DC Water showcases new, made-in-DC soil amendment;

Bloom (TM), a new soil amendment product made with biosolids, is now available in the DC area. DC Water unveiled the product and its new brand today, announcing a pilot program for distribution with local soil blenders and landscapers.

This program is the next generation in DC Water’s plan to recover resources from nutrient-rich wastewater, and brings to fruition the vision and research invested in the thermal hydrolysis and anaerobic digester facilities commissioned last year. The thermal hydrolysis process, the first of its kind in North America, creates an exceptional Class A biosolids product.

The Bloom pilot program is designed to provide local partners with biosolids for blending or landscaping in exchange for information on how they optimize their production with the biosolids. One goal of the program is to test different soil blends, and the partners will provide DC Water with periodic samples and feedback on their experience using the product. This information will assist in bringing more products to market as early as next year. DC Water has already been composting its biosolids in recent years for application in the District, partnering with urban gardeners, government agencies and schools.

DC Water CEO and General Manager George Hawkins was joined by Director of DCs Department of Energy and the Environment, Tommy Wells, Chairman of DC Waters Board of Directors, Matthew Brown, and Executive Director of Casey Trees, Mark Buscaino. The group assembled at Oxon Run Park, the site of a Casey Trees installation where biosolids have been applied to the tree plantings.

Wells, Director of the DC Department of Energy and the Environment, “I applaud DC Waters ingenuity to make effective use of the byproduct from generating one third of its energy from the regions wastewater.”

Brown added, “DC Water rates have doubled in the last eight years. We recognize the burden on ratepayers and are seeking innovative ways to reduce costs and increase revenue to offset future rate increases. The new Bloom™ product reduces expenses from hauling to farmlands and will generate revenue for our ratepayers in the near future.”

Hawkins said, “We’re thrilled to start bringing Bloom to market. It’s weed-free, drought resistant and locally produced. DC Water looks forward to helping the District achieve its ambitious greening goals.

Organizations in the Metropolitan Washington region that are participating in the pilot program include:

* Stancill’s – MD soil blender
* Dennison Landscaping – MD landscaper
* Abby Farms – MD tree farm
* Luck Ecosystems – VA soil blender
* Casey Trees – local non-profit dedicating to urban forestry