Apr. 18--CUMBERLAND -- The city of Cumberland is looking at the second phase of wastewater treatment plant upgrades before awarding a bid for biological services.

At this week's city meeting, Raquel Ketterman, the city's environment specialist, told the mayor and city council members that sludge, also known as biosolids, is a byproduct of the wastewater treatment process.

Because of the biological nutrient removal process, the plant produces approximately 4,000 to 5,000 wet tons of sludge each year. This is then applied to agricultural lands. But once the enhanced nutrient removal process is in place, that number will grow about 40 percent -- approximately 8,000 wet tons each year.

"We have the ability to store around 3,000 wet tons and that will be an issue once we change to the ENR system," Ketterman said. "It will also be a challenge to find enough regional agricultural land to apply 8,000 wet tons versus 5,000."

The current nutrient removal process creates Class B biosolids, which still contain pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. Class B biosolids can only be taken to the landfill or applied to permitted lands. There are also buffer areas, such as distances from houses and bodies of water, and humans and animals must stay away from contact with these biosolids for a certain period of time as the pathogens continue to decay.

With the ENR system, the sludge can go through a heat-drying process, which will create a Class A biosolid.

"Class A biosolids can be marketed across the country and are lightweight and easy to transport," Ketterman said. "They are virtually pathogen-free and can be used as a fertilizer or as a fuel source."

Ketterman said New England Fertilizer Co., the low bidder for the project, already has a marketing system and clients who want this product. However, they will still have to pay for this service.

New England Fertilizer Co., located in North Quincy, Mass., had the low bid of $10,123,000 for capital costs. Synagro, headquartered in Houston, was the only other applicant, with a bid of $11,945,000. New England Fertilizer Co. also had a lower annual service fee, which would go toward marketing and transporting the biosolids, at $382,100 per year; Synagro would charge $894,000 per year.

"Funding is approved and we're in the process of accepting the proposal (from New England Fertilizer,)" Ketterman said. "Approval to accept the bid will be on the city's agenda at an upcoming meeting."

The project is estimated to cost $35 million, with $26 million coming from the Bay Restoration Fund, $6 million from the state's economic stimulus package and $3.5 million from the Maryland Department of the Environment Water Quality Revolving Loan Fund.

Contact Tess Hill at thill@times-news.com.

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