Fremont filled to brim with sludge - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

One place in Fremont is full of sludge.   Don't worry - it's designed to hold sludge. but lately, there's been more sludge than expected.  Juan Garza, Asst. Superintendent at the Fremont Water treatment plant says,

"On a daily basis, we're pumping anywhere from 300-400,000 gallons of sludge."

Three lagoons hold the sediment filtered out of the Sandusky River. The water is converted to drinking water for the City of Fremont.

Garza says, "We get whatever's heading down the Sandusky watershed."

He explains: these holding ponds are left to settle until the spent lime and fertilizers dry to form a solid.

"It takes half a year to a year or so to let the sludge settle down."

Garza says in his six years with the water treatment facility, he has never seen all three lagoons all filled with sludge.  One is ready to be excavated. And as soon as the bids come in, a contractor will come in and scoop out all the sludge.

 Part of the reason for all the sludge this year, according to Garza, is a new energy center.    It's now online and he says, using more water than expected.  More water means more sludge.

Not to worry, though. Garza is confident these lagoons, along with a sludge pressing machine, can keep up with the demand. It may be a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it.