Long Term Objectives

1. Determine the role of various biosolids management options in a comprehensive wastewater management program.

2. Evaluate the potential for composted municipal biosolids and lime stabilized biosolids to promote or improve agricultural production.

3. Determine the potential for use of sludge by-products in non-traditional agricultural settings such as highway shoulder and median vegetation establishments, forest land re-establishment, golf course and turf production.

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Short Term Objectives

1. Evaluate the pathogen and metal levels in by-products and sludge by-products to ensure that pathogen reduction levels and metal levels are adequately maintained and meet current Environmental Protection Agency standards.

2. Evaluate the feasibility of using sludge by-products in production of agricultural, silvicultural and horticultural crops.

3. Evaluate the response of various crops to input of agricultural grade composts and liming materials produced from municipal and industrial biosolids.

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Accomplishments

1. The Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and mountain sites have been monitored and crops produced have been evaluated to determine effects of application of lime products and composts on crop production, quality and yield.

2. Biosolids have been evaluated to determine nutrient, metal and pathogen levels.

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Significance of Accomplishments

Any municipal or industrial wastewater treatment facility does produce some residuals or biosolids. Use of these biosolids in a beneficial manner is strongly encouraged by regulatory agencies. Questions concerning the impacts or effects of these biosolids on production, environmental quality, crop yield and crop quality influence their use. As increasing volumes of information accumulate concerning recycling and reuse of these waste-derived materials, then user acceptance increases and agricultural producers benefit from the reduced costs associated with these alternative nutrient or lime sources.

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Future Plans

1. Monitoring activities will continue with lime stabilized materials and composted biosolids.

2. Crop yield, soil quality and impacts on shallow ground water or surface water will be monitored throughout this project.

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