Biosolids
Biosolids is a form of treated sewage sludge suitable for agricultural use as a soil conditioner. Although sewage sludge has long been used in agriculture, concerns about offensive odors and disease risks from pathogens and toxic chemicals may reduce public acceptance of the practice. Modern use of the term biosolids may be subject to government regulations, although informal use describes a broader range of semi-solid organic products separated from sewage.
Description of biosolids in conformance with local regulations may reduce confusion; but some use an expanded definition including any solids, slime solids or liquid slurry residue generated during the treatment of domestic sewage including scum and solids removed during primary, secondary or advanced treatment processes. Use of alternative terms like solids or wastewater solids may be preferable for non-conforming biosolids.[1]
Definitions
Biosolids may be defined as organic wastewater solids that can be reused after suitable sewage sludge treatment processes leading to sludge stabilization such as anaerobic digestion and composting.[2]
Alternatively, the biosolids definition may be restricted by local regulations to wastewater solids only after those solids have completed a specified treatment sequence and/or have concentrations of pathogens and toxic chemicals below specified levels.[3]
Characteristics
Quantities
Approximately 7,100,000 dry tons of biosolids were generated in 2004 at approximately 16,500 municipal wastewater treatment facilities in the United States.[4]
Nutrients
Encouraging agricultural use of biosolids is intended to prevent filling landfills with nutrient-rich organic materials from the treatment of domestic sewage that might be recycled and applied as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth.[4] Biosolids may contain macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur with micronutrients copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium, iron, boron, molybdenum and manganese.[5]
Contaminants
USEPA mandates technologies to significantly decrease or eliminate levels of pathogens in biosolids.[4] Biosolids may also contain traces of synthetic organic compounds and heavy metals.[5] USEPA set numeric limits for arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, and zinc.[4]
Concerns remain about presence and concentration of emerging contaminants. The United States Geological Survey purchased nine different biosolids and analyzed for 87 organic chemicals found in cleaners, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and other products. Analysis detected 55 of the 87 organic chemicals measured in at least one of the nine biosolid samples collected, with as many as 45 chemicals found in a single sample.[6]
Alternative terms for similar materials
- Sludge, broadly describes any semi-solid slurry.
- Sewage sludge, broadly describes sludges removed from sewage or municipal wastewater, including:
- Primary sludge, removed during primary treatment in a primary clarifier
- Secondary sludge, removed following secondary treatment by biochemical oxidation
- Digestate, primary and/or secondary sludge following aerobic or anaerobic digestion
- Thickened sludge, sludge following water removal in a thickener
History
As public concern arose about disposal in the United States of increasing volumes of solids being removed from sewage during sewage treatment mandated by the Clean Water Act, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) sought a new name to distinguish the clean, agriculturally viable product generated by modern wastewater treatment from earlier forms of sewage sludge widely remembered for causing offensive or dangerous conditions. Of three-hundred suggestions, biosolids was attributed to Dr. Bruce Logan of the University of Arizona, and recognized by WEF in 1991.[7] The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) defines the term in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 40, Part 503: sewage sludge refers to the solids separated during the treatment of municipal wastewater (including domestic septage), while biosolids refers to treated sewage sludge that meets the USEPA pollutant and pathogen requirements for land application and surface disposal.[3] A similarly restricted definition has been used internationally.[5]
Examples
Milorganite is the trademark of a biosolids fertilizer produced by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.[8] The recycled organic nitrogen fertilizer from the Jones Island Water Reclamation Facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is sold throughout North America, reduces the need for manufactured nutrients.
References
- ↑ Turovskiy, Izrail S. "Biosolids or Sludge? The Semantics of Terminology". Water and Wastes Digest. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ↑ Wastewater engineering : treatment and reuse (4th ed.). Metcalf & Eddy, Inc., McGraw Hill, USA. 2003. p. 1449. ISBN 0-07-112250-8.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Program". United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Questions and Answers on Land Application of Biosolids" (PDF). Water Environment Federation. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "What are biosolids?". Australian Water Association. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ↑ "Land Application of Municipal Biosolids". Environmental Health - Toxic Substances. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ↑ "Biosolids: A Short Explanation and Discussion" (PDF). WEF/U.S. EPA Biosolids Fact Sheet Project. Water Environment Federation. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ↑ "About us". Milorganite/Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. Retrieved 27 April 2015.