In
May 2006, the City of Albany became the first agency in Oregon
and only the twelfth agency in the nation to have a Biosolids Environmental
Management System certified by the National Biosolids Partnership. This
honor is the result of a commitment from the Public Works director and
staff to a continually improving biosolids program and the desire to
be a national leader in biosolids management. For more information on
the National Biosolids Partnership, visit their website at http://www.biosolids.org.
"What are biosolids?"
Biosolids are a by-product of the City's wastewater treatment process. The City collects and treats approximately 17 million gallons of solid and liquid waste each day from homes, businesses, and industry in Albany and Millersburg. After treatment, clean water is released into the Willamette River and treated solids are stored as biosolids for use as a fertilizer on designated area fields.
The biosolids process is regulated by the State Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Operating under state and federal regulations, the City produces a valuable resource that works as a soil amendment on non-consumption crops, primarily grass seed. Every step of the land application process is closely monitored to ensure the City is in compliance with regulations, and that the needs of local growers are met.
Contact
For more information about the City of Albany Biosolids Program, contact Tom TenPas via e-mail or by phone at (541) 497-6224.