What you should What are the benefits of recycling know about biosolids? Biosolids

The benefits of recycling biosolids onto agricul- King & Queen County tural land include providing essential nutrients for crop needs and organic matter for improving the Building & Zoning Office soil. Crop yields on land amended with biosolids 242 Allen’s Circle Road can be as great or greater than land fertilized with P.O. Box 177 only commercial synthetic fertilizers. King & Queen C.H., VA 23085 (804) 785-5975

What is that smell? Liquid biosolids being applied to the surface of a pasture. • What are biosolids and how are they different from sewage sludge? Biosolids, even when properly treated, will have odors. Under unfavorable weather conditions, the odors may be objectionable, even to rural commu- • How are biosolids produced? nities accustomed to the use of animal manure. • What are the benefits of recycling Application method affects the odor potential at biosolids? the site. Immediate soil incorporation or direct soil injection reduce the potential for odor problems. • What is that smell?

Weather conditions will affect odor severity when • What are the benefits of land applica- biosolids are surface-applied. Spreading in the tion of biosolids morning when air is warming and rising will help dilute the odor in the immediate vicinity.

A well-managed system with the proper equipment and stabilized biosolids will substantially reduce the potential for unacceptable odors. Spreading of dewatered "cake" biosolids from a ma- nure-type spreader in preparation for planting corn.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Virginia Cooperative Extension. www.ext.vt.edu • Virginia Department of Health. www.vdh.state.va.us • National Biosolids. www.biosolids.policy.net Dewatered biosolids being delivered to an application site. www.kingandqueenco.net What are biosolids and how are What are the benefits of land they different from sewage Concerns about biosolids. application of biosolids? sludge?

Biosolids are solid, semi-solid, or liquid materials, Farmers can benefit from biosolids application by Storm water runoff: In order to prevent water resulting from treatment of domestic sewage, that reducing fertilizer costs. The main fertilizer bene- pollution, site restrictions are required. These have been sufficiently processed to permit these fits are through the supply of nitrogen, phosphorus include maintaining buffers along waterways and materials to be safely land-applied. and lime. Biosolids also ensure against unforeseen surface waters and restricting biosolids on slopes nutrient shortages by supplying essential plant nutri- greater than 15%. These items will help to pre- The term was introduced to distinguish high qual- ents that are rarely purchased by farmers because vent Biosolids absorbed in to soil particles from ity, treated sewage sludge from raw sewage sludge crop responses to their application are unpredict- running off of land applied fields into nearby and from sewage sludge containing large amounts able. These include elements such as sulfur, man- streams and surface waters. of pollutants. ganese, zinc, copper, iron, molybdenum, and boron. Groundwater contamination: The Biosolids Because biosolids provide nutrients in an organic use regulations require at least 18 inches of soil form, they are utilized by the crops instead of lost to depth to bedrock or groundwater. In this way, the adjacent streams and groundwater. Therefore land soil acts as a protective layer to filter nutrients application reduces and eliminates pollution that is from entering to groundwater. Furthermore, bio- How are biosolids produced? often caused by traditional fertilization methods. solids application rates are limited to the plant available nitrogen, which can be used by the crop. Land application replenishes valuable organic mat- In this way, there are no excess nitrates to leach ter, which occurs in less than optimum amounts in into the groundwater. Biosolids are produced primarily through biologi- most Virginia soils. The addition of organic matter Bacteria and pathogens in biosolids tend to ad- cal treatment of domestic wastewater. Biosolids can improve soil tilth, the physical condition of soil here to the biosolids amended soils because of the comprise the solids that are removed from the as related to its ease of tillage, fitness as a seedbed, organic nature of biosolids. This clinging mecha- wastewater and further processed before the and its impedance to seedling emergence and root nisms prevents potentially disease causing organ- treated water is released into streams and rivers. penetration. Other benefits imparted by the addition isms from entering the groundwater while keep- of organic matter to soil include: ing them near the surface where sunlight, tem- perature, dryness and naturally occurring organ- 1. Increase water infiltration into the soil and soil isms destroy them. moisture-holding capacity. 2. Reduces soil compaction. Truck traffic: Biosolids are delivered to the site 3. Increases the ability of the soil to retain and in tractor-trailers for cake biosolids or tanker provide nutrients. trucks for liquid biosolids. A fifty-acre field 4. Reduces soil acidification. could receive about 50 truckloads of biosolids 5. Provides an energy source for beneficial micro- resulting in heavy truck traffic during the spread- organisms. ing operation. Truckers are required to abide by Virginia Department of Transportation regula- tions. Contractors designate haul routes which avoid residential roads whenever possible. Also, land application operations usually occur during working hours when most people are at work and school to minimize inconvenience caused by the trucks. Schematic of waste-water treatment facility.