FPUD will recycle sludge into fertilizer

FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Public Utility District will soon begin recycling its nutrient-rich, organic sludge from the wastewater treatment plant into a safe and renewable resource: fertilizer. The equipment that will recycle the material is currently being installed at the district’s treatment plant off Alturas Road. The machinery may be up and running by summer.

The environmentally conscious decision to turn sludge into fertilizer came about as the cost of hauling the sludge out of the county is expected to skyrocket in the near future. FPUD currently spends $150,000 per year to haul its sludge to Riverside County, but that location will soon close and the nearest site will be Kern County or out of the state. But the cost of trucking the heavy, wet sludge to those sites would be exponentially higher, and those costs are expected to continue rising.

By heating the sludge, killing all harmful pathogens, the end product is a sterile fertilizer that can be safely returned to the soil. FPUD can eliminate the transportation costs and is even looking to sell the product, at a bulk rate, to a fertilizer packager or local grower.

Sludge is the biosolid, or organic material that remains after wastewater has been treated. District officials and the board of directors are excited it will be used to produce a safe, renewable resource. And odor is not an issue. The district ascertained this fact in a two-week trial run operation last year. Visitors who came to observe and share their opinion were enthusiastic about the process and didn’t notice an odor.

“It’s all about being a good neighbor to the community and especially the homes near the treatment plant, all the while, keeping our costs down,” said General Manager Keith Lewinger. “This is really a win-win situation. It’s good for the environment and it’s good for our wallet.”

The $1.7 million sludge drier should pay for itself within seven years, or even sooner if the district is able to market the fertilizer. Here’s how the process works: Thermal fluid heated to 480 degrees produces enough heat to dry the sludge and kill all harmful pathogens that could be present. The hot air produced from the heating process is then cooled and thoroughly filtered to meet California’s strict emissions standards and prevent odor from impacting the community.

Farmers interested in entering into a contract to purchase the fertilizer may call Lewinger directly at (760) 728-1125, ext. 1107.