By DAVID TELLER
Staff Reporter
Wilcox Farms produces a lot of waste. They are also finding ways to recycle it.
The Cheney City Council approved the diary producer's application to renew its discharge permit to release wastewater into the Cheney sewer system.
Currently, Wilcox Farms produces 90,000 gallons of wastewater a day, which is enough water to supply 108 single-family residences.
Under the changes agreed upon by the council, Wilcox increased their biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), which is a chemical procedure for determining how fast biological organisms use up oxygen in a body of water, from 1,500 pounds per day to 1,800 pounds per day.
The discharge limit on fats, oils and grease (FOG) has been lifted.
Other regulated discharges are total petroleum hydrocarbons (THP), which are a chemical compound that come from crude oil and are highly toxic.
Under the previous permit, there was no limit on the amount of THP level in the wastewater discharge.
Under the new permit, no more than 50 milligrams per liter of discharge is allowed.
Wilcox has an annual average goal of less than 10 milligrams per liter. As a comparison, 30,000 milligrams equal one ounce, which is about six teaspoons.
Under the agreement with the city, Wilcox said they will employ the best strategies for reducing the risk of the release of THP in the wastewater and they will notify the city in the event of a significant THP spill or release.
In the event FOG levels build up at the wastewater treatment plant, the city will clean the line more frequently and will bill Wilcox for the added costs.
According to an evaluation by Esvelt Environmental Engineering, the wastewater treatment plant has the capacity to accommodate the changes Wilcox wants to make.
Wilcox is also offering other environmentally friendly options such as manure waste being composted or used for organic farming, egg cartons made out of recycled newspaper and taking proactive measures to preserve natural salmon habitat on farm streams.
In 1999 Wilcox Farms received the Washington State Environmental Farm Excellence Award for their environmentally friendly business practices.
They were also the Winner of the Puget Sound “Family business” of the year.
According to their website, Wilcox Farms opened a milk plant in Cheney in 1997. Currently, over 230,000 gallons of milk are produced each week. The Cheney plant produces an assortment of products from local milk in the Eastern Washington area and is an efficient all plastic bottling operation.
The Cheney facility services Eastern Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.
David Teller can be reached at [email protected]
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