Use of biosolids on Quebec farm fields needs more public scrutiny, say regional mayors

Regional mayors near near Sherbrooke, Que., are asking the provincial government to launch new public consultations on monitoring the spread of fertilizer made from residue including treated sewage sludge.

Eighteen municipalities that make up the Val-Saint-François regional county municipality unanimously adopted a resolution on the matter at the mayors' council meeting on Dec. 11.

The Quebec government had proposed new regulations aimed to better oversee the use of fertilizing residual materials (FRM) which come from treating municipal or industrial wastewater and serve as fertilizer in fields.

Geneviève Giasson, executive director of the regional county municipality (MRC) of Val-Saint-François, said she believes the Environment Ministry holding a consultation process in summer wasn't conducive to public participation.

"We don't think it was on everyone's radar enough, including the media's," Giasson said.

In September, the Environment Ministry said in a statement sent to Radio-Canada that holding a consultation later would have given the government less leeway to implement new measures in the fall of 2025.

Biosolids are sometimes used as natural fertilizers to provide nutrients for farmland. However, their potential to cause a health hazard by contaminating crops has also raised concerns.

The mayors of the regional country municipalities are also asking to be informed of how many FRMs are being spread, no matter the quantity, said Pierre Tétrault, prefect of the MRC of Val-Saint-François.

"We're even asking for a registry to be made to verify the traceability of the sludge and also know the amount spread," he said. "Spreading isn't the problem, but when done repeatedly, it can become a source of contamination."

Val-Saint-François elected officials say that a public registry should be created to follow the precautionary principle.

"What has a minimal impact today could have a greater impact with the accumulation of spreading, as time passes," Giasson said.

Tétrault also called for stakeholders responsible for ensuring the supervision of FRM spreading to have more autonomy.

"We want the ministry itself or an independent organization to monitor spreading, but not by companies that make fertilizers," he said.

In October, Radio-Canada reported that a large proportion of farmers authorizing the spreading work for FRM suppliers.