Sludge Could Be Stored at Gibson Cove

Jay Barrett/KMXT
It looks like there will be a gap in where the City of Kodiak can dispose of the sludge left over from sewage treatment. After December 15th, the Kodiak Island Borough will no longer allow bio solids to be dumped in the landfill, and a commercial composting plan is awaiting permits from the state to move forward.
City Manager Aimee Kniaziowski says the city needs to find someplace to store the bio solids until a contractor is allowed to accept it.

That fall-back location is Gibson Cove, just below Dead Man’s Curve at the far western edge of city limits. In her memo to the council, Kniaziowski said she will also contact the Coast Guard to see if it can provide a suitable temporary storage area for the bio solids.
“Bio-solids,” by the way, is a public relations term for treated human sewage, dreamed up by the Water Environment Federation in 1991. “Sludge,” is the official term.
On Thursday night the city council approved a contract with Quayanna Development Corporation of Kodiak. The five-year deal is for $332,250 per year, and the company will take up to 3,500 cubic yards of sludge per year. That’s about 320 dump truck loads. Quayanna’s plan is to mix the sludge with wood chips to form compost.
Though the contract was approved last week, Quayanna is still awaiting needed permits from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation before it can start accepting the city’s sludge.
City Councilman John Whiddon urged Quayanna to be ready to go as soon as its permits are in place, while Councilman Terry Haines praised the public-private nature of the partnership with QDC.

The council unanimously approved the contract with Quayanna Development Corporation, and authorized Kniaziowski to enter into it on behalf of the city.