A Tiny Texas Town is Protesting Their Poop Problem, What Next?

No poop factories, is the general consensus of residents of rural Van Zandt county in north Texas.

FLUSH-trated Citizens Speak Out

During a public meeting where the Van Zandt County could speak directly to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), local farmers and concerned citizens expressed their opposition to a permit proposal involving biosolid processing.

According to the permit, an outside water processing company applied for land application to build a wastewater treatment plant on 57 acres of Van Zandt County land.

Citizens were upset for multiple reasons. First, the plant would produce excess "biosludge" that contains toxic chemicals. And NUMBER TWO, these chemicals will trickle into the public streams and ponds, including Cedar Creek Lake that happens to be a water source for nearby cities.

The Crappy Truth About 'Biosludge'

Unfortunately, Texas has limited laws with regard to companies producing/handling PFAs, a major component of the sludge runoff. PFAs are also known as "forever chemicals" due to the fact that they take a very long time to break down naturally.

Citizens also demanded that, at the very least, this permit be placed on hold until further legislation on the matter of biosolid guidelines are released by the EPA for Texas.

Van Zandt Landowner Plunged Into Cycle of Backlash

The landowner where the proposed treatment plant would be placed plans on withdrawing the permit due to the outcry of citizens in opposition.

This decision comes after the landowner was not actually present at the public meeting where these thoughts were expressed, further adding to the frustration of the citizens.