People in a Northampton County community are telling farmers to keep sludge out of their township.

Farmers in Lower Mount Bethel Township say the fertilizer is safe and will cut costs.

But critics are asking: is saving money worth contaminating the water supply?

"As other townships throughout the state have found out, this is a state approved and a state regulated procedure," said Susan Disidore, chairman of the Lower Mount Bethel Township supervisors.

Residents concerned with the use of sludge fertilizer say just because it is approved by the state doesn't mean farmers in Lower Mount Bethel Township have to use it.

"A little bit more angry now because they are doing it to get back at the township," said Sarah Slebodnick, Lower Mount Bethel resident. "The township supposedly did something to their farmland. I physically live in the township, but am I the township? Does that give them reason to spread this crap?"

Farmers say they are not getting back at anyone but admit that a new zoning regulation called the 90/10 law has made it tough for them.

"When they want to buy a tractor, or seed corn, or fertilizer to put it in the ground this year," said Ron Angle, speaking on behalf of the farmers. "You understand they can't use their land as collateral. Their collateral is all but valueless."

The 90/10 rule was used to preserve farmland in the township.

The rule says 90 percent of a farm has to be used for farming and the other 10 percent can be used for development.

"What are you getting out of this," asked Slebodnick. "What are you getting for spreading this human waste behind my house?"

The farmers say they are not getting paid as some think but using the sludge is saving them money.

"I'm spending $250,000-$300,000 a year and it could cut my cost in half," said Brad Kiefer, worker at Willowbrook Farms.

The concerned people in the crowd say they don't want to have the same problems that Lynn Township was having where sludge was running into the streets.

They plan to fight and try and convince farmers not to use the fertilizer.