Abstract
This paper presents a comprehensive review of reported field and laboratory investigations and theoretical work concerning the geotechnical behaviour/properties of water treatment residue (WTR), biosolids and sewage sludge materials, which are by-products of municipal water and wastewater treatment processes. After describing the backgrounds to the generation of these materials and various disposal options (with a focus on landfilling), including associated geotechnical issues, their physical, geotechnical index, compaction, undrained strength and effective-stress strength properties are described, including the effects of oxidation, biodegradation and viscous gel-like pore fluid for biosolids/sewage sludge material. Characteristic compressibility, consolidation and permeability behaviour/properties are also presented for these materials and linked with microstructure and the chemicals added during the treatment processes. The paper then focuses on various geotechnical issues pertinent to landfill (monofill) disposal of these materials, including undrained strength requirements, design strength, on-site and laboratory strength measurements and water content–strength correlations. Since such correlations are material specific, with the geotechnical properties of biosolids, sewage sludge and WTR materials varying between water/wastewater treatment plants, they cannot be applied more widely with confidence. Alternative approaches to predicting undrained strength are described, including a power–law strength relationship with water content, which can be applied more generally.
Highlights
Main types and origin of municipal sludges and residues This paper concerns itself with the geotechnical properties and behaviour of water treatment residue (WTR), human biosolids and sewage sludge materials, which account for the vast majority of municipal sludge and residue materials produced worldwide
Since the dewatered sludge and residue materials are soil-like, their behaviour in lagoons, monofills and sanitary landfills can be assessed with reasonable accuracy using soil mechanics theory and conventional on-site and geotechnical laboratory testing, provided due care and attention are given to their distinctive properties
Wet biosolids and sewage sludge materials are classified as organic clay of extremely high plasticity, WTR materials as organic silt of extremely high plasticity and lime-softening sludge as silt of low to intermediate plasticity
Summary
This paper presents a comprehensive review of reported field and laboratory investigations and theoretical work concerning the geotechnical behaviour/properties of water treatment residue (WTR), biosolids and sewage sludge materials, which are by-products of municipal water and wastewater treatment processes. The paper focuses on various geotechnical issues pertinent to landfill (monofill) disposal of these materials, including undrained strength requirements, design strength, on-site and laboratory strength measurements and water content–strength correlations. Since such correlations are material specific, with the geotechnical properties of biosolids, sewage sludge and WTR materials varying between water/wastewater treatment plants, they cannot be applied more widely with confidence. Alternative approaches to predicting undrained strength are described, including a power–law strength relationship with water content, which can be applied more generally
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