Custer County schedules town hall after Round Mountain plan to apply treated wastewater sludge prompts public concern

Custer County officials scheduled a public town hall for March 27 after residents raised concerns about a plan by Round Mountain Water District to remove and apply treated wastewater solids from its system.

At a March 20 meeting of the Custer County Board of Commissioners, county leaders said Round Mountain plans to test and then, if permitted, apply treated biosolids in the late May timeframe. County officials and residents asked for more data and time to review environmental testing and permitting options before any application occurs.

The discussion matters because the material at issue — commonly called biosolids — can contain trace contaminants and has been the focus of federal and state standards for decades. Residents expressed concern about potential impacts on groundwater, creeks and downstream users, including local irrigators and municipalities.

County officials said Round Mountain had not yet signed a contract with the company expected to handle removal and application, that the district plans follow-up testing in April, and that no spreading had begun. “The minute I found out about it was the minute Dorothy got it, and she came to me,” said Phil Candid, chairman of the Custer County Board of Commissioners, describing how the board first became aware…