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AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCERS
What
are Biosolids?
Biosolids
are the nutrient rich organic materials resulting from a wastewater
treatment plants operation that can be safely recycled according
to Federal and State regulations. Biosolids are a highly regulated
and controlled material that can be land-applied to improve agricultural
soils and enhance the environment while avoiding exposing humans
to health risks.
How do Biosolids improve my soils?
Biosolids
provide two materials that greatly improve the productivity of
soils; nutrients and organic matter. Biosolids contain nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium, all in organic forms! The nutrients
become available slowly throughout the growing season as the organic
matter is broken down. In fact, biosolids release significant
amounts of nitrogen the second year after application. Additionally,
there are the advantages of the organic matter itself. We all
know that high organic matter content is one of the reasons that
our Midwestern soils are so productive. Biosolids can increase
soil organic matter content and improve soil tilth, water infiltration,
water availability, and promote the capture and slow release of
the nutrients we spend so much money and time to add to the soil
each year.
What
does it cost?
Biosolids
are provided without cost to agricultural producers. In fact,
the nutrients applied to the land can save a producer up to 160$
an acre in fertilizer costs. The improvement in crop yields that
are consistently found with biosolids use also add to the bottom
line. Continental Farms, Inc. can inject biosolids beneath the
soil surface in most projects. Knifing the biosolids into the
soil provides tillage effects that would be expensive and time
consuming for a producer to duplicate.
Is
it hazardous material?
No. The Federal
and State regulations insist that the biosolids have low levels
of metals and disease causing organisms (pathogens). Biosolids
contain metals like copper, iron, zinc, boron, and manganese that
are actually micronutrients and occur naturally in soils. There
are also very low levels of metals that are not plant nutrients.
But, since environmental regulations have forced industry to pre-treat
(see history of biosolids) their waste discharge, these metals
are present in very low levels. Biosolids metal content is regulated
to ensure that the annual loading rate and lifetime loading rate
are below acceptable levels. Protecting humans from the pathogens
present in biosolids is accomplished by regulating both the wastewater
treatment facility and the land application process. In order
to be considered for land application biosolids must be treated
at the wastewater facility to reduce pathogens below a level stipulated
by Federal and/or State regulations. These regulations also restrict
public access to land application sites for a short time, call
for the incorporation of biosolids within hours after application,
and contain time restrictions for harvest of food crops and grazing
of animals in pasture.
What
about odor control?
The advanced
technology utilized at many wastewater treatment plants allow
the production of biosolids that have very little odor. When there
is a noticeable odor, Continental Farms, Inc will use odor control
techniques. Knife injection or incorporation of the biosolids
soon after application are two very effective odor control practices.
Also, biosolids that are stockpiled can be covered with a layer
of lime that will form a crust that prevents odor problems. It
is typical for a noticeable but not strong or offensive odor to
be present for a day or two after land application of biosolids.
Do
I have to do a lot of paperwork, keep records, or talk to EPA people?
No, no and
no. The burden of paperwork, record keeping and reporting to the
regulators falls on the generator of the biosolids (i.e. the wastewater
treatment plant) and the land applier (i.e. Continental Farms,
Inc.). In fact the process of land application of biosolids was
designed to be simple and risk free for the farmer. The responsibility
to make sure the biosolids are land applied according to the regulations
is on the shoulders of the generator. The rules do stipulate that
the land applicator must cooperate by providing certain information
to the generator and vice versa, but there is no information required
of the producer! Continental Farms, Inc. will provide the producer
a Biosolids User Information Sheet that will discuss exactly where
we have agreed to put the biosolids, give a description of all
surface waters, dwellings and wells in the area of the site (for
the creation of buffer zones), outline basic information about
the soil at the site, and show the amount of regulated metals
the biosolids contain. This single sheet of paper will be the
only "record keeping" required. Continental Farms, Inc. can be
contacted at anytime in the future to get a copy of the full report
required by the IEPA.
Tell
me more. How does it work?
Continental
Farms, Inc. contracts with many municipal and industrial clients
to remove and land apply their biosolids. The land application
process is as follows: We receive lab reports that prove that
the sludge meets regulations for land application of biosolids.
The nitrogen that will be plant available the first year of application
is used to establish a land application rate. Producer cooperators
and local officials (road commissioners and others) are contacted
to work out the logistics of hauling, application, incorporation,
etc. and a Biosolids User Information Sheet is provided to the
producer Hauling and land application by our trained supervised
field crews is completed in accordance with all regulations and
with concern for the cooperator's and the public's safety, interests,
and convenience All reports required by the regulations are generated
and submitted by our environmental personnel Any following questions,
concerns, requests for information, etc. are addressed promptly
by Continental Farms, Inc.'s qualified personnel
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