Technical Resources for Sewage Sludge Managers
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Pathogen Equivalency Committee (PEC)
According to the Part 503 sewage sludge standards, before sewage sludge can be applied to land, it must be treated to reduce pathogens using nine methods outlined in the regulation. Alternatively, innovative pathogen reduction processes can gain regulatory acceptance by demonstrating equivalency in a process managed by the Pathogen Equivalency Committee and overseen by the permitting authority. In reviewing an equivalency application, the committee ensures that new processes employed for sewage sludge treatment are robust and effective in pathogen reduction in order to protect human health and the environment.
Analytical Methods and Sampling Procedures
Specific analytical methods are required in order to meet monitoring requirements and demonstrate compliance with 40 CFR Part 503. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has also developed guidance and conducted studies related to sampling procedures.
Wastewater Treatment Train Technologies
When wastewater reaches a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) it goes through physical, biological, and chemical processes which separate and treat the wastewater and solids.
The EPA Clean Water Technology Center provides information to support reliable, affordable and resilient wastewater infrastructure.
The EPA has also developed fact sheets for common wastewater treatment train technologies used to treat, stabilize and dewater sewage sludge. These fact sheets were published between 2000 and 2006 but still may provide useful information.
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Dewatering:
Small, rural and/or Tribal communities face unique challenges that often differ from those experienced by larger systems. The EPA has developed tailored technical resources such for communities to support the management of their wastewater infrastructure, including wastewater lagoons and decentralized treatment systems. Access technical and financial opportunity information and learn more about Small and Rural Wastewater Systems.
Use and Disposal Management Practices
In the U.S., there are generally three options for use or disposal of sewage sludge: land application as a soil conditioner or fertilizer, landfilling in a sewage sludge monofill or municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill, and incineration in a sewage sludge incinerator.
Land Application
Land application is the spraying, spreading, incorporation, or injection of sewage sludge into or onto the land to either condition the soil or fertilize crops or vegetation grown in the soil.
Incineration
Incineration is combustion in the presence of air. Incineration of wastewater solids takes place in two steps. The first step of incineration is drying the solids, so that their temperature is raised to the point that water in the solids evaporates. The second step is the actual combustion of the volatile fraction of the solids. Part 503 contains requirements for sewage sludge incinerators (SSIs) including stacking monitoring, sewage sludge pollutant concentrations. SSIs must also comply with Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements. The EPA’s requirements regarding emissions from SSIs were updated in 2016.
- Part 503 incineration requirements are available in Part 503 Subpart E – Incineration
- Fact Sheet: Use of Incineration for Biosolids Management
- This fact sheet was published in 2003 before new requirements were promulgated for SSIs under the CAA and may be out of date. Please refer to the regulations for the most accurate information.
- Sewage Sludge Incineration Units (SSI): New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and Emission Guidelines (EG)
Landfilling
Sewage sludge may be disposed of in a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill with other wastes or in a sewage sludge-only landfill commonly called a monofill. Sewage sludge disposal in MSW landfills is regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the EPA’s accompanying regulations at 40 C.F.R. Part 258, Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. Disposal in a monofill is regulated under Part 503 as surface disposal.
- Part 503 surface disposal requirements are available in Part 503 Subpart C – Surface Disposal
- Fact Sheet: Use of Landfilling for Biosolids Management
- Municipal Solid Waste Landfill
Domestic Septage
Domestic septage is the liquid or solid material removed from septic tanks, cesspools, portable toilets, Type III marine sanitary devices, or similar systems. 40 CFR Part 503 includes requirements for the land application of domestic septage.
The information in Domestic Septage Regulatory Guidance: A Guide to the EPA 503 Rule is provided to help the users and disposers of septage understand and follow Part 503. Requirements for persons who apply domestic septage to non-public contact sites is discussed.
The purpose of Guide to Septage Treatment and Disposal is to present practical information on the handling, treatment, and disposal of septage in a concise, recommendations-oriented format for easy use by administrators of waste management programs, septage haulers, and managers or operators of septage handling facilities.
Chapter 11 of Process Design Manual: Land Application of Sewage Sludge and Domestic Septage focuses on the land application of domestic septage to agricultural land, forests, or reclamation sites.
The information in the following fact sheets summarizes the Part 503 requirements when domestic septage is applied to agricultural land. Agricultural land is land on which a food crop, feed crop, or fiber crop is grown. Agricultural land also includes land used as pasture.
- Requirements For Application of Domestic Septage to Agricultural Land Utilizing Alkali Addition (pdf)
- Requirements For Application of Domestic Septage to Agricultural Land Utilizing Injection or Incorporation (pdf)
Biosolids Library
This library may help biosolids managers access key resources and historical documents. You can sort by document topic, name, year published and source.