The Water Environment Association of Ontario (WEAO) is an organization
of industries and municipalities. The Biosolids subcommittee of WEAO
meets to discuss policy and strategy on sewage and biosolids.

Members of WEAO have noted the public concern about health issues
related to the land application of sewage sludge and have decided to
prepare a video on sludge. Already concerns have been expressed by
some who have reviewed the proposed video narrative, that it fails to
critically review the health issues related to sludge.

The Biosolids Education Video Sub-committee is made up of the following
volunteers,drawn from WEAO's Biosolids Committee:

Vincent Nazareth, R.V Anderson Associates (416) 497-8600
Peter Nicol, CH2M Hill Canada (416) 499-0090
Stephen Nutt, XCG Consultants (519) 741-5774
Irwin Osinga, CH2M Hill Canada (416) 499-0090
Mark Rupke, City of Toronto (416) 392-5260

The WEAO is concerned that the public's concerns about health issues
related to sewage sludge may be based on misleading or incomplete
information.

The National Academy of Science and the WEAO report on Biosolids both
concluded that there is inadequate research on the pathogen risks posed

by sludge spreading. The National Farmers Union and the Canadian
Infectious Disease Society and the Sierra Club have all called for a
moratorium on the land
application of sewage sludge.

The public need to see responsible waste disposal
programs based on research and fact...not videos to promote sludge
application.

Maureen Reilly
Sierra Club of Canada
Eastern Canada Chapter
Water and Wastewater Campaign