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Fort Worth Halts Sewage Sludge Fertilizer Contract Over PFAS Contamination Concerns
The city of Fort Worth, Texas, is terminating its agreement with Synagro, a provider of fertilizer derived from biosolids and backed by Goldman Sachs, due to apprehensions that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called “forever chemicals,” present in the fertilizer are polluting local farmland and groundwater. This decision underscores growing worries about PFAS contamination from sewage sludge fertilizer.
Legal Action and Contamination Allegations
Fort Worth has also initiated legal proceedings this month against multiple manufacturers of forever chemicals, also known as PFAS, asserting that they have contaminated the city’s water resources. This legal action coincides with mounting concerns regarding the safety of biosolids application in agriculture.
Last year, reports detailed a group of ranchers in Johnson County, directly south of Fort Worth, who filed a lawsuit against Synagro. The ranchers attributed the contamination of their harvests and livestock to the fertilizer supplied to adjacent agricultural land.
Synagro’s Role and Criminal Investigation
Synagro was contracted to receive sewage from Fort Worth’s treatment facilities, conduct further processing, and then disseminate it to agriculturalists as fertilizer. Subsequently, Johnson County commenced a criminal inquiry into Synagro’s operations.
Growing Research on PFAS in Biosolids
An increasing body of research indicates that biosolids, a significant portion of which is utilized as fertilizer, can be contaminated with PFAS. These synthetic compounds are extensively used in everyday consumer products such as non-stick cookware and stain-resistant textiles.
PFAS, linked to various health issues, including an elevated risk of cancer, are environmentally persistent. When tainted biosolids are applied to farmland as fertilizer, they can pollute the soil, groundwater, crops, and animals.
In January, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its first warning about the potential human health risks associated with PFAS found in sewage fertilizer, also referred to as biosolids. Maine, the sole state currently systematically testing farmland for PFAS, has identified these chemicals at numerous dairy farms. However, testing remains limited in other states.
Contract Termination and Future Plans
Fort Worth’s city council unanimously voted on Tuesday to terminate a decade-long contract with Synagro, originally established in 2019. The contract will officially conclude on April 1. City water utility personnel are currently developing new agreements for biosolids management, according to official council documents.
City Lawsuit and Synagro’s Response
While the city did not publicly specify a reason for the contract termination, Fort Worth’s recent lawsuit against PFAS manufacturers cited the detection of PFAS in the city’s potable water sources and wastewater infrastructure, suggesting a link between the lawsuit and the decision to end the contract.
Synagro issued a statement asserting that the organization and Fort Worth “mutually agreed to part ways and resolve all disputes following ongoing disagreements concerning contractual obligations.” Synagro maintains that the termination is unrelated to PFAS concerns. The city’s water department has not yet responded to requests for comments.
Synagro’s Defense and Ranchers’ Situation
Synagro, a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, has challenged claims that its biosolids have contaminated Texas agricultural lands. This month, the company submitted a motion to dismiss the Johnson County ranchers’ legal claims, referencing an independent investigation they commissioned. This investigation reportedly concluded that sewage sludge fertilizer was not the source of elevated PFAS levels detected in the ranchers’ livestock.
Synagro further stated that testing indicated considerably lower PFAS levels in the soil than alleged by the ranchers. The company has not yet made the independent investigation publicly accessible.
The affected ranchers have stopped marketing their cattle, while continuing to provide care, and express concerns about impending financial hardship.
Attorney and Investigator Statements
Marry Whittle, legal counsel for the ranchers, stated, “Fort Worth terminated their Synagro contract prematurely and is simultaneously suing PFAS manufacturers while Synagro insists their biosolids did not cause the contamination on our clients’ property. This sequence of events appears inconsistent.”
Dana Ames, the environmental investigator spearheading Johnson County’s inquiry into Synagro, affirmed that a “comprehensive investigation” revealed elevated PFAS levels on the ranchers’ property. “We have excluded all other potential sources of contamination. Our tests of the biosolids also confirmed contamination,” she stated.
Community Reaction at Council Meeting
At the council meeting, Luanne Langley, a resident from Grandview, Texas, criticized the city for allegedly permitting Synagro to “discharge biosolids onto unsuspecting landowners and farmers.” She argued that merely canceling the contract was insufficient. “How will this decision assist the families whose lives have been devastated?” she questioned.