According to Spectrum News 1, Steuben County has approved a six-month moratorium on new sewage sludge spreading permits. Sewage sludge, also known as biosolids, can contain PFAS, commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not easily break down in the environment. When sludge is applied to farmland, PFAS compounds can migrate into soil, groundwater, and nearby drinking water supplies, raising concerns about long-term environmental and public health impacts.
The temporary moratorium will pause the approval of new permits for land application of sewage sludge while county officials evaluate potential risks and regulatory considerations. As communities across the country continue to examine PFAS contamination concerns, interest is growing in technologies capable of reducing or destroying these persistent chemicals. Learn more about the harmful effects of PFAS contamination and how multiple hearth furnaces can be used in high-temperature thermal treatment processes designed to help destroy PFAS compounds and reduce environmental risk.