City Sludge Fears Prompts OKC Mom To Talk To Educators

A NE OKC mother presented Jones Public Schools her research claiming sludge used as fertilizer on farmland is creating harmful air.

Paula Yockel says Jones Middle School is near a cluster of farms where the treated sewage has been dumped.

"I was concerned about the welfare of these kids," said Paula, who lives near the intersection of East Hefner Rd and Westminster Rd.

"If what she is presenting is even a little bit correct and accurate then we need to be very concerned about it," said Jones Schools Superintendent Carl Johnson.

Johnson says he'll be keeping in touch with Yockel, and he’ll follow her research.

Yockel started doing soil and air samples after her son and husband started getting sick.

The couple's 7-year-old has been sick several times, and now suffers from a blood disorder.

Yockel was joined Tuesday at OKC City Council meeting with several of her neighbors complaining about the sludge.

8/30/16 Related Story: Metro Neighbors Claim Farmland 'Sludge' Is Making Them Sick

Close to a half-dozen people explained how they experience headaches, upset stomachs, and other ailments after farmland nearby is treated with sludge.

OKC city leaders say they'll look into the accusations and see if improvements are necessary.

OKC Public Utilities says its sludge procedure follow EPA guidelines.

Yockel maintains those guidelines aren't keeping them safe. She's hoping OKC’s sludge program is stopped.