What are Biosolids?
Like the picture, what once was flushed down the toilet is now used to grow the food you eat today. The sky rocketing prices for fertilizers has farmers seeking for alternative sources of nutrients for their crops. Biosolids are often available at no cost and can be picked up from local wastewater plants. Not all biosolids can be applied to land application right away. They have to meet federal standards for pathogens and heavy metal concentrations before it can be used as an alternative for traditional fertilizer.
Like the picture, what once was flushed down the toilet is now used to grow the food you eat today. The sky rocketing prices for fertilizers has farmers seeking for alternative sources of nutrients for their crops. Biosolids are often available at no cost and can be picked up from local wastewater plants. Not all biosolids can be applied to land application right away. They have to meet federal standards for pathogens and heavy metal concentrations before it can be used as an alternative for traditional fertilizer. How are Biosolids processed?
Biosolids are produced through the treatment of wastewater generated from sewage treatment plants. Once the wastewater enters the facility, it goes through physical, chemical and biological processes which filter the wastewater of any solids. In some cases, the solids are treated with lime to raise its pH level to eliminate any oders. The picture on the bottom shows a brief description on where the biosolids will be kept and processed.
The Pros of Biosolids
- Biosolids reduces the need for commercial fertilizers.
- Biosolids reduces production costs.
- Biosolids create job oppertunities.
- Biosolids are a cost effective method of disposal.
- Biosolids promotes farming.
- Biosolids reduces emissions from transportation to landfills.
- Biosolids are free fertilizer.
- Biosolids are regulated according to EPA law 503.
The Cons of Biosolids
- Biosolids propose potential health hazards.
- Biosolids can cause contamination from accumulation of industrial waste.
- Biosolid's true composition is unknown.
- Biosolids can possibly transfer chemicals to crops.
- Biosolids have an odor problem.
Is this a Realistic Alternative
Biosolids are free, it is full of nutrients and it can be recycled. On the right we can see a picture of biosolids being referred to as efuel. It is good for the environment and it is used to fuel our bodies by helping produce food. Traditional fertilizers have many problems people do not take into account. It contaminates our waters with its nitrates and phosphates. From the soil, nitrates can be leached out into ground water and can be washed up into streams and rivers. High nitrate levels in drinking water can be considered hazardous to human health. Phospherous cannot be leached out but can be washed up in surface waters. It is not considered dangerous to health, but it stimulates algae growth in slow moving water. As soon the algae die and decompose, it begins removing oxygen from the waters and kills fish.
Potential Stakeholders
Potential stakeholders include biosolid producers, land owners and neighbors, private citizens, government representatives, and non-government organizations. Many people have very negative opinions on biosolids without any sufficient information to back it up. These stakeholders serve as a knowledge base, and are used to promote the use of biosolids. The picture above is a great example of stakeholders doing their part to educate the public. The man in the red is a representative from the North East Biosolid Residential Association (NEBRA) teaching the public.
Bibliography
"Biosolids Landspreading Program." Solano County - Homepage. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. <http://www.co.solano.ca.us/depts/rm/environmental_health/technical/biosolids_landspreading_program.asp>.
"Biosolids.com | About Biosolids: Biosolids Benefits." _. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. <http://www.biosolids.com/benefits.html>.
"Sewage Sludge, Pros & Cons Rebecca Renner / Environmental Science & Technology V.34 - I.19 1oct00." Mindfully.org | Mindfully Green. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. <http://www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/Sewage-Sludge-Pros-Cons.htm>.
"Biosolids Processing." Lystek. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. <http://www.lystek.com/en/biosolidsprocessing.asp>.
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Comments
Hey Tharajan. I like the whole recycling concept that comes when producing biosolids. You mentioned that there are many problems to traditional fertilizers that we are unmindful of and I completely agree with you. With biosolids, we wouldn’t have to worry about our resources because there is a very ample supply of human wastes. The practice is sufficiently conservative and poses very minimal health and environmental risks.
ReplyDeleteHey Tharjan,
ReplyDeleteGreat bioblog! It was extremely informative and full of facts, I most certainly learned a lot of new things. However, I was not completely sure what your position was on the topic at hand. Personally, I believe that biosolids is extremely beneficial to society, as it certinaly outweighs the disadvantages that biosolids pose.
I also agree on your statement that traditional fertilizers have many problems that people do not take into account. It is true that traditional fertilizer excrete so many chemicals that are not only bad for the plants, but they are also not good for the human population to be consuming. Biosolids on the other hand do pose concerns about bacteria and other sanitization factors, however we need to realize that our sewage plantations are extremely effective in keeping the bacteria and pathogens to a minimum.
Overall Tharjan, I really like how you included a segment on potential stakeholders, and how organizations such as the North East Biosolid Residential Association (NEBRA) are doing their part by educating the public about the many beneficial uses of biosolids. No other bioblog on biosolids has written about organizations promoting the use of biosolids in places where people don't have sufficient knowledge to understand the advantageous concept of biosolids. Great job Tharajan!
I'm surprised biosolids cost to almost nothing! With the extensive amount of pros outnumbering the number of cons, you would think that the effective technology of using biosolids as organic fertilizers would cost a fortune. It is great that here in Canada we have quality control. Treatment plants have to pass various tests to ensure that the biosolids contain close to no pathogens. Like you said, the true composition of biosolids are unknown, but there have been no cases in which biosolids have been reported as a threat to human health. If biosolids were hazardous, its case would have been apparent a long time ago. (http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/qa/105-1focus/focusbeauty.html)
ReplyDeleteNice blog man. Its very informative like always. I liked how you included the how these biosolids are processed. I too, was surprised when I read that we could buy these cheaper fertilizers to get the same effect as those more expensive fertilizers.
ReplyDeleteI think that this blog entry could have been better if you provided us with brief explanations for the benefits/disadvantages of the biosolids.