Fort Worth Water Utility Takes Over Biosolids Plant Amid Contamination Concerns

Contract Termination and Takeover

• 🤝 Fort Worth councilmembers voted to terminate the contract with Synagro, ending their operations at the biosolids plant.
• 💧 The Fort Worth Water Utility will officially take over operations of the plant starting April 5th.
• 💰 The city agreed to pay Synagro $2.4 million as part of the agreement to cease operations.

Allegations of Contamination and Harm

• 🐄 Farmers who purchased biosolids from Synagro allege that the product killed their cattle.
• 🧪 A county investigator found a stillborn calf with forever chemicals in its liver at levels 150,000 times the EPA's safe limit for drinking water.
• 🚜 The contamination has reportedly ruined farmers' livelihoods, making their land unsellable and their livestock unsafe for consumption.
• ⚠️ Synagro denies responsibility and claims its own testing shows the product is safe.

Community Trust and Rezoning

• 🏘️ The council also rezoned 23 Keller ISD properties to prevent land sales and redevelopment without resident input.
• ✅ This rezoning action was intended to protect schools and communities, aiming to restore trust after a previous abandoned plan by KISD to split the district.