Smelly stuff does no harm

Despite the odor, state and county officials say there is no problem with the spreading of Salisbury sewage sludge on farmland west of China Grove.
The sludge, technically known as biosolids, is the solid stuff left after the city has treated and processed sewage.
A half-dozen residents of the China Grove area protested the odor in complaints to the Mooresville office of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Rowan County Environmental Services department and the Salisbury Post.
The sludge was applied last week to two fields owned by Harry P. Corriher off N.C. 152, a half-mile west of China Grove. One field is established grassland, and Corriher is preparing the other for small grains and grass.
"The odor is probably a little worse than normal," said Greg Greene, county environmental specialist.
Greene said the odor is worse because the biosolids have been stored longer than normal. Trucks couldn't get into the fields because of the heavy rains for most of the spring.
"In terms of the way it was applied, the buffers and everything, all appeared to be appropriate," Greene said.
Ellen Huffman, of the state environmental office in Mooresville, said she checked out the area last Thursday.
"They did all the right things," Huffman said, adding that any application of organics will produce odor.
"It can be strong. Organics do have odors," she said. "Cows and chickens have odors.
"No wells were compromised. No streams were compromised. ... We found nothing wrong."
She said the Mooresville office received about six calls from residents, primarily in China Grove, who were unhappy about the odor.
Corriher said last week that the sludge is free nitrogen and that's needed to grow grass and crops.
The city of Salisbury has been distributing its biosolids to spread on local farms since 1989.
Some 1,200 acres in Rowan are permitted for reuse of sludge, according to Eric Helms, residential facilities supervisor for the city. He oversees the biosolids reuse program.
Around eight farmers or landowners have permits for the use of biosolids.
Both a state and county permit are required.
Contact Jessie Burchette at jburchette@salisburypost.com or 704-797-4254

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