Starkville Utilities plans to turn wastewater into fertilizer Starkville Utilities Chief Wastewater Operator Thomas Ware stands by two dewatering screw presses designed to process sludge into a byproduct that resembles soil. The recent upgrade to the city’s wastewater treatment plant is another sustainable step into Starkville’s future. Courtesy photo Starkville is getting an upgrade to the city’s wastewater treatment system. Starkville Utilities Department plans to reuse the water and sewage and turn it into fertilizer. Terry Kemp SUD General Manager Terry Kemp said “sludge” has been discharged for decades into a lagoon at its wastewater plant on Sand Road, creating extreme buildup over time. Now, the waste will go through machines called “screw presses” and come out as sustainable soil for growing plants.