U.S. Water News Online
WACO, Texas -- Waco has agreed to drop federal lawsuits against six dairies in exchange for farmers' operational changes designed to reduce water pollution blamed for the foul taste and odor in the city's drinking water, officials announced.
In a joint statement by the city of Waco and the dairies in Erath, Hamilton and Bosque counties, officials said the disputes were resolved "after complicated negotiations'' during two extended mediations. The terms of the settlement are confidential and have been sealed by a federal judge.
"We are pleased with this settlement because it accomplishes the city's goal of guaranteeing that the long-term future operation of these six dairies will not adversely affect water quality in the North Bosque River and Lake Waco,'' Waco City Manager Larry Groth said in the release.
The city also will withdraw opposition to the dairies' state operational permits. City Attorney Art Pertile said that no one from the city would comment beyond the joint statement.
Waco sued 14 dairies in 2004, blaming them for the overabundance of phosphorus in the river, the main source of Lake Waco. The phosphorus stemming from cattle waste causes massive algae blooms that can taint the water's taste and odor. The city later reached settlements with eight dairies.
Some of the dairies have ceased operations. Other agreed to changes, including hauling half of the solid manure to a composting facility or outside the watershed. Some agreements also called for farmers not to apply manure or wastewater to fields of forage crops that are above a certain phosphorus concentration.
In some cases, the city will be allowed to monitor dairy operations and perform certain tests to ensure compliance.
Fort Worth attorney James Bradbury, who represents some dairies, said his clients are glad that the disputes have been resolved, "although we believed a trial would prove the dairies are good stewards of the environment.''
John Cowan, executive director of the Texas Association of Dairymen, said the lawsuits never should have been filed because they cost both sides time and money, hurt an industry that is a major contributor to the Central Texas economy and "didn't make Lake Waco's water any cleaner.''
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