Land Application of Wastewater Sludge

1. Land Application of Wastewater Sludge Susan A. Murphy – Kansas City, MO Jeff Waszgis – Crete, NE Alan Ygsi – Denison, IA

2. Who Does Land Application?

3. Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities

4. We Do!

5. Farmland Land Application Examples • Over 850 dry tons applied from Denison and Crete in 2010

6. Our DAF sludge is used to generate methane, and nutritive biosolids are sold to farmers. Lincoln generated approximately 14 dry tons in 2010. The city of Lincoln, NE, produces methane gas from sludges, generating electricity. Photo from U of Nebraska-IANR

7. Soil nutrients are valued on a Dry Basis Example: 8% solids, 4 million gallons How much water is included? The water in the sludge must not puddle in the field Anaerobic Lagoons-Each year the decision is made: Pond Cleanout vs. Sludge Dredging? Does your sludge have what it takes? How Much Sludge do YOU Generate?

8. State Permitting Requirements • Municipal Sewage Sludge is not the same as industrial pretreatment sludge. Permit requirements are different! • There are restriction of pathogens from land application sludges on crops for direct human consumption (strawberries, lettuce…) or on public access land (parks,….).

9. Permit Exempt does not mean Exempt from State Requirements! Iowa DNR Example: Permit Exempt as long as-- • The maximum application rate is not to exceed 2 tons per acre per year (dry basis) • Less than 2 ton/ac if soil tests indicate field nutrient levels are significantly in excess of crop nutrient requirements, or would provide heavy metals concentrations in the soil at detrimental levels (crop or human health hazard) • Exempt application has requirements, too!

10. State Permitting Requirements • Identify the fields we may be able to utilize, • and get the landowner contact information • Calculate the amount of nutrients each specific field and crop can uptake in the growing season • Immediate incorporation into the soil • Stay a minimum distance from waterways, no standing water • Identify the fields and application rate of each field, and the landowner contact information • Prepare a Land Application Plan, and keep organized before/after records

11. Land Application Management Fields are too wet Land compacts, ruts, sludge can run off field, causing contamination Fields are frozen, hard to inject sludge Crop yields were not very good the previous year Landowner changes Contractor Availability Slow return on laboratory results Permitting TIMING BECOMES EVERYTHING

12. The Costs • Lagoon Sludge Sampling, Analyses Fees • Farm Field Analysis • Dredging/Pumping • Transporting • Field Spreading or Injection of Sludge • Reincorporation and Repair of Compaction Areas • Permitting

13. The Benefits • Reduction of waste and beneficial use of wastewater treatment byproduct • Conservation of landfill space • Soil amendment reduces local farming costs (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Copper, Zinc, Iron, Sulfur) • Fertilizer Production natural resource savings (energy, water, etc.) • Reflects our company’s waste reduction efforts within the community

14. How do we do this? Reference State Regulations Prepare Soil Application Plan Determine Local Interest Sample and Analyze Sludge Obtain Field Analyses (Local Ag Office) Calculate application rate based on field analysis, crop requirement Notify the State Watch the Weather Apply with Care Monitor the Site Keep Documentation Organized Start Early before each sludge application season

15. Before

16. During

17. During

18. During

19. After

20. Take Home • Sludge Management is Costly! • The fewer solids that go to wastewater, the less sludge we generate • Where do your DAF and Clarifier solids belong?

21. The End