Biosolids have once again hit the fan as the City of Prince George seeks to spread the word on the use of waste on a Salmon Valley farm.
The city's waste treatment facility on Lansdowne Road processes sewage and human waste into biosolids - a mulch-like material used as fertilizer.
Last month the city received permission from the Ministry of Environment and Northern Health to use the material on a farm on Wright Creek Road.
The city's biosolids have been used as fertilizer since 1989, primarily on farms surrounding the city, but several residents are opposing the proposal.
City representatives will hold an open house meeting at the Salmon Valley Community Association at the intersection of Salmon Valley Road and Trout Road on Wednesday at 7 p.m. to answer questions, city utilities manager Marco Fornari said.
Environmental consultants from Sylvis, a consulting firm specialized in biosolid applications, will be at the open house to answer questions and address common assumptions about biosolids.
Salmon Valley resident Andy Angele started a petition opposing the use of biosolids in the area, and said nearly 700 people have signed the petition.
"I'm hoping that common sense will prevail and the city and Sylvis will conclude that the property being considered for sewer sludge application is inappropriate, considering the slope of the land and the proximity of a water well and fish-bearing stream," Angele said.
"I believe when people are made aware of what Class B [biosolids] contains, they will not want it anywhere near their property."
Under environmental regulations, biosolids cannot be spread within 30 metres of a residential property, recreational property or water source. In addition, they cannot be spread if the water table is within one metre of the surface.
A similar controversy arose in Red Rock nearly 18 months ago when the material was spread at a tree farm at the end of Patterson Road.
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