Toxic sewage sludge in your backyard?
Meredith Brown - Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The geographical location of the Ottawa River presents unique jurisdictional challenges; it draws the line between two provinces, flows through the heart of Canada’s National Capital, and is the lifeblood of each of the municipalities that have grown along its shores. In addition, a handful of federal and provincial agencies have a vested interest in the River; Environment, Fisheries and Oceans, Natural Resources, Heritage, Agriculture, Transportation, and the list goes on. The relationship between all of the above is a complicated web that few understand, and even fewer are able to successfully navigate. The Ottawa River is constantly at the mercy of competing governments, agencies, laws, regulations, interests, and budgets. The one thing that no one is standing up to compete for is… responsibility. Today, it is not ultimately clear who is responsible for the river, and there is no shared understanding, vision or plan. That leads to an unacceptable lack of accountability, increased risk and an uncertain future.
CASE STUDY
Toxic sewage sludge, or more politely referred to as “biosolids”, is a by-product of wastewater treatment. The City of Ottawa generates 40,000+ metric tonnes of biosolids annually, and roughly 30% of that is land applied (spread on agricultural land) inside and outside of our region. Spreading sewage sludge is a very controversial practice – critics report that our governments have consistently ignored the risks, and scientific peer-reviewed studies are documenting increased incidents of health problems and negative environmental impacts.
Despite the expensive PR campaign that gave biosolids its new name, sewage sludge still has a very dirty past. The truth is, biosolids may contain everything that is washed down a drain or flushed down a toilet; pharmaceuticals, chemicals, pathogens, heavy metals, industrial by-products and more. And remember that truck full of biosolids that was turned away at the Canada/U.S. border earlier this year? It contained radioactive sewage sludge. The City of Ottawa once established a moratorium on spreading sewage sludge, which was abandoned two-years later, despite growing concerns about the practice. So why do we continue to use sewage sludge for agriculture (including on food crops)? It’s a convenient and cost effective way for municipalities to offload their waste on farmers.
Would you let the City of Ottawa roll up a truck and spread 3,800 wet tonnes of sewage sludge in your neighbourhood?
That’s precisely what’s going to happen to residents living in the rural community of Vernon, at the City of Ottawa’s outermost edge. Earlier this month, homeowners received notice that the City was preparing to spread biosolids on an adjacent piece of private farmland. Kudos to the City of Ottawa for issuing notices, which is not required by law. However, the fact remains that hundreds of people call this area home; families with children, cancer survivors, daycare providers, expecting mothers, seniors, and many more. 180+ individuals have signed a petition to strongly oppose the spreading, citing concerns for health, environment and livelihood.
This particular area of land (346 acres) is in a designated floodplain zone in the Rasin-South Nation Watershed. The South Nation River is a part of a sensitive ecosystem that has been compromised by nutrient overloading from decades of agricultural run-off and practices that do not take source water protection into consideration. Nonetheless, by all indicators, the City and its contractors will move forward with the sewage sludge application – all that’s missing is a rubber stamped “Certificate of Approval” from the Ministry of Environment. If the spreading is carried out as described, it’s not just the ecosystems that will pay the price – it’s the residents of Vernon, forced to live amongst truck loads of sewage sludge.
Question of “who’s in charge?” poses sizable threat to the future of our river
The issue of sewage spreading in Vernon is one of many specific examples that point to a need for improved municipal decision making with public consultation.
1. Overlapping jurisdiction leads to lack of accountability
In the case of municipal sewage sludge applications, the degree in which “responsibility” is unclear is problematic. Under current standards, Ministry of Environment, City of Ottawa, Public Health and Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) would all have a vested interest in sewage spreading in Vernon. The municipality looks to the province to set bare-minimum standards and regulations. In this case, the City of Ottawa’s only requirement is to comply with the (sometimes out-of-date standards) set by other agencies. However, provincial agencies are too often unable to monitor and enforce their own regulations. It’s an approach that is loose and dangerous, and leaves no one accountable for the end result.
Where’s that permit? – A Certificate of Approval has yet to be issued by the Ministry of Environment; however residents have already received notification about the application of sewage sludge in their immediate area. We’re still wondering how the City can plan a project and issue notices without a permit or regulatory approval. This is an extreme case of “cart before the horse”. The City’s actions clearly indicate that they moved forward based on the assumption that the project would be approved. The process of planning projects without approval casts serious doubt on the legitimacy of the permitting process and the relationship between municipalities and regulators.
Who’s responsible for following up? – In this case, no one. There is no legal requirement for anyone to follow up and evaluate, following issuance of a Certificate of Approval. The Ministry of Environment has stated that the City of Ottawa will be responsible for monitoring the site. However, the City of Ottawa website explains that it’s the province who has “strict regulations governing the treatment and application of biosolids”. The Ministry of Environment has told me that they will only follow up and/or investigate if they receive complaints. In other words, it’s left up to citizen watchdogs to monitor the situation, present their findings and build a case for investigation. Where’s the “regulation” in regulator?
What’s in this sludge cocktail? – We have no idea. There is no legal requirement to disclose to the landowner (or nearby residents) the complete contents and chemical composition of the sludge being applied. There is a distinct lack of transparency when it comes to reporting on sewage sludge. Although sewage sludge is tested prior to land application, it’s only tested for chosen parameters (nutrients, metals and e-coli). There is no testing (or disclosure of test results) for radioactivity, pharmaceuticals including endocrine disruptors, toxic substances and pathogens other than e-coli.
In the Vernon case, the sludge is being applied to a field where a Soy crop will be planted next year. This crop will yield food, and yet we have no idea what the true contents of this supposed “organic-rich” fertilizer is. Like the sludge in the truck headed for the United States, is it possible that sludge destined for farmers fields is radioactive?
2. No incentives to reduce pollution and protect source water
I’m disappointed that sludge spreading is practiced without a formal monitoring program. Even more discouraging is the fact that municipalities support it, encourage it, promote it and give farmers subsidies and financial incentives to do it! This is an age in which we are supposed to be thinking holistically. Our future depends on practicing sustainability today. Our governments could offer incentives to reduce the pollutants associated with agricultural production and to protect our source water. They could offer subsidies to organic farmers who work to preserve our soil systems and produce safe food. And yet, the City of Ottawa is doing the opposite – taking advantage of a weakened farming industry to deal with their growing waste management crisis.
To make matters worse, farmers are not just sold “fertilizers” they’re sold a story concocted largely by PR agencies paid to help “pretty up” the idea of spreading sewage on crop land. The City of Ottawa describes sewage sludge as “an organic-rich soil amendment alternative to commercial fertilizers”. Their official biosolids page goes on to say that it “enhances the quality of soil by adding valuable nutrients”. It is very savvy marketing, but note: the site stops short of calling biosolids “safe”. Instead, it says the City of Ottawa meets the minimum standards set (by other agencies). Farmers are actually being persuaded by municipalities to use sewage sludge at a subsidized price – leaving the rest of us up a creek without a paddle.
3. How can we achieve our goals if we don’t have a shared vision and shared understanding?
Too often, our municipalities rely on provincial agencies to make decisions, issue approvals and deal with the consequences. Piecemeal permitting by the province (without an action plan for risk assessment, monitoring and source water protection) is unacceptable and is not in the best interests of public health or the health of our environment. We are losing confidence that our regulators are acting in the best interest of public health and regional ecosystems. Municipalities should take more responsibility for the role they play in the protection of our local water bodies and human health.
Collaboration and understanding is the key to successful municipal decision making. Developing a shared municipal protection strategy is critical for the health and future of the Ottawa River. The threats to the Ottawa River are growing and so too are the demands on municipalities to provide clean and safe water for their communities. With so many municipalities sharing its shoreline and depending on its health, the time to develop a common vision, understanding and plan for the Ottawa River is now.
Take Action
1. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes…
Regardless of where you live, I urge you to ask your City Councillor one simple question – “would you spread “biosolids” in your neighbourhood, where your families live and where your children play?” If our elected officials and City staff won’t welcome sewage sludge in their backyards, why should we allow it in rural areas? Should a rural resident have fewer rights than an urban resident? Should a rural resident not be entitled to the same standard of clean air and clean water? Ask your City Councillor today.
2. Support initiatives to get people talking…
Ask your municipal councillor or candidate about Ottawa River protection strategies and encourage your municipality to contact us about getting involved in a collaborative initiative.
Sincerely,
Meredith Brown
Executive Director & Ottawa Riverkeeper