Targeted Research and Development for Successful Biosolids Programs

For certain wastewater agencies, targeted research and development (R&D) on solids processing and biosolids management programs has proven to be critical to prove-out options and alternatives that appear to be better-suited to the agency's needs. These programs evolve for a variety of reasons and are often an outgrowth of previous trials and efforts by agencies, engineers, operators, academia, and technology and equipment companies. The work is often innovative in nature, since the utility is trying to develop a better result or improve on prior technology. Sometimes, significant and long-term R&D efforts have been required by an agency to overcome roadblocks or perceived process limitations. This paper presents discussion of three wastewater utilities in the US which conducted necessary R&D work to implement their solids processing and biosolids management programs. The paper concentrates on how and why the R&D work developed and the commonalities of that development, rather than on the specifics of the R&D activities, since other papers and information are available to describe the solids programs and the research work associated with these utilities.