A Plain English Guide to the EPA Part 503 Biosolids EPA - A plain English Guide to the EPA Part 503 Biosolids Rule
“Land application of biosolids that meet strict quality criteria and application rates is a beneficial use. It helps improve, replenish and maintain healthy soil by adding important nutrients, boosting soil water-holding capacity and reducing topsoil runoff, all of which serve to increase crop yields.” biosolids.com | About Biosolids: Biosolids enefits
“Biosolids are the nutrient-rich solid organic matter recovered from the treatment of domestic sewage in a wastewater treatment facility. Biosolids are a beneficial resource, containing essential plant nutrient and organic matter and are recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment. When treated and processed, these residuals can be recycled and applied as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth.” http://biosolids.org/docs/frequently%20asked%20biosolids%20questions.pdf
“NACWA and WEF believe that EPA’s risk assessment for the 40 CFR Part 503 Rule, which governs the use and disposal of sewage sludge and biosolids, is adequate to protect human health and the environment when biosolids management practices prescribed in the rule are followed.” http://biosolids.org/docs/Guide_to_Understanding_Biosolids_Issues_052506.pdf
“Decades of studies have demonstrated that biosolids can be safely used on food crops. The National Academy of Sciences has reviewed current practices, public health concerns, and regulator standards and has concluded that ‘the use of these materials in the production of crops for human consumption, when practiced in accordance with existing federal guidelines and regulations, presents negligible risk to the consumer, to crop production, and to the environment.’ In addition, an epidemiological study of the health of farm families using biosolids showed that the use of biosolids was safe.” Biosolids
“Biosolids are used to fertilize fields for raising crops. Agricultural use of biosolids, that meet strict quality criteria and application rates, have been shown to produce significant improvements in crop growth and yield. Nutrients found in biosolids, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and trace elements such as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, sulfur and zinc, are necessary for crop production and growth.” http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/faqs.cfm?program_id=16#95
“Today, because of improved wastewater treatment, our waterways have been cleaned up and made safer for recreation and seafood harvest. And, because of the strict Federal and state standards, the treated residuals from wastewater treatment (biosolids) can be safely recycled.” EPA: OWM: Biosolids
“The Biosolids Use regulations required at least 18 inches of soil depth to bedrock or groundwater. In this way, the soil acts as a protective layer to filter nutrients from entering to groundwater. Furthermore, biosolids application rates are limited to the plant available nitrogen, which can be used by the crop. In this way, there are no excess nitrates to leach into the groundwater.” Concerns & Risks
*** Note: Web site text prepared in part with use of information provided by the Virginia Department of Health, the Biosolids Institute, and the North East Biosolids and Residuals Association, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Water Environment Federation, National Biosolids Partnership, and Biosolids.com.
