Wading in sewage; Sewage seeps onto Orono farm
http://www.durhamregion.com/dr/regions/clarington/v-printdurham/story/497159p-618078c.html
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Wading in sewage; Sewage seeps onto Orono farm
Aug 6, 2002
Jacquie McInnes, Staff Writer
CLARINGTON - An Orono family is keeping watch on their wetland after thousands of gallons of sewage sludge flooded their property during heavy rains that pushed the biosolid application from a neighbouring farm.
The Ministry of Environment and Energy has called in its investigation and enforcement unit after attending the scene, according to MOE spokesman Mark Rabbior.
"The cattails are dying where it went into the wetland," says Jennifer Henderson, who owns the 115-acre property with her husband, Robert, a fourth-generation farmer. About 10 acres of wetland and woodlot were flooded with the sewage sludge, which was applied Friday, July 26, by a company owned by Skip Ambrose, says Mr. Rabbior. Mr. Ambrose did not return telephone messages left by Clarington This Week.
"We were told it wouldn't hurt the wetland because it is a natural filter but I don't want my turtles and ducks filtering sewage sludge," said Mrs. Henderson.
The ministry ordered Mr. Ambrose's company to send a clean-up crew to remove as much of the biosolid material as possible from the Henderson's property. The Region of Durham supervised the cleanup, said Mr. Rabbior.
In its investigation, the ministry will look at the application of the material and whether it was in compliance with spreading regulations.
The ministry has specific requirements for application as part of the certificate of approval process.
Biosolids, consisting of treated municipal sewage waste, are spread on farm fields as a nutrient in some circumstances.
However, there are strict regulations surrounding the applications including setbacks from waterways, soil composition, composition of the sludge and consideration of weather conditions that may create run-off, including rain.
Until test results return from the ministry lab, the ministry cannot comment further on the investigation, according to Mr. Rabbior.
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Wading in sewage; Sewage seeps onto Orono farm
Aug 6, 2002
Jacquie McInnes, Staff Writer
CLARINGTON - An Orono family is keeping watch on their wetland after thousands of gallons of sewage sludge flooded their property during heavy rains that pushed the biosolid application from a neighbouring farm.
The Ministry of Environment and Energy has called in its investigation and enforcement unit after attending the scene, according to MOE spokesman Mark Rabbior.
"The cattails are dying where it went into the wetland," says Jennifer Henderson, who owns the 115-acre property with her husband, Robert, a fourth-generation farmer. About 10 acres of wetland and woodlot were flooded with the sewage sludge, which was applied Friday, July 26, by a company owned by Skip Ambrose, says Mr. Rabbior. Mr. Ambrose did not return telephone messages left by Clarington This Week.
"We were told it wouldn't hurt the wetland because it is a natural filter but I don't want my turtles and ducks filtering sewage sludge," said Mrs. Henderson.
The ministry ordered Mr. Ambrose's company to send a clean-up crew to remove as much of the biosolid material as possible from the Henderson's property. The Region of Durham supervised the cleanup, said Mr. Rabbior.
In its investigation, the ministry will look at the application of the material and whether it was in compliance with spreading regulations.
The ministry has specific requirements for application as part of the certificate of approval process.
Biosolids, consisting of treated municipal sewage waste, are spread on farm fields as a nutrient in some circumstances.
However, there are strict regulations surrounding the applications including setbacks from waterways, soil composition, composition of the sludge and consideration of weather conditions that may create run-off, including rain.
Until test results return from the ministry lab, the ministry cannot comment further on the investigation, according to Mr. Rabbior.
posted by Sludge at 5:00 AM
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