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Water and Sewer Committee recommends city consider storing neighboring utility’s biosolids, proposes 15¢/gallon charge
Summary
The committee recommended the city council consider accepting 125,000–150,000 gallons of treated biosolids for temporary storage and land application and advised charging 15 cents per gallon to cover disposal and contingency costs; the recommendation will go to council for final action.
The Water and Sewer Committee agreed July 8 to recommend that the city council consider taking on 125,000–150,000 gallons of treated sludge (biosolids) from a neighboring utility and to charge 15 cents per gallon to cover expected handling and disposal costs.
Committee members said the material is already treated and could be stored at the city’s treatment facility until land application is possible. Members noted the work would add operations loads — pumping, aeration, and later land-application costs — and emphasized the recommendation should include contractual protections to prevent the city from absorbing extra costs if regulatory or market conditions change.
The committee discussed a range of per-gallon cost estimates provided by contractors and operators, from roughly 2–8 cents cited by one source to higher informal market estimates; after weighing disposal and transport uncertainties, members landed on 15 cents per gallon as a recommendation to council. One committee member framed the choice as insurance: a slightly higher charge preserves a margin to cover extra hauling, treatment or land-application costs if they arise.
Members repeatedly stressed two acceptance conditions: the city would require metered delivery and pre-acceptance testing, and final acceptance would be subject to the council’s signoff. The committee voted in favor of forwarding the recommendation to council; the council will make the final decision and negotiate contract terms.
The committee also noted uncertainty about who will ultimately perform and pay for land application if permit or PCA (Pollution Control Agency) requirements change, and recommended that any contract include a rider allocating responsibility for increased disposal costs.
Next steps: the committee will forward the recommendation and suggested contract language to the council for review; council action will determine whether the city accepts and at what price.
