High Quality Biosolids from Wastewater – NTR7R15

Client: Water Environment Federation

Project: High Quality Biosolids from Wastewater – NTR7R15

Project Type: Research and Innovative Projects

Industry: Utilities

Location: Washington, DC

The project consisted of four principal tasks.

• Task 1: Biosolids odor potential was assessed, along with characteristics including routinely collected and potential odor-related parameters (pH, percent solids, TVS, SOUR, VSR, SRT) as well as some requiring more involved analyses (methionine content, fatty acid methyl ester content, respiratory activity). Additionally, the attractiveness to house flies will be included in the assessment. The goal is to find some characteristic(s) highly correlated with human-assessed odors.
• Task 2: The Team documented the efficacy of high quality biosolids in meeting product requirements, through the development of multiple blended and cured products, and address challenges that could encourage (or limit) their use in urban applications.
• Task 3: Utilities with well-known and/or successful biosolids programs and their customers were surveyed regarding their biosolids production process, marketing efforts, and marketing successes and challenges to identify fey factors in successful High Quality Biosolids marketing programs.
• Task 4: Expanded social networking among biosolids community members and promote biosolids products on various social networking outlets to enhance public awareness in relation to biosolids.

The project consisted of four principal tasks.

• Task 1: Biosolids odor potential was assessed, along with characteristics including routinely collected and potential odor-related parameters (pH, percent solids, TVS, SOUR, VSR, SRT) as well as some requiring more involved analyses (methionine content, fatty acid methyl ester content, respiratory activity). Additionally, the attractiveness to house flies will be included in the assessment. The goal is to find some characteristic(s) highly correlated with human-assessed odors.
• Task 2: The Team documented the efficacy of high quality biosolids in meeting product requirements, through the development of multiple blended and cured products, and address challenges that could encourage (or limit) their use in urban applications.
• Task 3: Utilities with well-known and/or successful biosolids programs and their customers were surveyed regarding their biosolids production process, marketing efforts, and marketing successes and challenges to identify fey factors in successful High Quality Biosolids marketing programs.
• Task 4: Expanded social networking among biosolids community members and promote biosolids products on various social networking outlets to enhance public awareness in relation to biosolids.

The project created a guidance tool for utilities to evaluate product quality, improve product quality, and, in turn, identify and assess regionally available markets for their respective biosolids products. Specific benefits include:

• Development of a comprehensive evaluation of EQ biosolids odors using internationally recognized analysis methods with results interpreted in reference to treatment processes and post-processing practices.
• Demonstration that EQ biosolids can be blended with organic and mineral amendments to produce byproducts of predictable chemical and physical properties.
• Demonstration that Demonstrates that prepared EQ biosolids byproducts can restore the crop productivity and soil quality of disturbed urban lands and at high rates without incurring groundwater nitrate contamination or surface water P pollution risk.

Providing utilities with an understanding of effective marketing tools and important product characteristics necessary to establish a successful biosolids marketing program.