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County Reaps Rewards Turning Waste Water Into Fertilizer
By Bill McLaughlin
There is money in organic fertilizer, and the Ocean County Utilities Authority (OCUA) has won an award for mining the mother lode.
OCUA leaders presented the Ocean County Board of Freeholders at their pre-board meeting October 31 with a plaque recognizing the county's status as top biosoil managers in America. Dallas, Texas ranked Number two in the competition.
The formal competition was for the EPA National Clean Water Recognition Award and signified successful treatment of waste water, turning the effluent into fertilizer and producing cleaner waterways.
Lacey Councilman John Parker was the leading advocate for building the treatment plant at the far end of Hickory Lane in Berkeley more than 15 years ago.
Freeholder James Lacey, who serves as liaison to OCUA, said, "(OCUA) has raised the Bar when it comes to treating waste water and recycling it into useful fertilizer."
Lacey told the freeholder board that five dry tons are produced by the plant every day.
"That's a lot of you-knowwhat," Lacey said with a smile.
Freeholder John Bartlett said he knew Parker back in the days when the plant was proposed and congratulated him on a job well done.
"You make sure the whole operation works," Bartlett said.
The board agreed that county waters are cleaner since the process was implemented a decade ago.
Parker spoke to the freeholder board along with OCUA Executive Director Richard M. Warren and David Ertle, director of fertilizer management.
"This award is a culmination of over 15 years of hard work," Warren said, "and reflects the commitment and of the freeholders and the authority's commissioners and staff."
Ertle said OCUA is the only agency in New Jersey that produces and markets a commercial product from its sludge or biosoils.
The end byproduct is called OCEANGRO and is used by 60 golf courses throughout New Jersey. It is available in many retail outlets throughout the state.
OCEANGRO is described as a nonburning slow release, runoff-resistant product that is rich in iron and calcium. Farm fields and golf course managers can reap economic and environmental profits using the sludge as a maintenance application.
The state Department of Agriculture has registered the product as meeting all industry standards. The federal EPA rates OCEANGRO as exceeding its standard
for exceptional quality.
"We do it all," Ertle told the board. "From waste water treatment to the development of a sales and marketing network for the distribution of 9,000 tons per year."
The EPA recognition program hails those who achieved both outstanding compliance to federal standards and also innovative ways to advance waste treatment and pollution abatement programs.
OCEANPRO qualified for the national contest by winning a regional EPA award. A panel of industry experts judged the product through screenings and evaluations before ranking it the top idea in the contest.
The EPA judges congratulated OCUA with a statement praising its creativity.
"For years, many municipalities, individuals and groups have worked to make significant contributions to the study and practice of environmentally safe use and disposal of municipal biosoils. This awards program recognizes their professional efforts," the statement read.
"The outstanding work done by the OCUA has now been recognized nationally and this board is proud of that accomplishment," said Freeholder Director John Kelly.
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