It just got a lot more expensive for Paola to dispose of bio solids at its wastewater treatment plant. After first discussing the issue at a work session, Paola City Council members approved a bid from Denali Water Solutions to dispose of the bio solids at a rate of $49 per to, including hauling. Paola’s waste water treatment plant produces an average of 560 tons of bio solids each year, which puts the new annual cost of removal at more than $27,000.
Previously, the City contracted with individuals who hauled off the bio solids, also referred to as dried and processed sludge, to apply it to farmland at an annual cost of about $4,000. Bio solids are the nutrient rich organic materials resulting from the treatment domestic sewage in a wastewater treatment facility and City Manager Jay Wieland says they can be a valuable fertilizer to spread on fields.
City leaders also considered utilizing the Miami County Landfill for disposal, but that annual cost would have been more than $50,000.
