INFORMATION AND RESEARCH NEEDS FOR SLUDGE PROCESSING AND UTILIZATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A MAJOR METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT

Since the dawn of sewage treatment, the treatment and utilization and/or disposal of residuals separated from wastewater has been the subject of intense studies. It is not different today. As higher performance efficiencies are achieved at wastewater treatment plants, effluents discharged from them will be much cleaner than what they are now. As a result, the quantities of biosolids generated will be higher, as will the mass of pollutants and nutrients contained in them. As new and more stringent regulations evolve for biosolids utilization and/or disposal, the wastewater industry will be faced with more challenges not only to comply with the new regulations but it will be also under more scrutiny from the public and media with regard to the utilization of biosolids. Research based on solid scientific principles should be aggressively pursued and the results from such research should be applied in developing regulations and the best and most cost effective technologies to constantly improve the quality of biosolids. This will aid treatment plant mangers in beneficially utilizing biosolids in land application programs. This paper presents and discusses some of the information and research needs from the perspective of a major municipal agency, many of which are even applicable to small to medium size municipal agencies.