By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FAIRFIELD - In one of the most controversial issues to hit this community in years, a proposed sludge pit behind upscale homes has pitted neighbors against city leaders and threatens to further divide the city if it is approved this month.

If the pit for lime residue is denied, Greater Cincinnati Water Works could sue Fairfield for the right to dump waste, city leaders fear.

"This sludge pit issue is the most painful and difficult decision we have ever had to make since I have been on council," Councilwoman Jill Kinder said. "It's not that we're scared we are going to get sued, but you have to look at personal property rights. At what level is government intervention allowed?"

City Council will vote Oct. 28 whether to allow the construction of a nine-acre sludge pit for lime residue at the Water Works water plant on River Road, which serves northern Hamilton County. Council begins hearing public comment at Tuesday's 7 p.m. meeting.

Neighbors who will live near the basin have vowed to launch a referendum drive to overturn a council approval.

In recent months, they held petition drives and plastered signs all over Fairfield that read: "Just Say No To The Fairfield Sludge Pit."

They maintain the lime basin will bring reduced property values, blight and noise to their subdivisions, the Monastery and Riverside Estates, which hold some of the most expensive homes in Fairfield, averaging at about $300,000. The pit would sit about one-third mile from these homes.

Residents also have environmental concerns and question why Water Works officials don't recycle the lime residue, as the city of Fairfield does.

Most council members have said they either oppose the pit or are leaning that way. Just one council member has publicly supported it - Jeffrey Holtegel, who motioned to approve it last month at the city's Planning Commission meeting.

Some council members said they fear if they do not allow the pit, Greater Cincinnati Water Works could fight the issue in court and win. Then the city wouldn't have as much control over the pit's construction and operation.

Water Works officials want to build a new pit on land they already own because their existing one, in Ross Township, is reaching capacity. The new pit would be capped in about 30 years.

Greater Cincinnati Water Works' total operations include water supply and treatment for the city, most Hamilton County communities, and portions of Clermont, Butler and Warren counties, including Mason. David Rager, director of Water Works, said it's not practical to recycle lime residue because there's such a large amount. Residents would be more upset if the substance was taken off site, dragging dirt onto Fairfield streets, he maintained.

"The beauty of this is we are containing everything on our property," Mr. Rager said. "This is not a hazardous material. We have faith Fairfield will listen to the facts, understand the issues and do the right thing."

If the pit is denied, however, he said his staff will try to work out the dispute with Fairfield. But he stressed that a lawsuit is not foreseeable.

The pit was approved at the commission's Sept. 25 meeting - with 16 conditions, which include requiring Water Works to preserve 1,000 feet directly west of one subdivision as green space.

Water Works also must install a 6-foot-high chain link fence with locked gates around the site, which will be inspected semi-annually.

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.