THE BIOSOLIDS MESSAGE

Since passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972 we have made significant advances in wastewater treatment which have dramatically impacted the quality of our Nation's water. These wastewater treatment improvements, which include the implementation of pretreatment programs, have allowed our water reclamation facilities to not only enhance water quality but to produce biosolids. Biosolids can be used in a number of programs to provide nutrients and organics to our soils.To be successful in using biosolids, we need to educate the public regarding the benefits of the material and address any concerns they may have. “The Biosolids Message” has been developed to serve as a base in developing information for use with the public.The message summarizes our advances in wastewater treatment from prior to the Clean Water Act through the 1990s. It describes the trend in biosolid's characteristics and highlights the positive impacts that pretreatment programs have had on our ability to produce a beneficial product. The message summarizes the land application risk assessment that was performed in the development of the 40 Part 503 Regulations and compares the US EPAs regulations to the Canadian fertilizer standards. The message provides information regarding the use of biosolids on a national and regional basis. The message also summarizes the value of biosolids to the agricultural community.