Vikersund Struggles with Sewage Sludge Odor During Upcoming Raw Air Event
The picturesque town of Vikersund is in the midst of an odor problem, centered around a pile of 800 tonnes of sewage sludge near its heart. This biosolid waste, destined for agricultural use, has been causing discomfort among residents and threatening the town’s reputation as the venue for the upcoming Raw Air ski jumping event.
The Cause of the Smell
The sewage sludge is provided by VEAS, a waste management company, to Green Vekst, an agricultural firm. VEAS collects and processes sewage sludge through a series of anaerobic and aerobic treatments, transforming it into a usable soil amendment. Despite following regulatory guidelines, the current conditions have led to heightened odor levels.
Community Impact
Residents like Thomas Hovde Marthinsen and Lena Kjemperud are deeply concerned about the stench affecting their daily lives. Marthinsen describes the smell as “rotten corpses,” a sentiment echoed by Kjemperud, who likens it to “a mixture of ammonia and trapped cat feces.” These complaints highlight the emotional and communal impact of the problem.
Municipal Efforts
The Modum municipality, which oversees Vikersund, has granted permission for the sludge storage and has made efforts to mitigate the odor by covering the pile with compost. However, these efforts have not entirely resolved the issue. Anna Arneberg, head of agriculture in Modum, explains that the odor may be exacerbated by weather conditions and emphasizes that the sludge is stored according to guidelines.
Raw Air Event Concerns
The upcoming Raw Air event, featuring world-class ski jumpers, adds urgency to solving the odor problem. Local businesses, like Anita Nedberg’s hair salon, are worried that the smell might deter tourists. Nedberg describes how the stench can linger in clothing and cause discomfort for customers.
Industry Response
VEAS, the supplier of the biosolid waste, acknowledges the inconvenience and apologizes for the issue. In a statement, communications manager Kaisa Bergfjord Stoll emphasized that all regulations were followed but assured that they would monitor the placement of future sludge deliveries more closely to minimize impacts on neighboring communities.
“VEAS produces about 45,000 tonnes of biorest annually being transported to agriculture where this is supplied as a soil improvement product. VEAS has a stable, mesophile evacuation process where the biomass was declined in four large concrete tanks of 6000m3 each. Here, bacterial culture is used for the evacuation process in an anaerobic treatment (ie microorganisms break down organic substances without oxygen, which also produces biogas), this is stabilization. Finished decayed biomass is then added lime and passes through cycles in chamber filter presses where it is degraded and hygiene. Hygiene is heat treatment that kills bacteria, eggs, seeds and the like.”
The company, partnered with Oslo, Bærum, and Asker municipalities, stresses the importance of creating circular processes through their waste-to-soil product.
Towards a Solution
To address the lingering odor, Modum municipality has continued to apply compost in multiple layers. They are mindful of the smell’s potential to affect the community and the incoming event. VEAS commits to closer monitoring and more immediate mitigation strategies in the future.
Conclusion
The odor dispute in Vikersund underscores the challenges in balancing environmental initiatives with the needs of local residents. As the Raw Air event approaches, finding a sustainable solution becomes crucial. Collaboration between VEAS, Modum municipality, and local residents will be key to resolving this issue and safeguarding Vikersund’s reputation.
Call to Action
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