In regard to the article in the Nov. 21 Town-Crier entitled “Equestrian Leaders See Bright Season Ahead in 2015,” I wish to reiterate the absolute need for Wellington to step up to the plate and take responsibility for the gargantuan amounts of manure and urine soaked bedding generated within this wonderful industry.
According to Mr. Mark Bellissimo, more than $6.4 million has gone into Wellington charities. I wonder just what the total fiscal impact on the Village of Wellington by the equestrian community is. It must be huge.
Thus, I once again request that the village and the industry work together to handle this waste within the borders of the village. Exporting it is just an “out-of-sight, out-of-mind,” environmentally immoral attitude.
I have studied the nutrient, (nitrogen and phosphorus) impacts of horse manure for more than a decade, and the extractability of phosphorus as soluble reactive phosphate in manure is enormous.
I recently found the effluent following a heavy rain from one nursery in Loxahatchee Groves that had Wellington’s manure and bedding piled more than three feet high to be over 74.9 mg phosphate (24.7 mg phosphorus) per liter of water coming out of that drain pipe. That equates to 24,410 parts per billion (ppb). Note that the Everglades target is 10 ppb phosphorus. This value was so high that I checked it three times.
The pollution must stop. Come on, Wellington. Handle your waste, it’s way past time.
Dr. J. William Louda, Loxahatchee Groves
The vast majority of Wellington’s manure is hauled to approved locations (not Loxahatchee) for regulated direct application and composting. All of this is being done at no cost to taxpayers.
To suggest that manure should be handled within the borders of Wellington is capricious. Especially considering its agricultural value as a soil supplement, weed retardant and fertilizer.
This horse crap is not the Village of Wellington business and should not cost us a cent. As they are a private profitable business.They crated it, let them solve it and pay for it. They do business at the taxpayer expense and must be stopped.
This is Loxahatchee’s problem. Loxahatchee needs to implement restrictions on it’s manure acceptance.