Chair of the Board of Health Chris Harlan formally asked the commissioners to consider funding the forums with money set aside for a planned study of the impact of recycling solids, or “sludge,” from wastewater which is then used as fertilizer.

The Health Department would like permission to redirect the research study funds of 10-thousand dollars, already reserved from its operating budget in 2006, to fund two-day forums slated for the second week of October.

Harlan told the commissioners that the funds allocated for the research were not sufficient and would be better served going towards forums which would cost six thousand dollars.

Community activists have gathered support advocating against Biosolids being used as fertilizer and for specific policy changes at the state and local level. Opponents of the practice say the use of spreading Biosolids on farmland can cause illness, poisoning, and death.

OWASA admits to participating in Biosolid recycling on farmland and has said the wastewater is treated for a period of 30-days in a biological process called “digestion” which heats the waste to about 140-degrees to break down the solids according to state and federal regulations. OWASA says their Biosolids have very low levels of pathogens and metals.

UNC Pathologist Pam Groben suggested to the commissioners the money should go towards testing the Biosolids.

The Board of Commissioners decided to defer the idea of educational forums until they were able to discuss the matter more. The commissioners would like more research done and are considering forming a task force.