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would have been in the neighborhood of 56,784 tons. Now deduct 52,396 tons and you have a remaining 4,388 tons or 190 truck loads left over. This is where Rappahannock may come in.
According to the reading materials I have acquired, your soils nutrient need is figured in dry tons, as far as sludge is concerned it is approximately 85% water and your soil will need approximately three to five dry tons of sludge per acre. This means one tractor-trailer load per acre of sludge.
According to Mr. Pastuer, about 32,000 tons of sludge left Blue Plains classified as “raw” - his very words. 20,396 left classified as digested sludged or lime stabilized sludge.
It is a common misconception that human waste sludge is a very good and economical alternative to chemical fertilizer, but after the application of sludge you may have to use herbicide on your “volunteer” plant growth.
I have said all this to allow the people to read the statistics and see how serious this problem is.
During the past several months I have had the opportunity to be a part of a citizens’ organization that organized in opposition to more and unnecessary zoning restrictions. Throughout the lengthy process the planning commission and certain members of the governing body told RPAC that they were only interested in the “health, safety and general welfare of Rappahannock County citizens.”
Here’s your chance to prove it, and the so called environmentalists also. Instead of lobbying for a new, more powerful appointed official, get out and campaign against sludge.
With the creation of a Sperryvill^ sewage system, Rappahannock will be producing its own sludge. This system, I’m told, has a 20% growth potential for future residents building in the flood plain to tie into. Let’s forget that and allow for the septic tank sewage of Rappahannock residents to be treated there. Let’s also have an incinerater system bum the sludge; possibly this can be applied to the ground without the danger of bacteria and lawsuits resulting from the application of our own sludge.
RON FRAZIER
Amissville
92.7%