City of Athens to delay planned biosolid application on University-owned Hebbardsville farm property

The City of Athens recently informed Ohio University of their desire to delay its planned biosolid application to a portion of University-owned land on Hebbardsville Rd. due to heavy rainfall that has impacted the area in recent weeks.

In October 2018, City contractors drove empty tanker trucks onto the field to determine if biosolid application was feasible; however, it was determined that ground quality was not suitable for application at that time due to recent heavy rainfall.*

The City will consider proceeding with their planned application in 2019; however, no final decisions have been made. OHIO is sharing an update with the campus community in an effort to provide transparency given that the biosolid application would occur on a portion of University-owned land that has been leased for local farming.

Ohio University often collaborates with the City of Athens on various initiatives, and the University’s allowing the City to proceed with the application of biosolids was contingent upon their abidance of stringent state guidelines that are geared toward ensuring the health, safety and property of neighboring communities.

The City obtained a permit from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates the application of biosolids, in August 2018.

Biosolids are nutrient-rich organic materials produced from wastewater treatment facilities; when used appropriately, they can help maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth and serve as an environmentally friendly alternative to the use of chemical fertilizers. Effective biosolids management options help ensure that useful materials are recycled on land and harmful materials are not released to water bodies, the environment or exposed to people.

Ohio University will maintain regular communication with the City of Athens, who is working closely with Ohio EPA, to ensure that any future biosolid application plans on the Hebbardsville Road property would continue to meet, or exceed, all state regulations.

Cliff Hamilton, Ohio University Environmental Engineer, is available to answer questions and provide further insight into this City of Athens collaboration and Ohio EPA-approved project. He can be reached at hamiltoc@ohio.edu.

*This article has been updated to clarify that empty tanker trucks were seen on University-owned land on Hebbardsville Rd. in October 2018 and that no biosolids were applied to the land at that time.