Reuse Of Biosolids Research Articles

THE TAGRO® STORY – HOW THE CITY OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON WENT BEYOND PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE TO ACHIEVE THE BIOSOLIDS PROGRAM WORDS WE'D ALL LIKE TO HEAR: “SOLD OUT”

In recent years, public sensitivity to the beneficial reuse of biosolids has grown substantially and the pressure to produce a stable Class A material with low odor potential has increased correspondingly. The City of Tacoma has answered this challenge in a manner that has blazed a trail for others to follow – the City combined a robust digestion technology with a sustained product and market development effort, not for “public acceptance” but to create market demand. “Acceptance” is often taken as public tolerance; “Success” as having someone use biosolids at no cost. In contrast, market “demand” means that someone gladly buys your product because they see hard value in it. Tacoma’s sustained marketing and product improvement effort has built demand for its biosolidsbased family of gardening products to the point where it now outstrips supply. Call it the ultimate measure of acceptance, more simply described as “sold out”. The “Tacoma Model” of technology improvement and product and market development should prove useful for other agencies as they make the commitment to a market-driven program and assess their own options for employing technology and adopting a responsible and responsive marketing approach – an approach Tacoma has demonstrated leads to a valued line of virtually odorless, Class A biosolids products and “sold out” success.

GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLY!

GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLY!In 2002, JEA (a water, sewer, and electrical utility in Jacksonville, FL) commissioned a state of the art Biosolids Reuse Facility replacing a plant that incinerated sludge and disposed of the ashes at a landfill. Instead of treating the sewage sludge as a waste product, this material was now processed into pellets for beneficial reuse as biosolids. That changed in the summer of 2004. Starting in...Author(s)Dan ParnellScott SchultzSourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationSubjectSession 4: RegulationsDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Jan, 2007ISSN1938-6478SICI1938-6478(20070101)2007:3L.264;1-DOI10.2175/193864707787975372Volume / Issue2007 / 3Content sourceResiduals and Biosolids ConferenceFirst / last page(s)264 - 271Copyright2007Word count241

Study on risk management of heavy metals for reuse of biosolids

The behaviour of heavy metals was investigated at 22 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In addition, the survey of heavy metal balance was conducted in detail at one WWTP. For the measurement, 22 types of heavy metals were selected from the chemical materials of pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR). There were some heavy metals, which were detected not in wastewater but in dewatered sludge. By means of the detailed survey at one WWTP, 60 to 80% of some heavy metals, such as B, Mn, Co, Ni and Mo, were discharged with treated water. According to the results of PRTR, Zn, B and Mn accounted for a large part of the discharge into the water course. To estimate the behaviour of heavy metals in the environment, leaching tests were applied to the products made of biosolids. During a series of leaching tests for building materials, it was observed that the concentration of heavy metals was very small, but the ratio of increase keeps a constant value. Therefore, it was considered that the acid extractable contents of heavy metal would be important.

PHILADELPHIA'S EXPERIENCE USING STATIC, NON-AERATED CURING TO PRODUCE LOW ODOR BIOSOLIDS

Odors produced from biosolids have become an increasing problem and are often cited as a significant concern by many wastewater treatment plant operations. Public sensitivity to the beneficial reuse of malodorous biosolids has grown substantially and the pressure to produce a material with low odor potential has increased correspondingly. Recent research has shown that the generation of malodorous compounds – principally reduced sulfur compounds – in anaerobically digested, high-solids centrifuge dewatered biosolids is pronounced following storage under anaerobic conditions. Bench studies have shown that with further storage, these compounds are metabolized by methanogens (strict anaerobes) and odors are attenuated; however, prior to the present research, no full-scale studies have been performed to confirm the practical significance of this finding. The practice of storing biosolids under conditions designed for temperature moderation, maintenance of anaerobic conditions and minimal interaction with the environment is characterized as a static, non-aerated curing process. The goal of this study undertaken by the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) was to carefully store and monitor dewatered centrifuge cake in a large pile under controlled static, non-aerated curing conditions. To fulfill this goal, a 500 ton pile designed to promote static, non-aerated curing was constructed outdoors in January of 2005 and stored for 6 months prior to land application. The results from this study demonstrated that the bench-scale studies replicated field-scale odor generation profiles from static, non-aerated curing piles. Long term storage, with appropriate monitoring, appears to be a viable method to reduce odors prior to land application of biosolids.

THE EMS FOR BIOSOLIDS PUZZLE: HOW THE METRO WASTEWATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT SUCCESSFULLY PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER

THE EMS FOR BIOSOLIDS PUZZLE: HOW THE METRO WASTEWATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT SUCCESSFULLY PUT THE PIECES TOGETHERThe Metro Wastewater Reclamation District (District) provides wastewater treatment for about 1.5 million people in the Denver metro area. The District treats about 140 million gallons of wastewater and produces about 75 dry tons of biosolids per day. The District has been committed to the beneficial reuse of biosolids since 1978, when the Board of Directors adopted a resolution which, in part,...Author(s)A. MitchellP.E. Costanzo,Foster AngelSourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationSubjectSession 6: Environmental Management SystemsDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Jan, 2006ISSN1938-6478SICI1938-6478(20060101)2006:2L.262;1-DOI10.2175/193864706783797267Volume / Issue2006 / 2Content sourceResiduals and Biosolids ConferenceFirst / last page(s)262 - 269Copyright2006Word count477

Developing a Sustainability Rating Tool for Wastewater Systems

As part of a growing trend towards integrated economic, social, and environmental sustainability, there is interest in wastewater treatment systems that use less energy (or even produce energy), allow for the elimination or beneficial reuse of biosolids, and restore natural nutrient cycles. A sustainability rating system specifically designed for use by wastewater utilities can serve as an industry benchmark for environmental considerations and will be of practical use to utilities. Such a tool would complement other research, decision analysis techniques, and environmental management systems being used to develop sustainability indicators for projects, industries, and geographic areas. This concept is inspired by the successful “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” (LEED™) Green Building Rating System(s) developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, which provides national standards for what constitutes a “green building.”

A DYNAMIC MODEL TO ASSESS MICROBIAL HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH BENEFICIAL USES OF BIOSOLIDS

A DYNAMIC MODEL TO ASSESS MICROBIAL HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH BENEFICIAL USES OF BIOSOLIDSThere is currently a substantial amount of interest and controversy regarding the beneficial reuse of biosolids in the United States and worldwide. U.S. Federal laws regulating allowable levels of chemical contaminants in biosolids (Part 503 Rule) were developed using a risk-based methodology. However, the maximum allowable levels of microbiological contaminants in biosolids were based on...Author(s)Jeffrey SollerDon EisenbergJoseph EisenbergJack ColfordJames ScottSourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationSubjectSession 8: Research and Development BDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Jan, 2004ISSN1938-6478SICI1938-6478(20040101)2004:1L.426;1-DOI10.2175/193864704784343009Volume / Issue2004 / 1Content sourceResiduals and Biosolids ConferenceFirst / last page(s)426 - 432Copyright2004Word count392

An integrated industrial management facility for biological treatment of high nitrate and carbonaceous wastewater

AbstractBiological wastewater treatment is not typically used for wastewater with high nitrate and carbonaceous content. Hence, facilities demonstrating effective treatment are of interest to the worldwide environmental community. DuPont's Nylon Intermediates manufacturing plant at Victoria, Texas, started operating such a wastewater facility approximately three years ago. The new wastewater management facility features an innovative anoxic/oxic (A/O) biological treatment plant, a constructed wetland, and land application pilot area for demonstrating beneficial reuse of the biosolids. The wastewater treatment process is working well, with Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal above 99%, complete removal of nitrate and nitrite, and 100% permit compliance, since start‐up. The wetland has exceeded expectations for polishing, buffering, and community value. Land application has demonstrated beneficial reuse of biosolids by producing excellent quality hay, which is being fed to animals in a non‐human food chain pathway. The waste treatment facility has won numerous awards including the 2001 Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) Award for Wetland Education, the 2000 Water Environmental Federation (WEF) Industrial Water Quality Award, the 2001 WEF Award for Education, and the 2002 DuPont Sustainable Growth Award.

Combinations of water treatment residuals and biosolids affect two range grasses

The beneficial reuse of water treatment plant residuals (WTR) and biosolids via land co-application is of concern since the WTR is postulated to greatly reduce plant phosphorus (P) availability and, along with biosolids, possibly provide an additional source of trace metals to soil. Potential plant Al toxicity with increasing WTR rates, because of the Al content of WTR [Al2(SO4)3·14H2O], has also been speculated. In a greenhouse study we investigated the efficacy of co-application of WTR and biosolids to the native shortgrass prairie species blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis H.B.K. Lag) and western wheatgrass [Agropyron smithii (Rydb.) A. Love]. Co-application rates were a factorial combination of 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 g kg− 1 of WTR and 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 g kg− 1 of biosolids. Increasing WTR rate, averaged over biosolids rate, resulted in a decrease (p<0.10) in blue grama P concentration and an increase in Al concentration. Increasing biosolids rate, averaged over WTR rates, significantly affected most constituents. With only WTR addition (no biosolids) to blue grama, we observed an increase in plant Al concentration and uptake, and a decrease in plant Mo concentration. Increasing WTR rate, averaged over biosolids rate, produced a significant decrease in western wheatgrass P and molybdenum (Mo) concentrations. Increasing biosolids rate, averaged over WTR rates, again affected most constituents studied. With only WTR addition (no biosolids) to western wheatgrass, this study observed a decrease in plant Mo concentration and uptake. In both studies no significant WTR-biosolids interactions were observed. These results indicate WTR could reduce P availability even when co-applied with biosolids. Co-application can aid municipalities dealing with excessive biosolids-borne P and Mo application associated with an agronomic (nitrogen) biosolids application rate. However, high application rates of WTR should be avoided due to its adverse effect on P availability to plants, unless a supplemental P source is supplied.

Integrated Organic Waste Management Plan for Beneficial Reuse of Biosolids, Animal Waste and Green Materials

Integrated Organic Waste Management Plan for Beneficial Reuse of Biosolids, Animal Waste and Green Materials

The characterisation, treatment and sustainable reuse of biosolids in Ireland

Ireland is an island country on the western boundary of the European Union. A suite of environmental legislation over the last decade has combined to increase the amount of municipal sludge for treatment fourfold, while, simultaneously, eliminating traditional disposal methods. The Irish Government has instituted a comprehensive programme of policy development, infrastructure provision and drafting of "codes of good practice" to meet these environmenta; and legislative challenges. As the programme has developed, it has become clear that the sludge/biosolids issue shares many of the philosophical and logistical elements of other environmental issues that are developing apace in Ireland, including municipal waste management, agricultural waste management and overall integrated development. In many ways, it represents a model of the ultimate "sustainable development" issue. To provide specific data for decision making and policy/infrastructure/technology development, the Irish Government has funded a US$600k programme of research in The Characterisation, Treatment and Sustainable Reuse of Biosolids. The design philosophy of the programme is a "cradle-to-grave" approach, in order to integrate the outcomes of specialised research studies into an overall sustainable development model.

Nitrogen fixation characteristics of Rhizobium surviving in soils 'equilibrated' with sewage biosolids

To determine the effects of urban sewage biosolids on the symbiotic effectiveness of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii and N2 fixation, glasshouse and laboratory studies were carried out with several soils, biosolids, and biosolid application levels. Symbiotic effectiveness of R. l. trifolii was estimated as the dry weight or N content of seedlings of subterranean clover grown with only N2 fixation and seed N as the available nitrogen sources. The N fixed by legumes in unamended and biosolid-amended soils was determined using the 15N isotope dilution method. Six soils were represented in the experiments. Each of these was equilibrated over a period of 12 months with dried, finely ground biosolids (DWS) from the Malabar sewage treatment plant, at biosolids levels ranging from the equivalent of 60 to 240 t DWS/ha. One of the soils was also equilibrated with each of 4 other biosolids. The maximal concentration of heavy metals in soil amended with biosolids was 1026 mg/kg. The effect of biosolids on symbiotic effectiveness depended on the soil type and biosolid applications level. Thus, biosolids reduced the symbiotic effectiveness of R. l. trifolii in 2 of the 6 soils, although at different levels of biosolid. In most soil treatments N2 fixation was detected in subterranean clover, confirming the persistence of symbiotically effective rhizobia in most biosolids-amended soils. In addition, in strongly acidic soils plant N and N2 fixation increased significantly with biosolids addition, probably in response to higher soil pH, exchangeable Ca, and available P. In the treatments in which the symbiotic effectiveness of R. l. trifolii was reduced by biosolids, this was reflected in poor N2 fixation. However, symbiotic effectiveness did not correlate well with N2 fixation, probably because increases in soil nitrate at higher biosolids levels inhibited N2 fixation. Nevertheless, there were instances at 240 t DWS/ha where this was unlikely to explain the decrease in N2 fixation. It was concluded that adverse effects of biosolids on symbiotic effectiveness depend first on soil type, and then on biosolid type and application level; and the response in symbiotic effectiveness to adding biosolids to soil needs to be determined for each distinctively different site of biosolids reuse.

Options for beneficial reuse of biosolids in Victoria

This paper presents a synopsis of current biosolids management in Victoria as well as an overview of some biosolids processing technologies. Indicative capital and annual costs to upgrade wastewater sludge management facilities at Victorian wastewater treatment plants to maximise safe beneficial reuse of biosolids and sludge products are provided. The data will be particularly useful for preliminary assessment and planning purposes of biosolids management strategies for government, non-metropolitan urban water authorities and regional waste management groups. Indicative cost curves are presented for various sludge treatment and biosolids reuse options applicable to treatment plant sizes between 2000 and 200,000 ep.

The Insoluble Problems of Crime

Preface. Preface to the First Edition. Preface to the Second Edition. PART A. FUNDAMENTALS OF MICROBIOLOGY. 1. The Microbial World. 2. Microbial Metabolism and Growth. 3. Role of Microorganisms in Biogeochemical Cycles. PART B. PUBLIC HEALTH MICROBIOLOGY. 4. Pathogens and Parasites in Domestic Wastewater. 5. Microbial Indicators of Fecal Contamination. 6. Water and Wastewater Disinfection. PART C. MICROBIOLOGY OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT. 7. Introduction to Wastewater Treatment. 8. Activated Sludge Process. 9. Bulking and Foaming in Activated Sludge Plants. 10. Processes Based on Attached Microbial Growth. 11. Waste Stabilizations Ponds. 12. Sludge Microbiology. 13. Anaerobic Digestion of Wastewater and Biosolids. 14. Bioaerosols and Bioodors from Wastewater Treatment Plants. PART D. MICROBIOLOGY OF DRINKING WATER TREATMENT. 15. Microbiological Aspects of Drinking Water Treatment. 16. Microbiological Aspects if Drinking Water Distribution. 17. Bioterrorism and Drinking Water Safety. PART E. BIOTECHNOLOGY IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT. 18. Pollution Control Biotechnology. PART F. FATE AND TOXICITY OF CHEMICALS IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS. 19. Fate of Xenobiotics and Toxic Metals in Wastewater Treatment Plants. 20. Toxicity Testing in Wastewater Treatment Plants Using Microorganisms. PART G. MICROBIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECTS OF WASTEWATER EFFLUENTS AND BIOSOLIDS DISPOSAL AND REUSE. 21. Public Health Aspects of Wastewater and Biosolids Disposal on Land. 22. Public Health Aspects of Wastewater and Biosolids Disposal in the Marine Environment. 23. Wastewater Reuse. References. Index.