Na mg/1 129 119 - Ni mg/1 Trace 2 3 p mg/1 680 738 740 Pb mg/1 90 90 6 Si mg/1 - 9800 2773 S mg/1 45 67 288 Zn mg/1 92 91 90 Note: ' Below Detectable Limits TABLE 1 5 0 - c_ — - --- • Q CD• u • • • . W z•m p _r� . . I ;,,t. Q Z i. p—N .J — F— w cr zw m O Q • h- O a CL J r 0Q ittj 0 in - - - • a • U U � • w 0 z 2 • O w (r)- Q w 6 N N • u J N O Q N-N --- z . l(1 �_ J Z ui co O Q z p_N In w m _ z Q ow w ti u • • OZ w _ 6 • p u 0 w z LL N n - w N w � W Q CL O 2 - 0 e z - � n, — ON - D po W Z ' m zWm > O O -- 0Q al W OQ Z -J - � a Q a0 a �� -- N 2 U - A _- i U U W s W 3 . r f O 0 C.-- 1 U S 'f W 7 t-- J u d , z ) .f a. ! .1 0 o _ ;.r _ .. CL ) LL) 3.- N w Z K IL 2 O U ' a E Q d - 0 - ,i • si - -\' \ ' /L.- Cl n . / / J �` w �, z / N , Li j Qci \ o� w 1 C A. �. cE / . J / / a �• ,\ a O 0 / . // / ,W i / / . '\ J1 a ' / / / ' / �- / / - J x - - . . _ / / / / / / / / � • !I1 Zu. i / . / / / / / ! / / / / / . 'I i / t _ EL J !, / / ' / / / • -! Q / / / ' • CO- / ' / / O / � / / // ' / '` W 4 _. 9 / f) / ! // M F-- o ,� / Z 4 / / / "/ / , / / , kr) v - 6 N / / / Q a / / / // , / .� Li 0 ,n w / m W ;. ,".! ,/ / . / W . / / , .I O Jw L_ \i i )- U/ !/ Li- ! , L r G - -- - �" "" / / / -' / ,- !-t- 1 L / / • � U' i LL o A u I- WI I c ; _ Ln 1- K rY } w 'II v w • O -- ._- _...... - H CD CC) x DL 11) 0 m W O u - w L..- - , ll,a1 i. L• ! S-32iJV NZIOD _ X Y X Y X Y Y 1 1 r W 41 4.0 O In IA 1!1 In In In to ul In r.. .--I L1 d 0 Q1• N . CO V.• 10 d' V • N W In CO in n en n in n n 4-I ..1 1a N M N .-I N HI N HI N H Z 04 ) r a+ E N y0 N W m .C .-I W U '-I C in ~ 4I3 d• - t • W n •.1 U) W .-I a 3 a r CO q) W W +t 7 U 4) •� C N b H -.1 CD 10 if) O O d' 0 N 0 0 O • N 9) X .-I N .-I N N -CO 0 U W a N .-1 .-1 ✓ Q O Q O W CO W N H 1) O 01 1.I N a b N 4 CQ H .--1 7 01 11 • E 0. u) d .-I a 0• N n 0 en 0• N 0 V' 11. .-I -.1 • CO en in n 01 CID eq-IPI Q. J VI C N n .-1 .--1 Al 44 D a W 0 _8 E .Cu) E ✓ R3 .-3 W OD W u) -.1 10 w .1 ON 0 424 4-I 44C 04 Q - $4 0 en en O N O O O N W .-I a c v yr n en t h 6 w r I C .•I t O Cl) -•I E ... 9 C en .•1 .•I O 0 -.I .--I 10 N CO .--1 .'I m .-I .--1 aJ1 CC) W W W W W W W W W 10 a) C C C C C C C C C + .--I IO 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 -04 Q ID h h h h h h hi') N N U) u) C C C C y� 01A) 10 10 U 0 0 0 0 0 0 O 0 0 U U) Cr) u) U U • u) SJ U a -4-4 D b 0) 0 0 0 en Al, .-I In 00 W .-1 W • • • • N W 1.. en el ICI' I1 N N .--1 .-I .-I — -.I -.-1 U -sa "0 W W ,Q •-1 N el •41. in PO n 0) 0+ wz APPENDIX -A NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SOIL ENRICHMENT RECLAMATION PROTECT .., By -Russell 1R. Harrop, Project Manager The Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago On April 1, 1968, The Metropolitan Sanitary District, at the request of the Northwestern University Department of Buildings and Grounds, began a soil enrichment program on -an approximate five acre (Fig. 1) portion of the University' s landfill campus expansion project. The five acre site is a peninsula, bounded by Lake Michigan and a constructed lagoon. The landfill was constructed entirely of sand, with 9" - 18" of clay placed on top to hold the sand in place. The purpose of this project was to enrich this poor quality soil �.. and develop a lush grass cover suitable for recreation. The natural topography of the site was taken into xonsideration for preparing ditches following the contours for truck-fed gravity distribution of heated _digested liquid sludge. All liquid sludge was transported by -6, 000 gallon tank trucks from the Calumet Treatment J. Plant some thirty miles away. An analysis of Calumet's heated digester sludge is shown in (Pig. 2) . r Northwestern University Soil Enrichment Project . . .2 An application rate of one hundred tons of dry solids per acre per year was determined as appropriate for dredged sand fill . A repetitive program was established of ditching, filling with heated digested liquid sludge, covering ditch and working the soil with a large Tandem Disc Harrow. To date 425, 000 gallons (53 tons) of dry solids have been applied to the soil . Close monitoring of test wells, the lagoon and Lake Michigan (Figs. 3 and 4) , shows no detrimental effects due to infiltration. Effects of sludge applications showed an improvement in the soil texture, soil structure .� and an increase in pH to near neutral, after approximately 25 per cent of the determined application rate had been applied. No insect or odor conditions have been experienced to date. In conclusion, it is anticipated that final sludge applications will be made early in 1969, and the improved soil will support an excellent grass cover next summer. W A / J... r ?— z / /I / „ / ,,,,//\\ % Q " / u Z rpe z z O 1— / 7 1- Z p Z i i , , Z 0 C �. IjLs1 o Z ' u ,"2 _ } 2 Z -1 cjI l- i O :/ , y c: -G U a d , U7 r, Z a Q ' ‘ r /Q m" ,ce w 0 " 'I0 � - - - - Kr' w /,Z Z • /; .c1 / ..j jQom, �� /, 0 / Z / f - w C�' / ' °/ / I- - I 1- a w w � zz � c° ' � % >_ I 00, / 0 C -� Q 4 / o / Y a7. � / 2 z - / 4 --' - - - - - - - �� `� w ° / / w i p H w / F / w ID - w. w p I / </ - 0 7 . / - CALUMET DIGESTER SLUDGE .. Units 7/66 7/66 6/67 — Total Solids mg/1 27500 29305 34300 Mineral mg/1 13200 13200 17800 Organic mg/1 14300 16105 16500 Specific Gravity - - 1.011 pH 7 .0 7 . 1 7. 7 Maximum Part Size - - 10 mesh Conductivity umho 3800 3800 6000 Hexane Soluble mg/1 1727 - 4200 Alkalinity as CaCo3 mg/1 2745 2750 2460 r. Al mg/1 - 227 636 As mg/1 - BDL' - B mg/1 0 .9 1.9 5. 1 Cd mg/1 1.9 1 .0 2.4 Ca mg/1 1180 1240 - C1 mg/1 490 • 490 170 — Cr mg/1 46 49 26.0 Co mg/1 - - BDL' Cu mg/1 32 24 31.0 Fe mg/1 1666 1598 1500 K mg/1 114 152 - Mg mg/1 332 291 446 — Mn mg/1 143 14 - Mo mg/1 - 0.06 BDL' Total N mg/1 1512 1450 1767 Ammonia N mg/1 528 603 790 Na mg/1 129 119 - Ni mg/1 Trace 2 3 — P mg/1 680 738 740 Pb mg/1 90 90 6 Si mg/1 - 9800 2773 — S mg/1 45 67 288 Zn mg/1 92 91 90 Note: ' Below Detectable Limits FIGURE 2. LAND RECLAMATION - _NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY MONITORING STATIONS - ANALYTICAL DATA (6-27-68) Analysis Well #7 Well #8 Well #9 Lagoon Lagoon Lake Lake South North South North — C.O.D. MG/L 22 43 39 95 168 168 13E Total Suspended Solids MG/L 226 978 514 16 16 51 43 _Organic Suspended Solids MG/L 33 120 74 6 4 13 11 -- Inorganic Suspended -Solids MG/L 193 858 440 10 12 36 32 Total Nitrogen as N 1/L 2. 5 17. 5 3.1 2.6 1.6 1 .8 2. 1 Organic Nitrogen as N MG/L 1.9 16.0 1.8 2.4 1.3 1. 7 2.0 Ammonia Nitrogen as N MG/L D.6 1. 5 1.3 0.2 0.2 D. 1 0. 1 Total Solids MG/L 972 1295 1091 172 183 212 200 Total Dissolved Solids MG/L 746 317 577 156 167 161 157 _ Chlorides as Cl MG/L 11 11 15 11 11 17 11 Sulfate as SO4 MG/L 330 113 140 9 10 9 11 Phosphate as P MG/L 0. 17 0. 14 0. 38 0.07 0.08 0.18 0. 13 — Nitrate as N MG/L 0.01 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Nitrate as N MG/L 11 .00 D.06 0. 18 0. 10 0.20 0.10 0 .06 Alkalinity as N MG/L 240 248 310 110 108 108 105 Hardness as CaCo3 MG/L 490 390 210 170 200 170 130 - Fluoride MG/L 0. 50 D. 50 0.70 0. 20 0. 18 0.18 0.18 Detection *Trace Metals Limits Potassium 0.-02 4.1 4. 5 3.6 1.2 1. 1 1.3 1.4 - Sodium 0.03 130.9 45.6 162.8 3 .8 3.8 3 .9 3.9 Calcium 0. 50 79. 5 80. 5 44.0 36. 5 36. 5 39.0 39.0 Magnesium 0. 50 27. 5 40.0 19.0 12.0 12.0 13.0 13.0 - Chromium 0.01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nickel 0.02 D 0 0 0 0 0 0 Manganese 0.01 D.38 0.47 1.05 0 0 0.07 0.02 - Lead 0.07 D 0 0 0 0 0 0 Iron 0.02 12.0 44.1 77.7 0. 50 0.36 0. 32 0. 21 Zinc 0.01 D.07 0 0.06 0 0 0 0 — Cadmium 0.01 0 0 0 0 D 0 0 Copper 0.01 0.12 0.04 0.66 0 D 0 0 — *Results in ppm. •— FIGURE 3 . NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY - LAND RECLAMATION MONITORING SYSTEM ANALYTICAL DATA (8-19-68 through 8-30-68) CHEMICAL ANALYSIS Date 8-27-68 Lagoon Lagoon Lake Lake Sample Site Well #7 Well #8 Well #9 North South North South Analysis ph 6.9 7.1 7.3 8.4 8. 5 8. 5 8.6 -, Total Dissolved Solids Mg/L 722 710 581 180 186 148 171 "Total Solids Mg/L 902 1286 1231 187 196 175 188 Total Suspended Solids Mg/L 180 576 650 7 10 27 17 Organic Suspended — solids Mg/L 22 48 82 2 4 8 7 Inorganic Suspended Solids Mg/L 158 528 568 5 b 19 10 — COD Mg/L 7.9 27.7 35.6 4.0 4.0 4.0 11.9 Total Nitrogen as N Mg/L 1.72 3.12 4.18 0.82 0.72 0.83 1.92 — Organic Nitrogen as N Mg/L 0. 52 0.82 1. 28 0.72 0.68 0.72 1.84 Ammonia Nitrogen — as N Mg/L 1. 20 2.30 2.90 0.10 0.04 0.11 0.08 Nitrite as N(Mg/L) 0.006 0.003 0.150 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.003 _Nitrate as N Mg/L 0. 50 0.18 1.40 0. 24 0.22 0.22 0. 28 — -Total phosphate as P Mg/L 0.065 0.166 0.025 0.020 0.020 0.020 0.015 "Total Hardness as CaCo3Mg/L N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. Alkalinity as Ca Co3 Mg/L N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. Chloride as Cl Mg/L 16 12 11 10 10 10 10 Sulfate as SO4= Mg/L 330.0 206.0 130.0 10.8 11.6 9. 3 10.8 — Fluoride Mg/L 0. 5 0. 5 0. 5 <0.1 m.1 <0.1 40. 1 Trace Metals - Analysis not available. FIGURE 4. APPENDIX B TRUCK SPRAYING ON GRASS LANDS $y Russell R. Harrop, Project Manager She Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago A recent addition to the demonstration projects took place with the acquisition of a sludge-spraying distribution truck. This 1, 800 gallon capacity truck is fed by 6, 000 gallon capacity tank trucks, which transport sludge from the Heated Digesters at the West-Southwest Sewage Treatment Works to the various demonstration sites . Application rates of one ton of dry solids per acre �- are used to fertilize publicly owned grass lands, parkways and _Metropolitan Sanitary District owned grass lands on a continuous basis. While modifications and improvements �- on the distribution system are being made to improve application techniques, the vehicle operates sixteen hours daily, and is capable of distributing 24, 000 gallons (three `- tons) of dry solids daily. The response by grass to liquid digested sludge fertilization is startling, as is evidenced by the comparison - of the check sections to the fertilized sections . The growth rate is 100 per cent improved while the appearance changes -Truck Spraying on Grass Lands . . .2 from yellowish green in color to a deep blue green. In conclusion, no insect conditions, odors, or physical damage to the existing grasses have become tvident to date. tette ©Copyright as part of the May, 1965, Part I. Jo1RNXL \V TER PoLLrrloN CONTROL Washington, D. C. 20016 Printed in U. S. A. LAND RECLAMATION-A COMPLETE SOLUTION OF THE SLUDGE AND SOLIDS DISPOSAL PROBLEM Frank E. Dalton, Jerome E. Stein, and Bart T. Lynam The Metropolitan Sanitary District treatment in an activated sludge plant, of Greater Chicago covers 858 sq miles the treated water is discharged into (2,224 sq km) and serves the city of the Little Calumet River and then Chicago along with 114 other cities drains west through the Cal-Sag Chan- and villages, including 20 smaller lo- ael. The capacity of this plant is cal sanitary districts. It serves a approximately 220 mil gal/day (832,- population of 5.5 mil, with an indus- 500 cu m/day). The sludge collected trial waste load equivalent to that pro- is treated with heated digesters and dueed by another 3 million people. pumped to lagoons on the plant site. At present, there are three principal The third and also the largest drain- drainage areas and sewerage systems age system, which comprises both Chi- serving the District (Figure 1). The eago proper and the highly populated first system has large intercepting western suburban communities, is lo- sewers that collect waste from in- rated in the central portion of the Dis- dividual communities and industries trict and is served by the West-South- and transport it from the northern west Sewage Treatment Works at part of the District to the North Side Stiekney. This activated sludge plant Sewage Treatment Works. After treat- is the largest of its type in the world, ment in an activated sludge plant, the treating nearly 1 bil gal (3,785,OOO effluent is discharged into the North en ni) of sewage per day. Shore Channel and then flows south The West-Southwest Plant handles to the Chicago River and out to the approximately 825 tons (747,000 kg) Main Channel. This plant's capacity per day (equivalent dry weight) of is 450 mil gal/day (1,704,000 cu m/ solids. In order to handle this load, day). The sludge is pumped through four methods are used: (a) heat dried a force main to the treatment plant activated sludge, producing approxi- ,_ at Stickney. There is no sludge treat- mately 435 tons (394,000 kg)/day; ment at this North Side Plant. (b) wet air oxidation process, ap- A second system serves the southern proximately 145 tons (131,500 kg)/ third of the District, draining through day; (c) heated digesters, 100 tons large interceptors to the Calumet Sew- (90,700 kg)/day; and (d) Imhoff age Treatment Works. Again, after tank sludge, 145 tons (131,500 kg)/ day. To this should be added 90 tons Frank E. Dalton, Jerome E. Stein, and (81.6OO kg)/day from Calumet Plant, Bart T. Lynam are, respectively, Acting Chief Engineer, Director of Research and Control, making a total of over 900 tons and Engineer of Treatment Plant Operations, (S16,000 kg)/day of sludge on a dry Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater basis. Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. The solids disposal cost is approxi- The paper was presented at the 41411 An- nual Conference of the Water Pollution Con- mately $14.5 mil/yr, or 46 percent of trot Federation, New York, New York, Oct. the annual maintenance and operation 8-1S, 1967. budget. Although these methods have 789 790 JOURNAL WPCF May 1968 _ ',4r-',7,4;e41, e g w , ' s. L _ct'lialt gun • C -�8 7riL air'3} ,'+gfie' • 45 hse Er s � — At l e.. I Au•••. ..... ,l' _ • rg • *14i r � y n .M" 4 Li.t ,.d.. 9rsP.r+ FIGURE 1.—The Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chi.:ago. done the job reasonably well, they do have been intensified because of the — not appear to afford the final, trouble- promotive of 'Interstate highway 55 free solution into perpetuity for a which parallels the southern boundary rapidly growing urban area, because of the plant. The prohlem will be _ dump sites for the processed sludge intensified further after anelevated and sites for holding lagoons are dis- highway has been eonstroeled passing appearing rapidly. over the sludge drying beds. The District used 360 acres (146 ha) As a further illustration of the prob- — of lagoons until 1961 when a court lent caused by the dumping of sludge, order limited lagoon use to digested the District recently completed a eon- solids only. 'this court action de- Inlet for el call, ig out some existing veloped because of persistent odor lagoons at the Gdurnet Plant. The — problems in the surrounding comnntn i- roSI 0 removing approximately 2011,- ties. In spite of an expenditure of .un0 co ;td t151.11ui1 en nil from these nearly $5 mil at the plants, air polls- ;,d.*sons was more than a quarter of a lion control continues to be a growing reillion dollars—and the contractor problem (Figure 2). These problems merely trucked the material to another Vol. 40, No. 5, Part 1 LAND RECLAMATION 791 — TONS P>0 OAT TAU 1960 TOO 1941 Y40 1N> TEAR 5%' TEAR 1970 POLLUTANT norm ammo[, in mu ix out slIamommue Ninon n oo swan Ni— n nnwn w nommamnN,• e ron n cutnm umn el ilt Who D1.:1a 66 66 47 0 0 NO.q.n Odsn 10• 10• 10• 3• f• Ool P.Nldo n> 67 29 I Orion V.P.r. 10 10 3 f o.a• ` TOO PNlurenN 203 IS• 91 11 5.4 FIGURE 2.—Pollutants (*indicates estimated values) in stack gases — for the West-Southwest Treatment Works. (Data based on 5 boilers generating 420,000 lb steam/hr,drying 450 tons solids/day.) hole in the ground at a distance of not gal (3,785 l) of water (97.3 percent more than 1.5 miles away, water and 2.7 percent sludge) come out of the system. In this same 1,000 Description of Sludge Processes gal, 14.0 lb (6.35 kg) of nitrogen and Digested Sludge 8.0 lb (3.55 kg) of phosphorus go into — Presently, 200 tons (]81,500 kg)/ the system and 14.0 lb (6.35 kg) of eofs sludge are nitrogen and 8.0 lb (3.55 kg) of phos- day g processed through phorus come out. The main purpose the heated sludge digesters (Figure of digestion is to stabilize the sludge — 3). This process provides stabiliza- and eliminate any odor problems at the tion only and does not reduce the magnitude of the sludge disposal dump or lagoon site. problem nor does it change signifi- The quantity of digested sludge that is pumped to the lagoons is the same eantly the nitrogen and phosphorus content of the sludge. For example, volume that entered the digestion when 1,000 gal (3,785 1) of sludge process. After the sludge has been (`16.7 percent water and 3.3 percent concentrated and settled out, the liquid sludge) go into the process, then 1,000 is decanted and returned to the plant — RAW SLUDGE MOM SLUDGE LAGOON EFFLUENT SETmo SLUDGE St • ..yr'.' fd ___. _ 1 des- PLANT LAGOON STORAGE 0.11.n. 1000.0 1000.0 >2A.] 243.4 S.INF. lb ]>S.O ]1>.0 1].0 Nllrry.n, lb 41,0 ]O0.O 14 ]A 0.{ M.gM1.ruy lb 4.0 5.0 0.0 >I FIGURE 3.—Schematic of sludge (3.3-percent activated sludge solids) 44 digestion plus lagooning. 792 JOURNAL WPCF May 1968 — 10N NUM IIOCIIMO IW001 YWON IIRYIMT HMO OW 111 ' •.t. --_ �. 112:11 1 -tilt. PLANT uooeN N — Oa lms 1000.0 1000.0 011.0 15.2 Wits, N. 275.0 171.0 24.1 110.0 teltropon. lb 10A 10.4 10.4 0.0 Phosphorus. a 2.7 2.7 0.1 IA — FIGURE 4.—Schematic of wet air oxidation (3.3-percent activated sludge solids) plus lagooning. for recycling, thereby providing an In the oxidation process, the or- increase in available lagoon capacity. ganic solids arc reduced to ash with a Still, each year, 350,000 en yd (264,- corresponding weight reduction of — 000 cu m) of additional lagoon stor- about 50 percent and a volume de- age capacity are required. In addition crease. The volume of sludge that to the storage problem, the decanted leaves this process and is pumped to — liquid returned for recycling contains the lagoons is the same volume that nitrogen and phosphorus and results entered the process. After the ash is in a higher concentration of nitrogen separated by settling out, the super- and phosphorus in the effluent finally natant is returned to the plant for _ discharged to the waterway system. recycling, thereby providing an in- The digestion process therefore is a crease in available lagoon capacity. stabilization process only and does not Each year, 100,000 cu yd (75,500 en solve the sludge disposal problem. in) of additional lagoon storage ca- — pacity are required. Wet Air Oxidation Sludge The lagoon supernatant contains a high volume of nitrogen and some — Presently, approximately 145 tons phosphorus. Returning this superna- (131,500 kg)/day of sludge are di- taut to the water treatment cycle re- rected through the oxidation process sults in a nutrient buildup which finds (Figure 4). This process stabilizes its way into the effluent discharges and — but does not reduce the volume of eventually into the waterway system. the sludge nor does it remove the nitro- Therefore, dewatering the sludge from gen and phosphorus. Consider that the oxidation process contributes to 1.000 gal (3,785 1) of activated sludge one of the most severe problems in the — (96.7 percent water and 3.3 percent water treatment process. These cri- sludge) go into the process and 1,000 teria establish the oxidation process as gal of water (97.8 percent water and a stabilization process only as it does — 2.1 percent sludge) come out of the not contribute to the solution of the system. In the 1,000 gal, 10.4 lb (4.73 sludge disposal problem. kg) of nitrogen and 2.7 lb (1.2 kg) of phosphorus go into the system and lea h(ff Sludge — 10.4 lb (4.73 kg) of nitrogen and 2.7 lb (1.2 kg) of phosphorus come out The Imhoff digestion apparatus of the system. ib'igure 5), processing approximately VoL 40, No. 5, Part 1 LAND RECLAMATION 793 MHOS/110001 Oro artVIMT +n 0000 110001 e .,... �— .K 1 -1110Nr— IYNf YOOON n OMbu IMe.e 1M.t ffs.a /Na lb s4.0 1.f sit' MMntwb N 11.1 l.t le.s ObrOOtrvr.N .0.. 0.t 10.1 ass FIGURE 5.—Schematic of Imhoff sludge (7.0 percent solids) digestion plus sand drying beds. ` 145 tons (131,500 kg)/day, also pro- is required each year to accommodate vides stabilization only. For every the Imhoff sludge. 1.000 gal (3,785 1) of sludge (93 per- .. cent water and 7 percent sludo•e), 12.3 heat Dried Sludge lb (5.58 kg) of nitrogen and 10.9 lb The manufacture of low grade fer- (4.95 kg) of phosphorus go into the tilizer from the heat drying of acti- system and 1.8 lb (0.82 kg) of nitrogen vated sludge (Figure 6) is nothing N8" and 0.8 lb (0.36 kg) of phosphorus more than a massive filtering and dry- come out of the drying step. The ing operation which requires removing sludge drawn off from the Imhoff tanks the water from the sludge to achieve then is air dried on sand filter beds. approximately 5-pereent moisture con- where approximately all of the 770 tent in the final product. The filtered gal (2,910 1) of liquid is filtered and liquid is returned to the water treat- is returned to the plant for recycling. meet cycle. Ise The 230 gal (870 1) of sludge which An example of this process is as remain on the drying beds then are follows: for every 1,000 gal (3,785 1) removed and hauled to a dump site. of sludge (98.5 percent water and 1.5 Approximately 150,000 cu yd (121,- percent solids) that are fed into this 500 cu m) of dump storage capacity process, 985 gal (3,730 1) of water OIM 110001 PROMS MIOn Nr1\01110 $10001 r � _ • • si 1� Plat MOM\O rtf MllMO1 1000.0 M.f If.f Solids. lb 505.0 1.1 152.E Mk,n.a.IS OA M1.Mr•.. II fA 0.f fi FIGURE 6.—Schematic of heat dried activated sludge(1.5 percent solids). 794 JOURNAL WPCF May 19a.s 14.0.4 130— 11.0— J r A lo.a— 9.0 9.0— zo 1 1 1 1 1 HSO 1932 1911 1936 less 1900 1942 1934 1946 FIGURE 7.—Total nitrogen in North Side Plant effluent,1950-1966. are removed and returned to the water thus causing a dilatory effect on the — treatment cycle, while the remaining treatment process. 15 gal (56.8 1) of water remain in The inherent disadvantages related the final fertilizer product. Contained to this process preclude it from being in the 985 gal of water which return the answer to the sludge disposal prob- — to the water treatment cycle are 0.3 lem. lb (0.14 kg) of nitrogen and 0.3 lb Summary of Present Processes (0.14 kg) of phosphorus. The major disadvantages associated In the four sludge processes used, with this process are air pollution and every attempt is made to concentrate cost. In order to minimize the air the sludge prior to the treatment moth- pollution problems, scrubbers have ods by chemical coagulation, dewater- been installed to remove particulate ing, etc. matter from the stacks. These scrub- In each dewatering operation. the ben require 3,000 gal (11,350 1) of filtrate, supernatant, etc., is returned water for every 1,000 gal (3,785 1) of to the plant for recirculation through sludge processed. This scrubber water the water treatment cycle in order to containing the particulate matter is reduce the high BOD content. This returned to the plant and recycled, filtrate or supernatant contains a eon- NAB 34.0 12.0 1 11.0- V9 I0.0- J3/4.1 7.o l 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1950 1952 1934 1930 1930 IN0 1902 1944 111•0 .4a FIGURE 8.—Total nitrogen in West-Southwest Plant effluent,1950-1966. — Vol. 40, No. 5, Part 1 LAND RECLAMATION 795 DRYING AND 160 SALE AS FERTILIZER �, ,'..\ loon WET AIR OXIDATION (ZIMPNO)f $50 DEWATERING AND INCINERATION * I I I 157 DIGESTION AND PERMANENT LAGOONS I I 49 DIGESTION AND RECLAMATION $15 OF FARM LANDS DIGESTION AND RECLAMATION I 116 OF STRIP MINES 1 $0 $10 120 $30 $40 $50 $60 COST PER EQUIVALENT DAY TON *Preceded by High Rafe Oid•Miea FIGURE 9.—Costs of disposal methods for activated sludge. siderable amount of nitrogen and phos- Land Reclamation Method phorus which, when it is recycled, Proposed Solution causes an undesirable nutrient in- crease. When there is no recycling, L) looking for a solution to the Sault- the nitrogen fluctuations are minor tary District's sludge disposal prob- (Figure 7). With the addition of a 1ems, four stringent requirements were recycled sludge process (the wet air established. The solution (a) must be oxidation process was added to the compatible with the environmental West-Southwest Plant in 1962, Figure standards of the urban area—no land, 8), the nitrogen concentration in- air, or water pollution, (b) must be creases markedly. In the wet air oxi- one which solves the problem into per- dation process, the nitrogen is neither petuity, (c) must be economical, and oxidized nor removed, and remains in (il) must conserve the organic material the supernatant which is recycled in both water and the solids for bene- through the activated sludge process. ficial use. This recycling operation increases the The proposed solution which satisfies nitrogen concentration in the effluent the above criteria is that of land recla- discharging to the waterways. mation. The digested sludge would be In summary, the District's present applied to the farmlands through irri- systems for sludge disposal: gation systems, tilled into the soil, and farmed on a rotating basis. The very 1. Are too costly (Figure 9). maximum requirements of the Sani- 2. Create severe air pollution prob- tary District would be in the neigh- lems. horhood of 30,000 acres (12,150 ha). 3. Fail to make beneficial use of the Soils experts say that there probably — nutrients. are 50,000 acres (20,250 ha) of poor 4. Cause significant problems in the soil in the area. waste water treatment process This proposal actually is not a new due to the buildup of fines, nitro- idea. Successful disposal on land has gen and phosphorus. been practiced for decades through- 5. Require dump capacity in an. (nit the world (Appendix I). As ex- amount of about 600,000 cu yd amples, Figure 10 shows a belt of (454,00 cu m) each year at an sandy soils proposed to be a part of estimated cost of ld to 2 mil dol- the land improvement and reclamation lars annually. project for Kankakee County. Sludge [4.11' dorltNAr, WPCF' Ma) l�u;� ' _ — , I ' _ 1 Yt awa.w. ^ ' �JIT_' „ / t }N Y Y'5P?; �. »t ... I (' ^,CAWW f.t.W. _�� w warore wee Mitt _Tr tuns NM JOInt roes f 4 a[ C .„� lR ,'.O.,.nL ,F,y n/' y,r esAli f ReaRY[(I• RR II - rofrfra —_ T on P a ' Y an+M e /i,+•; a • llir f1011ba PARK "' T " ' T . I[M[Ie FIGURE 10.—Land reclamation site map. disposal to sand drying beds as prac- other areas have done this on a small — ticed in the Illinois area (Figure 11) scale, the Sanitary District is propos- is typified by Joilet's ultimate ing it on a large scale. There is noth- method of disposal. The same is done ing new in the proposal, except its size. — in the Bloom Township Sanitary Dig- (Although, it should be noted that the trict. From both Kankakee and area utilized in Melbourne, Australia. Momence, liquid digested sludge is is 11,500 acres (4.650 ha).) transported by truck and applied to — farmlands as a soil conditioner and The Molerial fertilizer. The list of application What are the components of this could be multiplied many times. material which is called "digested The basic difference in the Sanitary sludge?" —' District's proposal is in size. Where Digested sludge (Figure 12) is ins 797 Ss Vol. 40, No. 5, Part 1 LAND RECLAMATION approximately 3 percent solids, 98 of the nitrogen and phosphorus, but percent water, and is rich in nitro- only a small portion of the potassium..— gen, phosphorous, and potassium—the The great advantage of applyinge three basic elements necessary for vig- solids via the water vehicle is that the orous plant growth. Separation of the water not only will serve for irriga- sludge components into liquid and tion, but also will allow the emnplete ` solid states shows that the liquid (wa- fertilizer content to remain, as would ter) contains only a small portion of not be the case if the sludge were ap- the nitrogen and phosphorus, but a plied in the dry form. The solids are large amount of the potassium. 'f he very similar to hot h the N ilorganite solids portion, however, contains most product and the dried fertilizer pro- -- is k�'‘4..;:tit; ry N_ !� L_ JOINT ��'''+++, L. wr„n,w,..'rn'e Y F. TO w w IS �� --r—t yy ' moor TOWNS" y�' k IWr11*T OIIIII I II i , ' e,3. wa,Sineasw�.wMa ;:,�. . . �. narw,as C t„- - i e.-.74, • \' '?e 1 �. — Air f NOIMICI .f a 1,LS Mat M,.. T' k'WAWA.w I,f tl,Alley yy' / I . - ' y` rr - f Ir FIGURE 11.—Land reclamation. Sludge disposal on land as practiced by others. 798 JOURNAL WPCF May 1968 MIT WOW 0••29 ueee2 TO 11/0114ANOS *Woo IOOO., IOM.e 1000.0 yW..w. 271.0 217.0 217.0 wbrsOOf. w. 17.0 14.0 10'0 P%eNnoe w. bo FIGURE 12—Digestion and land reclamation schematic (based on 3.3- percent activated sludge solids). (Gal X 3.8=1; lb X 0.454=kg.) duced by us at the present time and tently throughout the year would sold in the dried form. This proposal satisfy the fertilizer requirement. has the dual attraction of utilizing In addition to providing the fcr- both the water and the solids. Farm tilizer requirements in terms of the agents indicate that two inches of wa- three basic elements, digested sludge ter applied to a corn field when it is in has additional growth-promoting fea- tassle (a period of two or three weeks) tures (Figure 13). Because digested results in an increased production of sludge is a natural organic material 36 bu of corn/acre. Expressed in in contrast to the inorganic commer- the usual form, the dry solids have cial fertilizers, it also provides in- a fertilizer content of 4 percent nitro- creased humus content, increased soil gen, 3 percent phosphorus, and 0.04 fertility, improved soil structure, in- percent potassium. For the total di- creased water holding capacity, and gested sludge (i.e., both water and controlled moisture supply. In addi- solids) the inorganic nutrient per- tion, vitamins and elements essential centages would be 5, 3, and 0.5, respec- to Rassent. wth arew pr wide experience, this tively. d on The average corn crop requirements proposal, from both engineering and per year for nitrogen are 150 lb/acre agricultural points of view, not only (168 kg/ha), for phosphorus 40 lb/ will aid in solving the sludge disposal acre (45 kg/ha), and for potassium 80 problem, but, more importantly. will lb/acre (90 kg/ha). Thus, two inches be a boon to the area. To insure that of digested sludge applied intermit- this process will be a complete suc- •Masers HUMUS COMMIT •esiaeve IOM Swwewlea • seaaMe neat Minn •CeNTOtlS MOMIUN WPM • noontide wAnt MOWING clown •VMS — •Mesa uterine adb9.Neew.eaM'- .Met_. .-9.Mewe9-.Mew.Abwbe9.Mlw.MMb7M9reel9w FIGURE 13.—Growth promoting ingredients of digested sludge. w Vol. 40, Nc. 5, Part I LAND RECLAMATION 799 Imo cess, it must be placed on a highly sci- swcred and some techniques for which entific and controlled basis—to a much refinements must be developed. Some higher degree than ever has been ac- questions are: what is the maximum ...is complished before. rate of sludge application, what crops can be cultivated host successfully on University of Illinois /Ienionc/ralio'a the areas on a rotating basis, will the Plots nitrates and phosphates in the sludge ` For the success of this project, there cause underground water pollution are certain questions that must he an- problems, and, if so, how can they be tJ .� • 't , ,` w t y 2 g r s. tiQq �� ' a rtJ5' ,,fib: ' Mery i ,OYI -. sk l 7 .', ..' t grit ₹r • x 4 S ,'1,4 r ow i F ' s 'S, sl. d e HI y.. r# ."r. t "i r •.; a ,xz, . I} .u}•4+y x $ 41". t yry J M�' • .. 44 A; ,,:c.k .'flu 1 ' FL.• .4 1.x '..Vtta 2,( z4p r.. .41.;,„‘ 4z**3t Alt, ., Sfi s °- ' ar ..Y J d , > n .,a .� t:•.. rA� " •p • w�as��mimessan— ,,S�{Pg" ta••. r£i FIGURE 14.—The University of Illinois'land reclamation experimental station. 800 - JOURNAL WPCF May 1968 controlled, what total acreage is re- proximately 8 acres (3.24 ha) in size quired, and what irrigation systems and will handle digested sludge from are best suited for use to the terrain the 2-mil gal/day (7,570-cu m/day) and crops. treatment plant. The farm will be on -' To answer these questions, the Uni- line by the next growing season. In versity of Illinois' Department of addition to the development of the Agronomy has been contracted with farm, 3,000 acres (1,220 ha) of land for a 3-yr $744,000-project which com- are being acquired for reclamation. menced April 1967. The project has The digested sludge from three new the general title, "Agricultural Bene- treatment plants to be located in the fits and Environmental Changes Re- northwest section of the District will �— suiting from the Use of Digested be ferreted to this-acreage. Sludge on Field Crops." The prin- Harza and Bauer Engineering corn- cipal objectives are: panes, project consultants, have com- l. To investigate factors relevant to pleted a land reclamation project re- the contamination of both aur- port in which they have outlined rec- face waters and groundwater °Fended sites for acquisition and when large amounts of digested tentatively have concluded that all of sludge are applied frequently on the District's sludge production can sandy soil. be handled by land reclamation at 2. To investigate factors relevant to costs which range from $20.00 to the pollution of soils with heavy $23.00/ton (2.2 to 2.40/kg). metals, high soluble salt concen- trations, grease and organic com- Conclusion pounds, and molecular irons. This land reclamation project will 3. To investigate, under field condi- satisfy all of the stringent require- tions, factors relevant to the ments established previously because: method, frequency rate, and time for safely applying digested 1. It does not cause pollution of sludge on land. land, air, or water. 2. It does not cause adverse effect The University of Illinois' pro- on the water treatment cycle. posal (Figure 14) suggests the use of 3. It is economical. 36 20- X 30-ft (6.1- x 9.1-m) test plots 4. It conserves organic matter for for experimenting with sludge appli- beneficial use. cation, cropping and rotation, under- 5. It solves the problem into per- ground drainage, influences on under- petuity. ground water, and many other points for which refinement is sought. The These requirements also are com- test plot location is in an area where patible with the environmental stand • - impervious clay strata separate the ards of our urban area. surface test plots from any ground- It is the authors' opinion that land water supply. reclamation, either for farming or rec- reation, is the ultimate answer to a Work Currently under Way complete and safe method for dispos- At the present time, the first farm ing of all solid wastes from the Metro- at the Hanover Treatment Plant is be- politan Sanitary District of Greater ing completed. This farm will be ap- Chicago. Y Vol. 40, No. 5, Part I LAND RECLAMATION 801 Appendix I Partial List of Areas Utilizing Sewage Wastes by Richard W. Heil and Thaddeus Grabacki Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago Listed below are 14 areas through- kept. The lush growth of grass en- out the world that have utilized sew- ables high stocking rates of cattle to age wastes in various forms for farm be maintained and one local dairy crop production or for improvement farmer stocks . 2:} cows to the acre of recreational facilities. The variety against the normal 1." Crops of bar- of methods used and the degree of sue- ley especially are improved on the cess achieved serve as a beacon to the farmed areas. future, indicating pitfalls and advan- Mr. Richard Wood, General Man- _ tages of land reclamation for sludge ager for the Authority states, "With and solids disposal. regard to the local water supplies, I would emphasize that there is no evi- _ Melbourne, Australia dente whatsoever that there is any Pasture irrigation with raw sewage adverse effect upon these supplies has been practiced for over 50 yr. caused by liquid sludge distribution." The average BOD and suspended The frequency of sludge application solids content of the sewage as applied is dependent primarily on the individ- are 520 mg/1 and 470 mg/1, respec- ual farmer and varies from 8,000 to tively. The current application rate 40,000 gal/yr/acre (74.8 to 374 en — is 1,000,000 gal (3,785,000 1), or 8,900 m/yr/ha). An average of 11,000,- lb (4,040 kg) (dry weight)/yr (7 000 lb (5,000,000 kg) (dry weight) of months) over 11,500 acres (0.8 eu m/ sludge have been utilized yearly in 7 months/ha). Mr. J. A. McIntosh of this manner since 1960. the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works reports that, "Cattle and sheep Jerusalem, Israel are grazed on the pasture at all times Sewage presently is being utilized except for about one week during and in many areas throughout Israel, in- immediately after irrigation." The eluding the Negev, for irrigating and livestock apparently thrive on the pas- fertilizing of crops as well as soil eon- ture as 4,790 cattle and 35,980 sheep ditioning. Two test farms operated were bred and sold during the year near Jerusalem have proved to be so ending June 1966. However, their successful that a national 10-year plan distribution channels do suffer from was developed to provide 40 hil gal of a hydrogen sulfide odor. sewage per year for irrigation. The application rates on the 2 test farms Maple Lodge, England (The West ranged from 500,000 to 800,000 gal/yr/ Hertfordshire Main Drainage acre (7,480 cu m/yr/ha) to supple- Authority) ment rainfall deficiencies. No odor Farm and pasture irrigation with nuisances were experienced, and there digested sludge was initiated in 1952 was no evidence of fly-breeding on on more than 2,000 acres (810 ha) of sewage-irrigated land. Crop yields on �— public and private parcels. These sewage-irrigated plots were consider- areas include ". . . grassland on ably higher than those on check plots which beef cattle and some sheep are fertilized with nitrogen, phosphorous, fattened; some dairy herds are also and potassium. However, the Israeli 802 JOURNAL WPCF May 1968 Ministry of Health does not allow Leipzig, Germany unrestricted sewage irrigation and has The sewage effluent from a primary drawn up an extensive list of crops treatment plant has been used to irri- that should be raised on land irrigated gate 57,000 acres (23,070 ha) since with primary treated sludge. 1935. The irrigation of pastures and vegetables initially was done through — San Francisco, California the ridge and furrow method. Since The Golden Gate State Park in San the early 1950's, the trend has been Francisco, consisting of 1,013 acres to use spray irrigation. Spray irriga- (410 ha), originally was a sand dune tion of effluent on crops is halted three which was built up and conditioned by weeks before harvest. In 1937, the the long-term irrigation with raw sew- volume of effluent used was 29 mgd age from the Fulton Street sewer. In (110,000 cu m/day). No current rate — 1932, the irrigation was changed from is available. raw sewage to activated sludge effluent with a 15 mg/1 DOD and 44-mg/1 sus- Springfield, Illinois pended solids content from the newly- A recent letter by A. Paul Troem- built McQueen Sewage Treatment per, Engineer-Manager of the Spring- Plant. Dried, granulated, digested field Sanitary District, to Bart T. Ly- sludge was used as a fertilizer in the nam, Engineer of Treatment Plant parks. Operations, disclosed that after 1 yr of testing (1965) with an 8-acre (3.2- University Park, Pennsylvania ha) plot, digested sludge was disposed The Pennsylvania State University of at a net cost of 43¢ equivalent dry _. utilized the effluent from the sewage ton of digested sludge. treatment plant serving the commu- Kankakee, Illinois nity, and began their own wastewater research project in 1961. Three him- The F. & M Ranch of Newton dred acres (122 ha) of farm and County, Indiana, has utilized sewage forest land were used for the work, sludge from the City of Kankakee for and extensive monitoring facilities for the past 3 yr on their 8.000-acre (3,- — all aspects were installed prior to ef- 240-ha) Indiana ranch. They recently fluent spray-irrigation. Results from expressed an interest in having this the first three years of operation have same acreage improved with sludge been extremely good. Crops and trees from The Metropolitan Sanitary Dis- — have shown remarkable growth com- triet of Greater Chicago, and offered pared to adjacent areas—hay yield, the District a 50-yr lease. E & M has for example, was increased 300 per- found that sludge generally is a satin- cent, corn 100 percent, and oats 50 factory plant nutrient as well as an percent. Continuous monitoring of excellent soil conditioner. the water supplies within a ten-mile Stark County (Ohio) Strip Mines area shows that the water reaching the — aquifers is in a clean state. In 1965, the Rand Development Cor- poration of Cleveland, under Govern- Tucson, Arizona ment contraet•, experimented with sludge applications to two strip mine —' Sewage effluent from Tucson's aeti- sites in Stark County, about ten miles vated sludge treatment plant is utilized for irrigation of crops. Cotton, small *Contract No.HP 86-65 2l (Modification I) of the Basic and Applied Sciences Branch, grains permanent pastures, etc., have Division of Water Supply and Pollution Con- thrived on regular applications of sew- trol, Department of Health, Education and age effluent. Welfare. Vol. 40, No. 5, Part 1 LAND RECLAMATION 803 south of the city of Canton. At one terraces for crop production or else site, 6 levels of terraces were con- convert to expensive sludge incinera- structed [each terrace being about 18 tors. George Walkenshaw, Superin- ft wide by 150 ft (5.5 x 45.7 m) in tendent of Canton's Water Pollution length]. Sludge was hauled by tank Control Center, with his assistant John ` truck in 1,000-gal (3.79-cu m) loads Kinder, have urged rebuilding of the and flooded into the benches in Municipal Farm as the most econom- amounts varying from 3 to 15 gal/sq ical and efficient solution to Canton's .. ft (0.6 cu m/sq ft). needs. The second site contained highly In recent k of funds r acid soils (pH 2.8 to 3.3) which had maintenance r ears, e�ork has caused C nton s remained barren since exposure by municipal farm system to deteriorate strip mining 8 yr before. (The report to the point whore only 100 acres (40.5 does not describe preparation or appli- ha) of the original 600 acres (243 ha) cation methods to this site.) are now under cultivation, and only Initially both sites were seeded with 4 sludge digesters out of an original grass before the sludge had dried out battery of 10 still are operational. —result, no grass. Good growth of Overloading of the remaining digesters grass was obtained after the sludge had has resulted in production of a thin been allowed to dry out and weather malodorous sludge of one percent for one or two months before seeding. solids. The following is quoted from the re- port: New York City "Vigorous grass and legume For a number of years now, the growth was obtained wherever New York City Park Department un- sludge cake depths of at least one der Commissioner Thomas Hoving has `. to three in. was deposited. Toma- been using high rate digested sewage toes and melons also flourished. The as a top soil for new parks. William sludge slurry apparently acts as a Carolyn. Director of Special Projects mulch, a germination aid, a provider for the Park Department, reports that of nutrients and, to some extent, a marsh areas designated for park usage neutralizer of acid-producing min- are first filled with garbage, then coy- erals in the spoils. it appears to ered with two ft (0.61 in) of sand. _ be an excellent material to assist in followed with a topping of sludge the reclamation of coal strip mine cake. The sludge is applied by alter- lands. nate flooding and drying until a 6-in. "Soils, which are so acidic that (15.2-cm) layer of dry sludge cake seeds spread upon them char, can be has been built up. When the cake is made to initiate and sustain grass disked-in, an excellent top soil is pro- growth when enough sludge slurry vided. Grass seeding is applied di- to form about six in. of cake is de- reetly to the top of the dried sludge posited thereon." cake. Canton, Ohio Las Vegas, Nevada.uccess- The` k Departent fullCanton,a unicipal farmat for`liquid uses alll of itse sewage as Vgas rsludge form the sludge disposal for over 40 yr. They development of parks, recreational have not kept good records of their areas and cemetery facilities. Accord. sludge loadings, but apparently aver- ing to V. R. Deliling. Public Works age 74 tons/yr/acre (16,600 g,/yr/so Engineers, "The demand for sludge in). Canton now either must repair for these purposes by the Park De- its ten sludge digesters and build diked parhucnt has exceeded the actual snp- 804 JOURNAL WPCF May 1968 ply. We've found that the sludge has About half of Miami's 65-acre (26.3- been a very useful product in adding ha) plant site was planted in Bermuda humus to the desert soils found in this grass as part of the landscaping con- _ area and in building the turfs within tract when the plant was built. Very the park developments." little top soil was used, and thus the Orlando, Florida grass grew poorly on the sand and shells dredged in from the bay bottom. The city of Orlando contracts with With the first application of liquid local fruit growers for the delivery of sludge, a marked improvement was liquid digested sludge to the citrus noted. As the second and third op- groves in tank trucks. The contract plications were made to some areas, prices usually are in the range of continued improvement was evident. $3.30/thousand gal (which would be The method of application is both $13.20/equivalent dry ton, assuming a simple and inexpensive. By using _ concentration of 6 percent solids). aluminum irrigation pipe and several Miami, Florida lengths of fire hose, one man can apply 25,000 gal (94,700 I) of sludge in an The 47-mgd (178,000-cu m/day) 8-hr day. The yard is flooded corn- Miami Wastewater Treatment Plant, pletely with the liquid sludge. In completed in 1956, provided an inter- some of the low areas the sludge may esting opportunity to try sludge dis- be two to three inches deep over the posal by land reclamation. Sewage sludge at the plant is digested in 4 grass. The Bermuda grass does not conventional anaerobic tanks at the smother out and, in a matter of weeks, average combined rate of 20.5 tons the lawn is ready to be mowed by the (18,600 kg)/day. gang mowers. PART TWO - NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS Winner of 1968 'Outstanding Illinois Weekly' Award Toe.. RECORD-HERALD VOLUME 104—NUMBER 40 THURSDAY,JUNE 25, 1970 ARCOLA, IWNOIS 10 PAGES—Ten Cent.Per Con .44 Hear History, See All 18 Arcolans Go to Chicago to See Sludge Fertilizer in Making Eighteen civic officials' farmers conditions, this smoke has been has been variously referred to as sand was brought in to f81 the lake and jut plain interested citizens known to halt traffic and to prevent the eighth wonder of the world and .and enlarge the Evanston campus went to Chicago last Thursday to race track patrons, a couple of one of the seven engineering won- lie said Northwestern was unable to learn about sludge. miles away, from seeing the finish den, grow anything on the fill and ailed After a day of listening to various line. experts and of on-the-spot Among other accomplishments it the district for help. tic,the 18 were pretty well agreed suited was mexplthee heating ned the gmpro re- has Chi the flow of two rivers •ck HAULED SLUDGE two E in by that there k little cease to fight with which the Sanitary process In the Chicago area so that they noe ary District longer pour into Lake Michigan, truck every day for two months," the proposed use of sludge to ter- turns liquid sludge into dry fertili- but flow in the opposite direction. Lynam said. "And when we were tills. Douglas county acres this zer. Later it was pointed out by This was done in the late 19th cen- thru. Northwestern was able to fall. Bart Lynam. director of the dis- tury so that Chicago's waste would grow grass and shrubs on the new All agreed that there is nothing triers huge laboratory,that if liquid no longer be dumped into the lake campus. No one knew we were "dirty"or"odorous" about the ma- sludge can be used on farm land, which is the city's source of drink- hauling sludge." he added, "so no terial. All seemed convinced it has it could mean the elimination of ing water. one complained about the operation. qualities which will make it valu- the heat drying process. Lynam The fact is there wasn't a single able as a fertilizer. Most became said the smoke from the stacks of LYNAM SARr TEAT his labor-I- complaint from residents of nearhy aware that the disposal of sludge is "the Queen Mary of the West," is 'ore mndurts ssal amertat of the apartments and homes" a major problem and a costly one. the biggest single ri-nt rihul or to the ' and ttr'te I material e the r Luce I not e Li week. Ile said Th tot ^ar-h di',vI,r sold the However, despite assurances to— Chicago area's pollution problem P big lint. which the Arrola party the plant uses I a billion gallons of the contrary by research experts LYNAM Till D TIDE Arenlans water per day and that it is the toured. turns out ito dry tons of with the Metropolitan Sanitary Dis- about the history of the Sanitary biggest facility of its kind in the sludge deity,enough to fill nine hha. trict, some came away still feeling district which collects waste from world cars. Ile wild this material has there is a good chance use of sludge thruout the metropolitan area. It is been used as fertilizer since two will result in excessive deposit of not a Chicago or Cook county unit. Lynam told of some results sec- and n eeofrta there has been no rin- heavy minerals in the soil so he pointed out. hut rather is under d tinned toby the use of sludge in sacs deuce of damage to the ground ed treated. direction of the state legislature fact ryi instances. Ile said qi that a sludge glass t olFlor fag d exs[of it is shipped He said it drro its its money for factory in Ottawa inquired if 1„ Florida and Texas. THE ARCOLA PARTY went towas available fora storage arra '� Chicago on the train and was met oy peration directly from the people. where sterile waste material had Lynam also said sludge supplactwiement at the station there about 9.30 a.m. Residents of rents area pay a special been dumped It was a nuisance has been used as a food supplement A chartered bus carted the group tax of 32 rents per slat valuation during windy periods when the son- m experiments, with nn evidence around thruout the day. to the district. The annual budget dv substance would he wafted about of ill effects on the animals Ile First stop was at the tremendous Lynam of the organization ati district ll0 million.s limited by the wind. Nothing would grow said the experiments were con- lreatmem plant of the Sanitary Dis- there. ducted at the University of Illinois to 37 cents per flat valuation. "H and the animals involved got a diet — trict in Stickney. In approaching we needed more money." he said, The Sanitary district began treat- the plant the Arcolans' attention "the legislature would have to pro- The"= the area with sludge and Areal- that included 5^„ sludge. s which was directed at two giant stack vide it by passing a law raising the provedans that that there re shown pnow�is some metals dinesludge ctor td ever hewels heavy ould pre- that were belching out great gobs limit.- of smoke. A tow director said thatgrowth in the area. sent a problem. He said nitrogen on occasions when there is little The Sanitary district has been in Lynam also told about a project wind and generally stagnant air operation thruout this century and at Northwestern university where _""""lea o" B.O. T.: ♦ ` •/ T 1]1 cr AV sr • rf/ - "ill 4t r � 1.4 wgf C • ,i - — • . _ . a .1 , , . IC . :, 4 LEARN ABOUT SLUDGE. Shown are most of the Arcolans at west-southwest plant of Metropolitan Sanitary District. - who went to Chicago last week to learn more about the sludge Here Arcolans learned. among other things, that district has which will be brought to Douglas county this summer for use annual budget of SI I 0 million. in fertilizing soil next fall. Group is shown in briefing room (Record-Herald Photo) More About... Trip to Sludge Source (Continued From Page1) _ might in cams of repeated and From the lagoons the party was HE POINTED OUT that almost "I tested cultures from the bac: heavy use. taken to lunch in Hinsdale. Here nothing tested is pure.He said"you of his hand, the area of Infection,• AFTER at the they heard from Dr. James B. Mc- might have pure water in a well, McCormick said, "and found all I)a big TER THE District BRIEFINGplan the theAr- Cormick, pathologist and president but it would be contaminated by bacteria that are present in stud.e — colans were taken to the sludge of Pelam Laboratories, a subsid- bacteria from the hand that lowered and in the area where the we k iary of Soil Enrichment Materials the bucket." took place. I also found one on r storage area in Lawndale south- Corp. ISEMCOL SEMCO has the Dr. McCormick said he knows type of bacteria, a type usually is- west t of he lagoon They actually $1.3 million contract to deliver 375.- something about Arcola that per- sedated with blood poisoning. , its spectedg 000 tons of liquid sludge to Doug- haps few others know. He said he type was not present in the slu ge _ came the material for Douglas las county this summer. has tested material from Main st. or in the area. county farms. McCormick talked of the health and found that more people go bare- 'sludge, dirt They stood and walked among 30 aspects with regard to the spread- footed there than spit. He said he •'R 18 OPINION that no sludge storage pits and all agreed ing of sludge. He said constant could tell by the kind of bacteria feria from sludge, the ditches. dirt - they detected no odor and didn't checks for bacteria will be made. found. fore wells in the area caused the in- they a single fly. The district pro- He said earlier cheeks have been The doctor was asked about a re- work I believe he brought it to — vided them with samples of sludge made—during the spreading of the port that a local workman suffered `°ark with him." from the lagoon with the Douglas material on 1.2 acres of land be- an infected hand after working in McCormick said he was told the • county tag on it. A bottle is avail- longing to Phil Wesch this spring. sludge on the Wesch property. Me- infection developed three hours aR- able for inspection in the Record- The doctor said sludge water in the Cormick said his investigation leads er the man appeared on the bea Herald office area actually showed less bacteria him to believe the man got the in- The touring Arcolaos also beard — count IF. 1 normal ditch water fortinn elsewhere from an yp'a11seYt, Mac Ring, I.: �rail• r _ Jir. Y., 7 7. N v) "ham � l�' � A• '0" µms, .. ` nI I . rif z, , . 'ti, Itn .ve .a ail .4.' �y -. ale `,w' Y 'w jam .-� g rM' i -::� ..,:w • ry� '. - DO _Lti IP e. • . " a r, 3'Z �.tiA tyres 2 . .... . . VISIT SLUDGE PITS. During day long tour of S(1111 ell.- IV 'hi, ,111,1111•1 M k )-4I .• spot m=nertion southwest of trict facilities Arcolans were taken to lagoons where sludge . t hi.,. o ere 1 f rowi left 1 \1 piton At ytsory Bob king and stored. These are similar to the 35-core pit two ands sn'rib lit t hill k Phalle'. three of I$ who .node top I here was no odor Arcola where unit train will make daily deposits of dodge it oils and not a sieo of .. Its. V.11,1 said a sample of a crop would trench an the west side of the sit A sari it.experimental agreement or the First National Bank. Larry gSe a better indication of presence ing, then pumped to the lagoon on with railroad unions will permit one Ilar,shharger, hank farm director; of heat metals and any effect the east side. The siding is more crew to make the round trip. Under Phil Schultz. realtor; Boger Yo- _ caused by them than a sample of than a half mile long. eeaing union contracts such a trip door, chairman of the Chamber's treated soil. He said Illinois soil al. There are plans to do some normally would call for four crew Retail Merchants committee: Chuck ready is well laced with such met- sludge sprinkling of an alfa:_.a aka .:.rtes. or the use of five crews. Shaffer. alderman: Hoyt Blaase,in- als as zinc, iron, copper and man- north of the lagoon this summer a t'iant irrigation sprinkling sys- surance man; Marion Watson.farm ganese. However. most of the material will cm will be set up to distribute the owner and proprietor of The Em- _ Also speaking to the group were be stored for us- after crops are .'u.l:.o. The pipes will he a quarter hassy; Bob Coombe, farmer and Dr. W. J. Bauer. president of harvested this fall. a a mile long and will he on wheels trust officer at the hank. SEMCO. and Jim McCall, corpora- The unit train was to arrive in i-i I:os ions tests furrow irrigation Others included Jack Chaney, op- tion officer in charge of the Doug- Chicago this week. It will consist h.,s been used, but the topography orator of Humboldt Bin company: Ms county sludge operation. of 36 custom made railroad cars of lanuclas county lends itself more Norm Burwell,executive with Kais- _ Work on the local enrage area is which will he used only for trans- he sprinkling system. er fertilizers: Dick Williams, pub- almost completed.SEMCO has con- porting sludge, just as other unit 'oat,A AREA MEN who made lisher of the Record-Herald. and sgucted a railroad siding adjacent train cars are used for transport- Ina Trip to Chicago last week were Dale Hull. Lcnnard Gaylord, Phil tc the 35-acre storage pit and prop- ing grain and fuel- The airs wit'. Wesel], R ih Milli I inn Fihl-r. y sled a in m. president of the �1 will start bringing g melee a round inn 6etwrvn lac Ch:- t t r r Commerce, Ilarrl lurmer lid term ai r _ by unit train next week. The ma- canto and Douglas er,my ^Caons ihl r,rvnr: Bub Fin-' president terial will be dumped Liu) a sow each day. MATTOON ILLINOIS tr J O u fMALGTAZ E'K'E 1111.7W—117 14 PAGES FRIDAY,JULY 17, 1970 10 CENTS MOM SSIMS Test plot near Arcola First sludge due Tuesday ais. fly DAVE SCHULTZ ,15-acre lagoon next to the pit spread in nearby croplands in j las County farm land.beginning l ditinner. "As it is used in this their soil for corn,soybeans and Workers at the sludge pit and i area- a test to prove the valve of l this year on the alfalfa field i manner it need not be dried at alfalfa. SEMCO officials elated. lagoon math of Arcola now say I Workmen completed construe- sludge as a fertilizer. ,near the lagoon. 'the treatment plant,thus alien- SEMCO owns a 555-acre dem- the king-awaited St-car sludge I tiara of giant filter screens which According to officials of the Most of the 375.010 tons to be I aline a major cause Of Chien!Intonation farm where its gran. tam from Chicago will arrive will trap any foreign material'Soil Enrichment Corp.. of Chi- delivered to the Arcola area val.go• air pollution." I omy research is being conduc- ..,Tmeday. capable of plugging the big cago, 375.000 tons of the sludge be distributed by sprinkler sys-1 The material is black cod ied under an arrangement with The hall-Mle-long track siding pipes which carry the sludge;.will eventually be brought to tens over field. Corn and soy- ordorless and has the coiCten-I International Minerals and bait at the lagoon ate is ready to the lagoon. the site ,beans will be planted nn the ix of pancake batter with about I Chemcial Corp.in return lw the a handle the sludge and the Arrival of the train will mark SEMCO gibarrds explained Ishii rest year In per cent solid content. opportunity to undertake the lumping pit is set to accept l the first trial run of the unit that Inv sludge is digested. Seconding to SEMCO spokesH The use of sludge is eapetod I Sludge experiment. SEMCO is as thousands of gallons which will carry the organic'treated waste from severs in men, agricultural studies show lln benefit participating farmers,providing the conditioner and gel due which will be filtered residue from Chicago Sanitation the Chicaen Sanitary District.,that these orgmm' residues can•in the Douglas County area by cost of application without and pommel from the pit to the,District. The sludge will be It will be used to fertilize Doug-,be used as a beneficial soil con-I helping improve the fertility of I charge to cooperating farmers. • J A.' rc ..M at-T.;. - 4:1"T„3 • ,...^,r"w.-fir y J,'tw.' .. ' 1f' N'. k - y • - dot. t -Y r. y i �mt y,'f:•-r .a 4j : "'+ " 1 71sT r r•444 e'r .k .5 c ,k' s ` .t .. ... .lM1 �• . y'i'p• r. ry.ti SLUDGE DISPENSER — Pi pes serve as axles through thai the :urine (organic residuesI can be used as • which sludge will be pumped on a test pint south of -.J con:a; oner, accord,ng to Soil Enrichment Mate- Arcola in the near future. Agricultural studms show :,an Cap officials. LIG photo) -_ t "1wf�- Ii��i( -mot -- \ \ \ � 0 i • bz ..s. r C e-e�.es4.. .:wig, •i :. - �. • wzz. - _ • -'S . '"I ' k$sa 11 r..n.s.ist Ii.ace. SLUDGE PIT READY —The pit and fit- tact After several delays, the train is ter house south of Arcola are roads to rice-Mil to t ,vr Tuesday to unload receive and pror^_Se the first 35 .ter train the organic r wdti. i a ;7 acre lagoon — of sludge from Chicago San,rauwn Dis- adiar rut , this t o tJG photo) a_ r Ek1UARY in. 1965 PENNSYlVANIA EAaMEa They spread Imo "black gold" r on their fields r Digested sewage sludge is in big demand by these farm operators. r * longer turn a 'iron FARMERS no weather i' r umm dA ed or pl or lsted (urn up s of d r sludge ii „a,rdtl or speed digested etl sludno n oat land m L.m. ..,.a .ri synod ^r. sewage (re6(mrnl avoid rI�'. loot. land as a orill anienomr-t those having it tondos- ,H on their Onre-a-yyy apuldsaitsan in nods- fieldswantmoreofti dark-rnlnred c,dual hods n .i canna practice liquid Pennisaidnid ion di wrist nee Bob Wolfe!, nneratos ,f tM plant oneratnr is damn each fieldage plant at St Marys in Elk Cn, - four time' a year ty. can't begin in satisfy de-sand Each eek air,it Rn loads of r He's been -pro-at-hug dice-fed sludge sludge are hauled fen— the Hann r „pit,.o „pit,. pastures ,. and sewage treatment pi.nt York cropland 64. Application,Yearrmmd ertn a 6eda ry. ne rby f rms.a l is mode do a dozen antes. yeare rationed n farms Each lulu "nth'!" an every-other-Year A�sr: Nn rt.arge 1500 gallons per and the Haven aver- is made. ages 3.5lee percent solids Having seen r According to James O Evans a it, olferb on their ernes. the farm research soil scientist ahn eter-• er re pleading Inc ',ore sludge viewed six farmers in iris r ,- the Amnrdtng to the plant roera[or. only complaint w,is r lack of Cu.- Parker some farmers even feel volume the` ictors of r. inatmr "It's much better than farm ma Ir addilm. to pr nmitnrnn r sure.s one told Evan- humus wage sludge -appio= aster and humus to mils It a. is, .oil Said another. "It's almost like a porosity for hatter air and water miracle." movement as well as promotes n A third called the digested sludge Rani, cre'sth and activity Evans "black gold" nose ed much grrnicr earthworm Ere None of the farmers dr,-. ed oh- activity in dosed sods .•, compared jertinnablr odors Nnnr Fed retch- to adiarent sir nearby untreated bon complain. All asked fur more .oils. The farmers interviewed had sludge, made similar observations Stalled Dlapesal Methods Sludge anelnatinn• are made in Pennsylvania Hy such methods as Evans is an employee of the Cm- gravity flow from discharge hoses, cinnati Water Research Laboratory. spreading under pressure from Federal Water Pollution Control specially-designed applicators, and Administration. He made • tern- with spray equipment.Spreading or week tour of Pennsylvania sewage spraying is discontinued during treatment plants in 1917 to study rainy weather. And the sludge is wag disposal methods.He notes about 30 kept away from dratnagewaya, such municipalities In Pennsylvania have as streams and ditches. Nor is it found spreading digested sludge on Imo on vegetable ens"- farm fields a cheap and safe dis- None of the sewage plant opera- psaal method. tors visited by Evans charge farm- Although normally 95 to 97 per- en for the sludge. It ss likely that, sew cent water, sludge contains enough with an ased demand by farm- nitrogen. phosphorous, potassium, ere for liquid sludge, some sewage mil conditioning agents and trace disposal plants will ask a fee in the minerals to produce amazing future to offset the costs of hauling growth response in crops even with and spreading. one-inch apseveral faron mers Features a In fact, several farmers in Elk County reported their hay grew toe Recalling his experiences at the thick or dense for easy cutting end of the tour,four facts stood out And, in Montgomery County, in Evans' mind' Abe O . credits the phenomenal I. Not once s a bad odor de- saw growth of his corn this past summer tested even from fields wet with to a single dose of sludge. One un- freshly-spread sludge. treats field had ordinary looking 2 Not one farmer-user or neigh- cern but in the treated field some boring farmer expressed an objec- Mclht soared 12 to 14 feet high and lion to the practice M sludge-spread, many bare two ears ing on farmland. Sludge is a byproduct from sew- 3. Sludge, applied to soils. im- age treatment plants It cannot be proved them and significantly M- etered indefinitely or dumped into creased crop yields. streams. It can be (11 burned or 1. All users wanted more sludge. incinera@eel; (2) laannned tempo- It also became easy for Evans Airily.Ill dried to a smaller volume to understand why some farmers r but not without encountering such des ribw the dark-marled sludge problems . excessive casts. un- spreading slowly over their land as availability of land. odors, adverse "black gold" REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION ,rt PENNSYl VANIA FARMER-FENRIIARy 10, 19611 Friday Afternoon's VI • JulyEgb 24, 197° NEWS-T RIB UNF Mt Year—No. 171 r IlkMy- J IA$alle•PFnt-0glenLy. July 24, 1970 c„„ncht 5975 Daily x...'meuee.Inc. Spring Valley, III. Plow Industrial Waste Land with Sludge, Grow Grass, Crops By t ncenwas"�w ba' r tewr.rrlhune wpnrw what a barren. sandmvered Wbacres al land used for industrial waste has now Wien developet thanks to the nutrient value of Chicago sludge, towhere it can grow Wm grass and crops. "A year ago crabgrass wauldn't grow here.Now we've y; f rotten n grass and or. K+apG i. chard grass to grow, along • g�� with ads d. " id Mil is �,: Inn F.Schaible.1 pictured as he. _ al ' e • examines some of the new to. Y T hgc o a tract t land owned by Libbey.Owens,Forel - nb Y 1 Iowa. �'"--Na .. Sch font mana4 e f ri,. erf '�•z.w 1'd•�T I .^- meal control at LOF,revealed . ..;r _- crops are being raised 'Wave gotm t Plot Piing Qj� {,� fir.. } �' ^,..--'' ' for tomatoe ry heatoats y ' A - and soybeans.If they up T+I f4' ,j _ - 4. ! e really come long way ..(,jrt/ l v t�-- a.a ( - ' was m the days he all had ;Pt �)yasL� "vI powder white r.. � !}nt ,� • y y ., sand." he said. The same h ilu hirh A i I;l _ prowl . h t mo .. :I'y„. 11 LOf'prop erty.p located west id ( I v .' Ottawa on the south side of the w - . ` Illinois on a hemp rd ' used n old ta vse a ' ',/+ property west of Ottawa, brave .. ✓. the t Bennett road. ''The Metmpnlit Sanitary District ill Greater Chicago. which is running this whole awe lit project. sends down sludge y Schaible is put in trenches that mil parallel across the Sr lend;' baible explained. "Once the sludge dries It In a slowed up and then are YsrW I trenches are dug which cries- moss the old ones.When they are filled and dried,we plow again." he continued. Schaible noted there arc .ante differences between the two land reclamation prefects. us "At the LOF site. where wnrk began last fall and ended earlier this month,the sludge was brought down the river in barges and pumped to the vita. Fnr the mines, sludge i brought in by k:'irtm he nid, ' "The basic difference, how- ever. is that our problem at • LOF was ton much alkaline.At the mines It's lust the opposite. • There's too muchhink s acid.Yet we ) the ilk sludge wive bath taw . t a nie said, Y' Z. - �,,' Schaibl long time eon-. ��.'.i� �aka��a,, �w servaannist h hit nerved on :na ....� •NI S•{.i. lam.n +pa^ .w•-• - federal pollution boards and Z - currently represents sinmin on ` r -e ^s' -1'F-r MM 1•. 4"; the Great Luce Comminlon sots w � +iw i'>tw:`' a an conservation.thinks the use i w. �•• f . of sludge can be a gram help $ w •. _ "�,:��- to future land reclamation. .Thi ' —sew- "I'd like to see land like .s: t • y V.. - LOF and the stria-mined ants mm✓ ..=- be to Chlcogo'a solitary ..pq ` _ — e T district for a roaataele price. •3 and I menufor a NS el dm. tars an acre because IMY all _ d�~->e it's mirth whet ft's In that corn • dition:' began&hake. _ a'}"aFa,e� I +�• s "Then the district can get -��v.."-,••.-Tv rid of its sludge end convert - `-\~-} , lk' ..—,�` worthless land into something r ,- e�. Si.yam 7 ;sae>'S' �ng na useful. either fog industry or •-••••••••• '•- w•• � '� _ _ �.w recreation." more Important the land would get back on the •!'� tasrolls and 'd all end p benefiting from iL Schaible - concluded. .... zb e tiattpMmes .... Serving the Heart of LaSalle County with the Most Complete Newspaper Two Sections-16 Pages OTTAWA. ILLINOIS Monday. July 13, In' By JOHN GERDING While serving quietly as a •„e A nature area in the midst of nature refuge, the area also an industrial wasteland seems continues to serve man in the like a contradiction of terms. control of water pollution. But,such an area exists just west of Ottawa where aban- A rather simple, but in- doned sand pits are being used teresting, process is used to was y to dispose of industrial wastes. clear the water of oil and other Industreia 'Vas teland a tour of the area with Milton lighter-than-water substances Schaible, a Lihbey-Owens- before it discharges into the Ford chemical engineer, Illinois River. The water is T /mss revealed. pure when it enters the river, Becomes co ek•y Nature ■ 'e f„ $er at therwere Nature has engulfed Schaible indicated. aim e s 1 i_ Center the old concrete abutments The plant effluent is pumped that were once used in the sand into one of the pits—a Email mining process. and the pits one—where a slimy, gooey themselves have become small substance covers the surface lakes that team with fish. and the settleable solids sink to • the bottom. ibis l t' WILD FLO W'red are Between the small pit and a Id 1 t, Iii. t1 Wasteland abundant,unobscured by beer s�, chic. tin:Be ch, m me out Iii II • cans, old papers and other has awk Beach, a culvert• 11 Y This grassy area on Illinois it near the site of the old Black- litter.The area is kept closed to has been installed. • .� \,l' •/1 hawk Beach only• few months ago was barren industrial the public by a high wire fence The water runs from the first • 11 waste.The soil has been reclaimed through the use of sludge, topped with barbed obscured and is pit into the second, which is • 1. • sewage treatment by-product. The reclamation ex- 'm 1 I •\ td OMmeat 'Was conducted by the Metropolitan Sanitary almost totally obscured from somewhat lower, by way of a ll rIllinois 71 by an earth dike "whistle," which is nothing J, \ District of Greeter Chicago. (Daily Times Photo) surrounding the old pits. more than a piece of culvert 1 , t Schaible pointed out that material attached vertically at } '� • • I there are many deer in the right angles to the drain area, but hunting is not per- culvert. •m muted. Brightly colored birds About one half of the vertical • abound. portion of the culvert is above ' . The industrial history d the the surface of the water and the area is given away by the other half below. presence of rusting baits. This means that only water crumbling concrete structures\ l • coming from beneath the 'Po t\' and decaying planks. A con- surface,where the oil and goo • \i crete structure that once held has accumulated,can enter the r I bins of sand now looks like a pipe to the other pit. o i , Doric ruin. There are fish living in the t Yet, they blend into the second pit, including bluegill, scene. bullheads and carp,but there is e" Not far away. nature has still some evidence of oil on the been given a helping hand to surface.THE CULVERT process u i• by manrestore gy land made desolate repeated into■ pit just south of what was once the a..� _�y,./ 1(11 y alkaline lands. was filled withtrial waste. which• Msout 20 per centfi. een covered withs, �-' a.1 { ' . e, •xJ age 4eatmenl 6v- ripening where the water spills 5:•n f tI a ,/e/( l Ir S . product high in soil nutrients. into the pool. wise "' -t " ,� •. 1.4. \ • . y Grass is now growing on the To the east of the third pit ticland—some 80 acres—where with a clear springe sand filled •t '•, `� water that • ( .`t before the sludge was applied will soon serve as the sludge •J• /a r • -i,,l l absolutely nothing would grow. dumping ground for the new • ii - + The reclamation project was Ottawa secondary ;ems conducted by the Metropolitan sewage y a. •: `, ,ti is ow ent plant.The property ' -i7 ,-;;;"":51.-- A"",�,.. _ • Sanitary District of Grater a owned the city. �"•� - - THE OTTAWA sludge, y �•-.�^ '- With the "opening of the new ni the Chicago variety, is __ r_. ' beloatv.O glass" process at Lib- will to"undigested," a the dumping ' bey Owl of the in April, the will take in the dumping a. a :.a'* `•'� dispaal of the waste from the area. The Chicago sludge is • � grinding and polishing digested in large lagoons r processes is no longer maintained by the Sanitary s' - - .- . necessary,Schaible explained. District in the Chicago area. + - ........4:::: r.,:::::;•,`?-:' .4.. . - — - zber r tp Times Serving the Heart of LaSalle County with the Most Complete Newspaper • TwoSections—I6 Pages OTTAWA. ILLINOIS WEDNESDAY. JULY 15, 1970 AS WE SEE IT Sludge—Ecological Hope For almost as long as we've created by strip-mining. been hearing of the great wrongs Strip-mining, the profitable committed by man in his use and practice of scraping off shrub- t . abuse of the environment, we've bery and topsoil for qUick ex- also been hearing of miraculous traction of subsurface minerals, schemes to correct the damage primarily coal, has had a and possibly even to turning it to blighting effect on wide areas of our advantage. a number of eastern and mid- The mortality rate of western states. Even where ecological miracles appears to there have been subsequent — be very high, however. So far efforts to mask the scars, most few if any of the brilliant often as required by law• the soil schemes for reversing pollution used for fill is too poor and the processes, solving our mounting scrubby to come anywhere near waste problems or restoring repairing the damage. squandered resources have In the Chicago experiments, managed that essential leap however, sludge is proving from theory to practice. successful. Grass has sprouted Nevertheless, all efforts and flourished, while in un- along this line are to be treated control beds nothing has welcomed. After all. sheer come up. volume and the law of averages There is still a long way to go alone ought to yield a few suc- between experiment and cesses. practice, and no guarantee this Among current reports from scheme will succeed per- the ecological research front, manently in leaping the gap, there is one of some promise unlike so many others. from the Chicago Sanitation But it just may be that here is District which deals with —the a case where one wrong can be wastelands in the Ottawa area made into a right. illill R• ...:7-i.:-:-. /�.-- ! 1: •le' —y • r'-.;•: -' • es �. e .�: • t . r� • '7CZAI y - • �\ - �� VJ TALL__ �y.. 71 R c — !1. — . Acreage Near Ottawa Viewed . Hobert Carlson of the Metropolitan Sanitary ago was covered with mounds of clay from District of Greater Chicago (left) and Milton past strip mining operations. Sanitary Schaible• a chemical engineer for Lihbey- District officials hope to have plants growing ... Owens-Ford. discuss a land reclamation on the barren land by fall through the use of . project being conducted by the District near sludge, a sewage treatment by-product. Moriarity Hill west of Ottawa. The ground (Daily Times Photo) • where they are standing only a few months • • Land Revived `Sludge ' Experiment Working ` • By JOHN GER DING "It is heartening to see Schaible explained that the Grass is growing on an 80- anything growing here,"-acid water runoff from the - acre tract of land southwest of declared the Sanitary property has killed the fish in• Ottawa where until this year District's agricultural en- nearby ponds as well as ren- ,_ nothing could be grown—not gineer, Robert O. Carlson, tiered the adjacent areas even crabgrass. who was in the area Friday. _barren. • And, it is hoped that a small Carlson said that the The old Illinois Michigan area in the mounds of clay left over from the coal strip mining nutrients in the sludge are Canal,which runs just south of 'w se., days near Moriarity Hill will be orth about 520 per ton. About the Sanitary District's green by the fall. a font of topsoil has been property, has been polluted The"sludge"program being developed at the L0F site. beyond reclaimation by the conducted here by the THOUSANDS of tons of acid water and erosion of the Metropolitan Sanitary District sludge were transported here clay mounds, Schaible pointed of Greater Chicago to reclaim from Chicago by barge and WL barren land caused by strip pumped into a network of And. eventually the mining and the disposal of irrigation pipes for pollutants finds their way to industrial waste is working, a distribution. the Illinois River, he said. tour of both projects showed The project has almost been Friday. completed, and in places there THE SOIL became acid There was no odor Wed rigs- are star' of grass more than when a suipher compound day at the Moriarity Hill six inches high. A number of oarid in the coal-containing site where the sludge is being test patches have been planted. loam was exposed to the air .— , applied as a liquid to an area Carlson pointed out that the andthe sun forming an acid,he that was once hills of clay but rainy weather this near may explained. now has been leveled by the have washed away much of the No harm was done by the Sanitary District. seed planted in the test areas. compound until the mining THE 80-ACRE tract,which is The grass. which should have exposed it, he related. / • owned by Libbey-Owens-Ford been planted in the middle of Carlson said that a well will \ in the vicinity of the old May, was not planted until be dug at the Moriarity Hill N(-1 e i Blackhawk Beach, was once a June 5 and 6, he noted. property to determine any/pit where the industrial waste, According to Carlson and affects of the program on the 20 per cent of which was glass' Milton Schaible. an LOF underground water table. was dumped. ehe•w::.,( ...k., ,.-_ .. .. Ir r yr -. PART THREE - DETAILED STUDY DIGESTED AND LAGOON SLUDGE APPLICATION TO AN ALKALINE SOIL r Prepared By the Maintenance and Operation Department METROPOLITAN SANITARY DISTRICT OF GREATER CHICAGO 1. INTRODUCTION S The Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago is investigating the use of its digested and lagoon sludges for land reclamation and crop fertilization. The base concept for such a use was brought about by a reduction in the total amount of r usable land and the high cost of the present nationwide concept of sludge disposal by lagooning or dumping. In the area of land reclamation by the use of sludges, there is a general lack of information, particularly in terms of the results of application to the different types of soils and ground conditions r that are found not only in the Midwest but throughout the world. The District, therefore started multiple demonstration and test sites to gather information on sludge handling, and the nutritional value r of sludge on different types of soils. ` With the Libbey-Owen-Ford Company at Ottawa, the Sanitary District embarked upon one of the demonstration sites where not only transportation methods could be tested, but also the applicability of using sludge to create a top soil on a high alkaline land. 2. DESCRIPTION OF SITE The 37 acre silica sand pit, the objective of this project, was formerly the first in a series of four lagoons used for treating waste discharge from the grinding and polishing lines of the Libbey- Owen-Ford (L.O.F) Plant ' s automotive glass and windshield processes. Silica sand, the abrasive used in the plate glass grinding operation, is the major constituent in the waste stream. The pH of this stream is about 8.5 (due to the leaching from the submicron — ground glass particles) . The grinding and polishing particles in the waste slurry are between 0 and 10 microns, which are too small for effective reuse in the L.O.F. processes. — An approximation of the settled solids in the lagoons, as was determined by L.O.F. , is: Sand (as Si02, used in grinding) 76. 00 % — Glass (finely ground and mostly Si02) 17.50 Calcium carbonate and phosphate (reaction 4.00 products) Organics (from sewage and growth) 1.00 Carbon (from cast iron grinders) 0. 05 — Magnetic iron (from grinders) 1. 00 Non-magnetic iron, rough (Fe2O3 from 0. 25 polishing) Cerium oxide (Ce02 from polishing) 0. 20 100. 00 % - Over a period of time, this lagoon (first of a series of four lagoons) became silted in with settled solids, and is, therefore, no longer used in the treatment process. — Before the sludge application program, the lagoon was relatively flat with a highly alkaline soil (see soil analysis) and negligible growth. The particle size distribution was such that the larger -. 2 Hello