Biosolids Program Agrarian Center The Agrarian Center property consists of approximately 2000 acres which is divided into two sites. Site 1 has 24 fields making up about 1120 acres while Site 2 consists of 13 fields occupying 870 acres. All fields are plotted and marked with signs displaying the acreage. What is an Agrarian Center and What Purpose Does It Serve? The purpose of the Agrarian Center is to dispose of biosolids, the solid end product of the wastewater treatment process, in an application that meets the demands of the Environmental Protection Agency. The biosolids are collected at the Catoma Wastewater Treatment Plant and pumped as a liquid slurry that is approximately 3% solids across Catoma Creek into the holding tanks located at both sites of the Agrarian Center. There are three tanks for a total off 3.3 million gallons of storage. Terragators, large vehicles which connect to the holding tanks and are filled with biosolids, dispose of the wate by spraying the biosolids onto the fields which have been planted with grass seed. In addition to the terragators, traveling irrigation guns have been installed which disperse the biosolids automatically. There are 32 distributing fixtures scattered throughout Site 2 and 35 throughout Site 1 to which the traveling guns can be connected to distribute the biosolids over the entire acreage. How It Works Winter rye grass seed is planted in the fall and Johnson grass seed is planted later in the spring. This grass is fertilized with biosolids which contain essential nutrients including nitrogen necessary for fast, healthy growth. As the grass grows, the nitrogen is absorbed from the soil by the grass. When the grass is mature, it is harvested as hay, and as a result, the nitrogen and other elements deposited during the spraying of the biosolids by the terragators, is removed from the soil. Then the process of planting-spraying-harvesting begins again. This spraying process, also known as "land application", is an environmentally friendly alternative to disposing of the biosolids, or "sludge", in landfills. The hay, baled in 1200 pound round bales, is tested for nutrient content before being sold to the general public for feeding cattle. However, the biosolids cannot be used to fertilize any product for direct human consumption. Our typical annual hay production is approximately 8,000 bales. In addition to the hay, corn is also planted for the deer and turkey populations, as well as other wildlife, living in the wooded areas of the farm. There is an area on the farm dedicated as a wildlife refuge where on any given day, a variety of animals and plants native to this area can be readily observed. Biosolids Program Policy The Water Works & Sanitary Sewer Board of the City of Montgomery recognizes the need for strict and effective pretreatment programs, laboratory quality, wastewater treatment plant operation and maintenance, and agrarian center performance criteria. Therefore, the Board is committed to maintaining a high quality Biosolids Beneficial Reuse Program. For comments or questions about the biosolids management program, please contact us at (334) 206-1700.