cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/25255100
I haven’t kept up much with this since moving, but I first read about Synagro and their biosolid fertilizer when it started causing problems in Johnson County, Texas.
Long story short,
This company has been selling a biosolid fertilizer that people have been using in their fields, which has led to incredibly high levels of PFAS contamination in nearby ponds and animals. A couple in Grandview lost a good portion of their cattle mysteriously at the same time.
This actually led to an investigation in Johnson County, but since counties can’t regulate PFAS levels and the state (at the time, I’m not sure about now) hasn’t regulated it either, there wasn’t much that could be done.
Following the county’s investigation, Woolley led the charge to pass a local resolution urging farmers to stop using biosolids on their land.
The resolution called for Fort Worth to stop sending its biosolids to fertilizer companies until the TCEQ tests them for the presence of PFAS and asked the EPA to set limits on PFAS in biosolids. The resolution also called on state lawmakers to regulate the application of biosolids-based fertilizer on farmland or give power to counties to do so.
“That’s the hard part,” Woolley said. “We don’t have authority to ban biosolids.”
The city of Fort Worth has now contracted their contract with Synagro “over contract requirements”.
Johnson County, Texas declared a state of disaster in February of this year.
Investigation reveals “stunningly” high toxin levels near Grandview , Cleburne Times Review Feb 19, 2024
Texas farmers say sewage-based fertilizer tainted with “forever chemicals” poisoned their land and killed their livestock Cleburne Times Review Dec 5, 2024
Suits filed against biosolids companies , Cleburne Times Review Dec 12, 2024
Fort Worth sewage sludge fertilizer leads Johnson County to declare ‘state of disaster’ KERA News, Feb 18, 2025
Fort Worth ends 10-year contract with fertilizer company accused of water, land contamination KERA News March 26, 2025>
Johnson County declares disaster over land contamination, asks Gov. Abbott to seek federal aid CBS News Feb 12, 2025
*The Cleburne Times Review has a very stingy article limit. I apologize.
I’m really glad that I never jumped on that free biosolid based fertilizer from my city’s sewage treatment plant.
I found it suspicious they were giving it away free, and also suspected that the list of contaminants it boasted to be free of was woefully inadequate, because people are nasty and flush all kinds of weird shit.
Hooray for not poisoning my own soil
Yeah, with the effects it had down in Johnson County, I have no idea why it’s taking so long for the state to step in. I mean I do, but it’s crazy to me.
