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Biosolids

As Nova Scotia tries to solve one problem, namely the pollution of Halifax harbour, it is creating another problem: biosolids. Biosolids are the solid, semisolid, or liquid residues produced during treatment of domestic sewage.



Biosolids Free Nova Scotia

CONTACT:
Marilyn Cameron, Chair Biosolids Free Nova Scotia
409 Arnold Road, R.R. #2, Woodville, N.S. B0P 1V0
maricam@eastlink.ca
902-538-1141


SIGN ONLINE PETITION HERE:

Regarding Land Application of Biosolids www.PetitionOnline.com/NS2010/petition.html


List of Farms Not Using Biosolids Dec. 12, 2011


Halifax Regional Municipality's (HRM) Harbour Solutions Project has begun treating the millions of 1itres of residential and commercial sewage that have been dumped directly into the harbour over the past 250 years. Harbour sewage is treated through an advanced primary filtration system at three new wastewater treatment facilities in Halifax, Dartmouth, and Herring Cove. The sewage runs through a filter separating the dirty water from the suspended solids. The left-over solids are trucked daily to N-Viro's treatment plant in the Aerotech Business Park. At the plant, the biosolids are heated and mixed with locally-produced cement kiln dust (CKD). The end product, known as "biosolids," is promoted as a fertilizer and spread by farmers on fields throughout Nova Scotia. The biosolids may also be applied to non-agricultural marginal land and to forests. These biosolids contain a composition of everything flushed down toilets and drains, such as household cleaners, pharmaceuticals, and waste from the Halifax and Dartmouth hospitals.

The NSEN mining caucus is opposed to the land application of biosolids because we believe that the product is inadequately tested for pathogens and carcinogens and poses a threat to agricultural land, farm animals, food, water and public health. We are a group of concerned citizens including environmentalists, organic farmers, concerned consumers, and health professionals. We also think that the governments, both municipal and provincial, are not adequately explaining the risks of this practice. The provincial government's 2004 Guidelines For Land Application and Storage of Biosolids in Nova Scotia outline the requirements for testing and reporting on biosolids but are only voluntary.

Biosolids Free Nova Scotia Calls On Government To Protect Farmland And Food Safety

The Biosolids Free Nova Scotia are asking Nova Scotians to collect signatures on a petition to the provincial government to declare an immediate moratorium on the use of sewage sludge (biosolids) on Nova Scotia lands and to adopt with minimum delay safe options for sewage sludge disposal or destruction.

Petition here
NSEN Position on Biosolids
Open Letter on Biosolids to Premier Dexter
Biosolids FAQ
Biosolids Mailout Information Sheet

Reads the latest biosolids news here


Resources and Documents


Links

Canadian Biosolids Partnership
www.cwwa.ca

Citizens for Sludge-Free Land (CFSL)
www.sludgefacts.org

Nova Science Forum on Biosolids
www.gov.ns.ca/nse/forum.biosolids.2005/

Nova Scotia Wastewater - Department of Environment
www.gov.ns.ca/nse/wastewater/

Sludge Facts
www.sludgefacts.org

US Sludge Free
www.usludgefree.org

US Sludge News
www.sludgenews.org

US Sustainable Sanitation Alliance
www.susana.org/index.php/lang-en/case-studies



Join Us

Contact: Marilyn Cameron, Chair Biosolids Free Nova Scotia at:
maricam@eastlink.ca
902-538-1141

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Canadian Environemental NetworkEnvironment Canada

Nova Scotia Department of Environment Fact Sheet on Biosolids (pdf)

Stop toxic sludge on our land!

NSEN members raise concern about Halifax Harbour sewage sludge applied to agricultural lands in Nova Scotia.
Read our biosolids background information:
Read the Toronto Star Sludge Series published July 2008:


Biosolids
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosolids

Canadian Water and Wastewater Association: Biosolids
http://www.cwwa.ca/Biosolids_Legislation_e.asp

Harbour Solutions
http://www.halifax.ca/harboursol/biosolids.html

Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour: Waste Water
http://www.gov.ns.ca/enla/water/wastewater.asp

Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour: Biosolids
www.gov.ns.ca/nse/water/docs/BiosolidsQA.pdf

Sierra Club: Information about sewage dumped on Crowdis Mountain, Cape Breton
http://www.sierraclub.ca/atlantic/