Septic waste: Finding a solution for disposal

MONTROSE  — Competitors in the septic hauling industry are coming together to support new county rules and regulations, and find a solution to a pressing disposal issue.

The Western Slope Haulers Association formed several months ago and is made up of area septic haulers, said Kevin Smith, the group’s president. He said the association stresses regulations and accountability, along with educating people about septic waste.

Montrose County has not had regulations in the past which deal with the industry and are implemented and enforced at a county level. Federal regulations are imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Currently, Richard Thompson, environmental health specialist for Montrose County Health and Human Services, is drawing up those policies, said Montrose County Commissioner Gary Ellis. Ellis said the rules and regulations will be developed, implemented and enforced by the county and will include such things as record keeping, treatment, pumping and disposal. All the information will eventually be put into a computerized database, so the county can track any irregularities and deal with illegal dumping issues, he said.

However, though those rules may be in place shortly, the industry in the area, along with the county, is still figuring out a long-term location to dispose of the waste.

“People have to get used to the fact that this has to be recycled somewhere,” said Craig Widegreen, new owner of Root Master.

The subject of septic disposal is a “sensitive” one that leads to many people just not talking about it, said Abby Power of Benjamin Franklin.

But the Western Slope Haulers are talking about it.

“We need a solution,” Smith said.

Currently, most haulers in the Montrose area unload their trucks at West Montrose Sanitation District. However, the district has made it clear to the county that they don’t want to be in the septic business long-term, Ellis said. With the system the district current has, they are going to need to invest in disposal methods eventually. He said there is a possibility the district could receive a grant to help with expenses, but with the condition that the county works toward a long-term solution.

“The conversation is under way to find a solution, so ultimately we have a place to dispose, and eliminate illegal dumping,” Ellis said.

He said the county, city and private entities have been discussing solutions to this problem and the county has looked at other systems in the surrounding area, such as the Gunnison facility.

Ellis said the Gunnison location has a dumping site four miles up from its wastewater treatment plant. Dumping up the river allows for the waste to be diluted enough to travel through the treatment process, after which the matter is turned into a useable mulch — generating some revenue for the plant.

“I think it’s plausible,” Ellis said about this sort of system in Montrose. However, the county needs to work out an agreement with the city so that a revenue burden doesn’t fall on the city for helping the county with what is mostly their problem, he said.

Ellis said the hauler association will be helpful in these plans.

“It’s made up of haulers wanting to do the right thing,” he said. “They’ll be a valuable asset in the discussion process.”

Further information and talk about the issue will take place during the May 28 event, Wastewater and Biosolids Issues in Western Colorado: Transporting, Disposal and Recycling, at the Pavilion. The event starts at 7:30 a.m. and continues until 4:30 p.m. A round table discussion and workshop with the haulers association will be from 3 to 3:30 p.m.

Contact Kati O’Hare via e-mail at katio@montrosepress.com