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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • JUNE 2018


Biosolids raise a stink with neighbours Issues linger after application on Kamloops-area hayfield last summer


by TOM WALKER


BARNHARTVALE – Residents of the community of Barnhartvale as well as the contractor Sylvis Engineering and the City of Kamloops are all hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s odorous August, when biosolids spread on private ranchland caused extreme discomfort for a number of nearby residents. There was a problem with the


material, admits Chris Cooper, a Sylvis engineer. “We have a contract to manage biosolids from the City of Kamloops waste treatment centre in two ways,” says Cooper. “We take their daily production as well as material that has been stored by the city.” It was the old stuff that caused


the stink, says Cooper. “We started moving the oldest


material that has been stockpiled for several years and it is in a different anaerobic condition than newer material.” This was in August, when the ranch had finished a hay cut. Cooper explains there is a small window to apply material if the rancher wants to get animals back on the grass before winter. “Regulations require that we wait


60 days before putting animals on the land, so we only have a short time to


Even the trucking was cause for concern in a Kamloops neighbourhood overwhelmed by fumes from a biosolid treatment on a neighbouring ranch last year. FILE PHOTO


apply.” Last August, the South Thompson


Valley was thick with smoke, like most of the province, and that slowed the venting of the hydrogen sulfide smell. “Once we started spreading this


material, we realized that it gave off a far stronger odour than the fresh product,” says Cooper. “We stopped right away and agreed with the city that we would not use the older


material until the odour had been mitigated. We continued to move newer material.”


Septic smell “The smell was like standing on top


of your septic tank,” says Robbins Range resident Louise de Marni, a member of the local group Neighbours Against Sludge. “We feel like we were blindsided. There was no


advance notice; the gravel trucks dribbled their contents on the roadway so people drove through it everyday and the smell affected residents several miles away.” Sylvis is experienced at


managing biosolids contracts and they followed all provincial regulations, including notifying the BC Ministry of Environment, Interior Health, local First Nations, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the Agriculture Land Commission, and the one neighbour whose property borders the application site. As far as a wider community outreach, Cooper says the city wouldn’t pay for it. “We had originally proposed a


more fulsome approach and engagement process to the City of Kamloops but they did not agree to fund that work at the outset of the process.” De Marni recalls the severe health effects that several neighbours of the application site experienced. “People who consider doing this should be aware of both sides,” she says. “I think people should be very cautious about entering a contract for this material. Maybe try it out close to your own house first before spreading it on land close to your neighbours.” The City of Kamloops has formed a biosolids committee and will be holding a workshop on July 20.


of summer BEST PART


It’s the


LARGEST AGRICULTURE SHOWCASE COME CELEBRATE AT BC’S


PNE 4-H FESTIVAL AUGUST 18–21


Off ering over 30 types of project competitions as well as provincial programs for judging, speak and show and educational displays. Travel assistance off ered to clubs outside of the Fraser Valley through the


BC Youth in Agriculture Foundation. ENTRY DEADLINE: JUNE 29, 2018


FARM COUNTRY AUGUST 18–SEPTEMBER 3


Come out and experience BC’s


remarkably diverse agriculture industry. Featuring the crowd favourite Discovery Farm exhibit, pig racing, BC Dairy Association’s Dairy Zone, and


BC Egg Marketing Board’s Egg Laying Exhibit, plus a whole barn full of exciting animal displays.


604-252-3581 • agriculture@pne.ca •


PACIFIC SPIRIT HORSE SHOW AUGUST 22–SEPTEMBER 3


Competitions in:


Extreme Trail, Junior Amateur Jumping, Draft Team and Indoor Eventing along with Canadian Horse


Demonstrations and much more! ENTRY DEADLINE: JULY 27, 2018


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