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March 25, 2005
Biosolids Corner...
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Bats and Biosolids According to Bat Conservation International Fear of things we understand the least is a well documented aspect of human behavior, and that is precisely the problem faced by bats. Numerous myths and superstitions have persisted because the real lives of bats are so poorly known. In a recent conversation with my sister-in-law I confirmed that even the most reasonable and intelligent people have a deep seeded, even primal fear of bats. As I read my book about bats on the plane I was fascinated by the information and had to share my enthusiasm with the person sitting next to me who happened to be my sister-in-law, who Ill call Sis. Did you know that bats can detect obstacles as fine as a human hair? She did not acknowledge she was busily staring out the window so she would not see the pictures of bat faces in my book. I went on: Did you know bats are not blind and many have excellent vision? Did you know bats migrate about 300 miles to their winter hibernation places? There are over 1000 species of bats! In exasperation Sis says: stop it youre grossing me out! I thought to myself: Oh boy this is going to be fun. Then went on to point out: Just think Sis, a quarter of all mammal species are bats. Please stop! She says. I countered: How come you dont like bats? Theyre monogamous you know.Sis says; Just the thought of them breeding makes my skin crawl.Trying to cheer her up I said, Well then picture them breast feeding their young. Wouldnt that be cute?Oh---My---Gosh! Im gonna be sick. She says as she reaches for the air sickness bag.No, really Sis, bats are beneficial. I assured her.Yeah right! Sis said sarcastically.It says in this book the bats in our area can eat 600 pounds of mosquitoes per hour. And thats nothing compared to the free tailed bats in Bracken Cave, Texas who eat a quarter of a million pounds of insects in a single night.Sis was so impressed she had nightmares about bats that night.But seriously, I could not help but think of the similarities between peoples reaction to bats and biosolids. Because bats only come out at night, when we are inside, we are not familiar with their habits, their nature or their contribution to the world as we know it. Bats quietly and diligently carry out their simple but helpful task, behind the scenes, unnoticed and unappreciated. Just like the water quality professionals who are so effective at taking wastewater out of the publics view and awareness. The unfortunate result is that many people know little about biosolids and view them with suspicion and fear. To compound the situation, both bats and biosolids are subject to the yuck factor. So how do we overcome this stigma? We obviously need to provide information. But just like Sis reaction when I said bats are beneficial Yeah Right. There needs to be more to the story than simply saying biosolids are beneficial. We have been studying biosolids with a microscope and a gas chromatograph when we should be looking at the big picture or the whole story.Saying: Our biosolids contain less than the maximum allowable levels of pollutants. is not that interesting or reassuring. A better story would be to describe the importance of creating biosolids to improve and protect the quality of our rivers and wildlife. Other big picture concepts to help relay that biosolids are beneficial include the following:- Biosolids recycling, nutrient management, and soil conservation are some of the many steps modern farmers are taking to protect the environment and achieve a sustainable production of food.
- The head of the Pennsylvania Game Commission says that successful Game Land reclamation using biosolids, passive treatment systems and natural landscape design is the greatest story never told.
- Mining companies undertake several projects to restore and improve mine land such as creating wetlands, wildlife habitat, reducing acid mine drainage, controlling erosion and recycling biosolids.
- The use of native plant species, manufactured top soil and biosolids compost in landscaping reduces the need for fertilizers, pesticides and stripping of topsoil from prime agricultural land.
We should show biosolids recycling for what it is, one of many tools and techniques that can be used to preserve our natural resources and protect and restore environmental quality. |
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