MCD735 ED161750

User Manual: MCD735

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ABSTRACT .

.DOCONEIT RESUME

OE 025 225

Knezek, Bernard"D.,, Ed:;. Milleri.Robett H., Ed.

'Application of Sludges and Wastewaters on

AgriCultural Land: A Planning and Educational Guide,

'MCD-35. Research ..

Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Centere,

Wooster. .-

Environmental ProtectiOn Aiency, Washington D..C.

Office.of Water Programs.

Har..78.

99p.

' General Her#ces Administration (8FFS) , Centralized

Hailing List Services, Bl4g...--41, Denver Federal

Center, Denver, COk80225 (no price quoted)

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MF-$0.83 HC-$4.67'Prus Postage.

Agricultural Educatlipoi *Agriculture; gnvironmentai

EducatiOn; *Land UgETuScience Education;-Soil

Conse'rvation;-*Soil Science; Turf Hanagement;' *Waste

Disposal:. *Water Resources -.

This report-addresses the applic

processing wastes, industrial and municipal yaste

land as both a waste management and resource recov

practice. The docukent emphasizes the treatment and

utilization of sludge and 'wastewater as opposed tb waste: disposal.

These objectives ace achiqved through incorporation into °

well-designed and dperated agricultural pFocluction systems in ways

that are compatible with.maintaining the -soil's normal viability and

productivity. Waste characterization, crop selection and management,

site selection, management and monitoring' are addressed. Sample

problems, procedures, calculAtions and diagrams are incorporated into

most sections. In addition, public health and nuisance concerns, as

well as public acceptance, legal and economic-considerations are

discussed. (Aufhor/BB).

of, agricultural

agricultural

and reuse

neficial

*****************i*****************************************************,

*ReProductions supplied by EDRS are the best thaecanibe made *--

*', .from the original document. *

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)cnA

-4 tvOGIF

2121114' n

United States OffiCe of

Environmental PrOtectidn., WatexProgram Operations

Ag'ency

:(WH-546)

Washington, D,,C, -20460: -

Applica/tons of Sludges.

and Wastewaters:.

on Agric ural. Land3:/..

Reprint of

North Central Research

Publication 235

March 1978

U.S. DEPARTMENTOF HEALTH,'

EDUCATION & WELFARE

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF

EDUCATION

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO;

DUCED. EXACTLY. A5 RECEIVED FROM

THE PERSON,F ORGANIZATION ORIGIN-

ATING IT PITS OF VIEW,OROPINIONS

STATED DO T NECESSARICY REPRE

SENT oatFlekiALNATIONALASTITUTEOF

EDPCAIIKVSITION DO, POLICY

-,f

2.4 .111, ri

" irk4r. A

Disclaimer Statement

his report has been reviewed-by the Environmental Protectio Agency.parid

approved for publication. Approval doesnot signify that the contents

necessarily reflect the views and policies,of the Environm ntal Protection

Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commprcial pro ucts constitute'

endorsement or recommendation for use.

Notyt

To.order this publication, "Application of Sludges and Wastewaters on

Agricultural' Land: 'A Planning and Educational Guide (MCD-35), from EPA

write to

General. Services*Administration (8FFS)'

Centralized4Mailing List Services

Bldg. 41 Denver Federal Centpr.

Denver, CO 80225.

Please indicate the MCD number and,title of publication.

Multiple copies may be purchased from:

National Technical Information Service

Springfield, VA 22151

Marc!) 1978

...APPLICATIOW0f.:SLUDGES..

AND WASTEWATERS

ON AGRICULTURAL pkND.

Aning and pocati90$160de-

Edited by

Bernard D. Knezek and Robert H. Miller

Sponsored by North Central Regional Committee.N C-118, Utilization and Disposal of Municipal,

Industrial, and Agricultural Processing Wastes on Land.

in gooperationwith.

Western Regional Committee W-124, Soil as a Waste Treatment Syitem

Reprinted by

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

OFFICE OF WATER PROGRAM OPERATIONS

MUNICIPAL CONSTRUCTION DIVISION

(WASHING-TOiv, D.C. 20460

MCD735

This bulletin was selecOd,foi- rtpeinting bY'the U.:S:EPA'Office of

Water Progeam Operations as one ofsa series of repoets.to help supply'

detailed information for7dse in,selecting,developing,,designing; and

operating municipal wastewater treatment and sludge management system

The series will.. provide in-depth presentations' of availabte.;information

on, topics of major interest and concern 'related to municipal wastewater'

treatment and sludge management. An, effort will 6e; "made to provide the

most current state-of-theart information available concerning sewagt

sludge prbcessing and disposalAtiliiation etOrnatives, :as well as

costs, transport, and environmental and;health,impacts..

These reports are not a statement of Agency polCcy or regulatory,

requirements. They are being publtshed tO,a'ssistEPA'Regipnal7Adminis-

trators intevaluating grant applica0bns`for construtionilf,publicly,

owned treatment works under Section 203(a) of they:ederalvWater Pol,ut;i off_

Control Act as amended. They also:will peciVide.planners:dekigners:,

municipal engineers, environmentalists and othert kvithAetailpd

information on municipal.astewater treatment and,s1Adge management %','"

options.

HarolCP. Cahi)14.Jr:,'Direktbe

Municipal CobstructiAn Divniion

Offide,pf Watein Program 'Operations

ABSTRACT

This bulletin wasoriginally prepared'under the sp nsorship.of two.

regional committees wresenting the North Central and estern States

Agricultural Experiment §tations 'and cooperating elemen s of the U.S4

Departmeneof Agqculture (the North Central Regional .0 mmittee NC-118,

Utilization and Disposal of Municipaf, Industria'F, and griculiWral-

Processing Wastes onland in cooperation with the Weste n Regional

'COmmittee W-124, Soil as a Waste Treatment System) Th report ad Pesses

the,application of agrtcultural processing' wastes, industrial and municipal

wastes (i.e., sludges and wastewaters) on agricultural land as both a,

waste management and resouecOmcovery and reuse pract ce, The document

emphasizes the "treAment"and beneficial Utilization f sludge, and

wastewater as opposed to waste disposal. These objec ives are 4chieved-

through incorporation into well-designed and operated agricultural

prbduction systems in ways that are compatible with m intaining the

soil's normal viability, and productivity. Applicatio of waste materials

to, forgted land, greenbelts; parks or golf courses,land land reclaffiation

projects-are not specifically addressed, although many of the prjnciples

discuss concerning their application-to agricultural land would apply

to ese situations as well.

Waste charatterization, crop selection and management, site seletion,

management and monitoring are addressed in a manner designed to lead

readers logically through the decision making proc ss., Sample problems,

procedures, calCulations and diagrams are incorpor ted into most sections.

In'addition, public health and nuisance concerns, s well as public

acceptance, legal and economic considerations are discused from a

cautious, though informati9e, point of view that also offers ideaS for

dealing with such matters based upon experience gained from recent

projects. ,,.

The document does not provide in-depth'design criteria and is not a

comprehensive design manual which could be used .to design and manage a

land applicatiOn system:. It it-, hOwever, a useful planning tool, educational

guide, and information source for those who desire basic information

concerning land application systems..'For more detailed and complete

design inforMatiOn and procedures, the reader stiould consult such sources

as .the EPA Process Design Manuals, "Land Treatment of Munictpal Wastewater",

(EPA 625/1-77-008; October 1,977) and "Sludge Treatment and Disposal"

(EPA 625/1-74-006; Octoberal4 - currently being updated), the EPA

Technical Bulletin, "Municipal Sludge Management: Environmental Factors"

(EPA 430/9-77-004; October 1977), and the EPA Technology Transfer Design

Seminar publications on sludge and wastewater management available from

EPA/Technology Transfer, 26 West St.Clair; Oincinnati, Ohio 45268.

Robert K. Bastian

MuntcipalyConstruttion Division

Office of'Watel. Program Operations

U.S. EnvironMental Protection Agency

North Central Regional Research Publication ,235

October 1976

Application. of Sludges, and WakeWaiers

on Agriailtural Land:

A Planning and ,

Edited ..hy

BERNARD D. KNEZEK and 'ROBERT H. MILLER

Sponsored by. North Central Regional ComMittee NC-118, Utilizatioh and

Disposal of Municipal, Industrial, and griCulturaj Processing Wastes on

Ldnd .'2 '.

in cooperation with .

Western Regional Committee W-124,.Soil as a Waste TreOraerft SYistem

Agricultural Experiment Stations of. Alas-

ka, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, KanSas, Mich- t

igan, Minnesota, Mitsouri, Nebraska,

North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and

Wisconsin, and the U. S. Department'af

Agriculture cooperating.

OHIO AGRICULTURAL ;RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT MITER,

Wooster, Ohio. Res'earch II etin , 1090

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTIONfor Application.of Sludges.and Wastewaters 4*

on Agritultural Land, by Bernard D. Knezek and BObert.H. Miller

SrTE SELECTION .CON3IDERATIONS, for Sludge'and WasteWiter

Application on Agricultural Land,

byGeorge F. Hallarty P. Wilding, and A. Earl Erickson

ANALYSES AND THEIR INTERPRETATION for Sludge Application

to Agricultural Lana, by Lee E. SOmmer-and Darrell W. Nelson

CROP AND'SYSTEM MANA.GEMENT'f& Sludge Application.

'to Agricultural Land, by Robert-H. Miller

SELECTION OF THE SYSTEM for Sludge Applicati, on

on Agricultural Land, by Richard K. White

ANALYSES: AND THEIR INTERPRETATION for Wastewater.

, Application on Agricultural Land, by Boyd G. Ellis

CROP AND SYSTEM MANAGEMENT foe Wastewater Application

to Agricultural Land, by ArthUr R. Wolcott and Ray L. Cook"

SELECTION OF THE SYSTEM for Wastewater Application

oh Agricultural Land, by Ernest H. Kidder

PUBLIC HEALTH AND NUISANCE CONSIDERATIONS for Sludge and Wastewater_

4plication to Agriculttral Land, byThoMas Pt Wasbotten

PUBLIC ACCEPTABILITY AND LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS for Sludge and

Wastewater Application on Agricultural Land, by Terry F. Glover ... 4.. 1.0

SITE MONITORING CONSIDERATIONSforSiudge and astewater

0. Application,to Agricultural Land, by Pau) A. Blakeslee 11

-SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 12

GLOSSARYAF.TERMS 13

APPENDICES '; 14

APpendix A Double Ring Infiltrometer Method

for Measuring Soil Infiltration Rates

Robert Taft SanitAry Engineering,Center Percolation Ttst

Appendix Er-- Sample Calculatiins to Determine Sludge

Application Rates on AgefculturalLand

Appendix C 7" Some useful FactOrstonversion§:.

ApOehdix D PUBLICATIONS* pERTINENTTO Application of:Sewage'

Sludgeand WOtewatVr to Agricultural Land

Paul A. ,Blakeslee

4Ra30.. Cook

Boyd G. Ellis

Earl.EA&ckson

over

Terry F.

'Geohie F. Hall

Ernest H., Kidder

TBernard 0.ezek

Robert H.' hiiller

Darrell W. Nelson

Led E. Spmmers

Thomas P.

CONTRIBUTORS

Regional Sanitary Engineer, Municipal Wastewater. Division,:

Michigan Deparftrtent of Natural Resources, Mason,Building,

Lansing, Michigan 48926

Professor

Sciences,

Professor

Sciences,

Professor

Sciences,

and Chairman Emeritus, Department of Crop anO.Soil

Michigan State University, East Lansing, 1410,..48824

of Soil Chemistry, Department of'Corop,and Soil

Michigan State University, East .Lansipg, .MiCh., 48824

of Soil Physics, Department of Cr* and Soil -

Michigan State University East:Lansing, Mich. 48824.

Associate Professor; Department of.Agr,cultUrral,Economics,

Utah State University, Logan, Utah 48322'

Associate Professor, Department of Agronomy, The Ohio State

University and Ohio Agricultural' Research And Development

Center; Columbus, Ohio 43210

Professor of-Agricultural Engineering, Department of_Agricul-j

iural Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing,

Mich. 48824

Professor and Associate Chairman, Department of Crovand Soil)

Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich. 48824'

Professor, Department of Agronomy, The Ohio State Uni-versity

and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Columbus,

Ohio 43210

Associate Professor, Department of Agronomy, PUrdue htversity,

.,;West Lafayette, Indiana,47907

)Associate Professor, Department of Agronomy, Purdue University,

West Lafayette, Indiana 47907

Wasbotten

Richard K. White

tarry. P. Wilding,

Sanitary Engineer, Municipal Wastewater Division,-Michigan

Department of Natural, Resources, Mason Building, Lansing,

Mich. 48926,

Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Engineering,

The Ohio State University and Ohio Agricultural Research and

Development Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210

Professor, Department of Agronomy, The Ohio State University

and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Columbus,

Ohio 43210

Arthur. R. Wolcott Professor of Soil Science, Department of Crop and Soil Saences, .

Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich. 48824

.,.

North Central Regional Committee NC-118

Utilization and Disposal of Municipal,Industrial,

and Agricu.lturlal Processing Wastes on Land

State Agricultural Experiment Stations

F. J. Wooding ..; Alaska

S. 14.1Melsted Illinois

L. E. Sommers Indiana

J. J. Hanway (until' June 30, 1976) Iowa

-M. A. Tabatabai (since July 1, 1976) Iowa

R. ETlis, Jr Kania§.

IL' D. Knezek (until June 30,11976) °

,Michigan

L. W. (Jacobs (since. July 1, 1976) Michigan

R. G. Gast wMinnesota

iic

D. Sievers Missouri

M. Baker Nebraska

L. A. Douglas New Jersey

G. L. Pratt North Dakota

R. H. Miller Ohio

L. O. Fine South Dakota

D. R. Keeney (until June 30, 1976) Wisconsin

L. M. Walsh (since July 1, 1976) Wisconsin

U. S. Department of griculturd

D. H. Uric Forest Service

T:'Ml. McCalla Agricultural Research Service (Nebraska)

J. F. Parr, Jr- Agricultural ResearcK Service

A. S: Newman ,

,CooperativeStates Research Service

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency

C. Enfield

J. Ryan

Administrative .Advisors

R. W. Kleis (until June 30, 1976) Nebraska

S. R. Aldrich (since July 1, 1976) Illinois

111

Western Regional Committee W-124

Soil as a Waste Treatment System

State Agricultural Experiment Statiort

.75

W. H. Fuller ... .Arizona

A. L. Page, P. F. Pratt, and J. E. Vlamis California

B. R. Sabey Colorado

Y. Kanehiro Hawaii

S. M. Beck Idaho

J. R. Sims Montana

(T--

L. Chesnin Nebraska

R. A. Young Nevada

V. V. Volk / Oregon

R. W. Miller Utah

D. F. Bezdicek and D. O. Turner Washington

H.,W. Hough Wyoming

D. R. Keeney Wisconsin

U. S. Department of Agriculture

R. E. Luebs, B. D. Meek, and J. H,. Smith Agricultural Research Service

D. K. Nettleton Soil Conservation Servibe

A. S. Newman Cooperative State Msearch Service

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency

R. E. Thomas

Administrative Advisor

R. J. Miller

Nv.

Idaho

Settlon 1.

-INTRODUCTION

for Application of Sludges and Wastewaters

an Agricultural Lend

; (ATlanning and Educational Guide

Bernard Knezek and Rober, Miller

CA,

Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of 1972, land application

is recognized as an alternative method for effecting stages of vastewater,treatment

and for ultimate disposal of solid wastes. For certification and shared -cost funding'

under this legislation, a waste treatment proposal (nust include tvidenet that the

plan is based. on "the best practicable tecHhology" and "the most cost effective

method(s) over the life of the:WOrks." Requirement for.compliance are phased over

periods oryears and advancd by stages toward the goal of "eliminating discharge of

all pollutants into navigable'surface waters by 1985."

The idealized goal of "zero,discharge" is neither practicl nor wholly desirable.

Nevtrtheless, ,it is to be expected that the 'quality and uses of waters,,.

originating in waste treatment operiftions will come under increasing regulation at

a.1.l levels of . government: Dischara standardS ultimately,adopted will vary with

background leVels in natural waters from one locality.or region to another and will

be subject to periodic revision as'new technologies evolve for assessing environmen-

tal impact and for effecting rational control.

The capacity of soils to receive wastewater and sludg and to inactivate con-

taminants varies greatly, dependinvupon a variety of soil, plant; and climatic fac-

tors. Generally, most well-aerated soils are quite:efficient in organic matter

conversion so that 80D loading is not a direct problem. Certain nutrients (such as

nitrate) which are produced by organic breakdown may become a problem at.high,loading

rates. Soils with high water infiltration capacity, which would allow large'water

loading rates, may be ineffectiVe in trapping nutrients even though BOD. elimination is

rapid. Therefore,.the, soil selected.for waste application on lan st by 'chosen on

the basis of waste characteristics, operation and management asp ct ,cropping sys-

tems, and other factors which make each dtcision an individual utaking. Usually,

the best soil for waste application is dictated by a necessary .b ante beiween,poten-

tial soil loading rateS'and potential environmental contamination.

,..

Emphasis in this'document il dkrected toward utilization of,agricultural-proces-

sing, industrial; and municipal wastes through application on agricultural land.

Animal wastes are covered in a separate document. (21).'

Several bac points need-to be clarified to establish the" context within which

11 of the contributions of this document have.been developed.

f. Land is a valuable natural resource and the -Viabilityand productivity

must not be endangered during application wastes.

.The system must'be managed so that normal agricultural production can.

be maintained.without sacrificing crop quality or yield. '

A balanced system 'mast be established so that the finite ,limits of thq

regeneration processes oflhe soil are'not exceeded.

,.. . .

4Primary emphasisisupon utilization of theusable resources in the waste

emphasis_..

constituents rather.4han providing a dispa01, site. -.

..0 .

'', i)"11::' ,...

Who.will,be:the priMary Users. of the informati nprovided by the numerous pro::

feS'tionals who have' contributed. this-document? thro,ughout its compilation, the

:editors have a broad potential audiencePersonal experiences:of both

.have shown that a broad spedtrum of individualS and professions naturally-becOme.in-.

volved when a municipality makes a decision to.con4der land application-Of waste-

waters and/or sludges; e.g., municipal officials, O4hercommUnityleaders, healih;. '-

officials,.sanitary engineers,, consulting engineers, farmers, extension agents, soil $

conservation personnel, mass media'repreSentaiives,'teachers; and local'citizens with

a'xlesire to be better informed;

This document-is not-intendedto provide final design criteria and information-'

, whichdould be used to totally design and manage a:lantl application System. Rather

it is to be used asa planning tool by peoPle whb'must.plan, as, an eduCational tool:

for those Who must educate, and as an informatipn vehicle .for those who riesire infor-.

'nation. For this reason,..the.inLvdual contributions have been organized in a

manner which it is, hOped will lead interested people logically through the deciion-

1making ot. educational proCesses. A 1 °se-leaf format.was selected to allow for up-

71°

datfng of various sections as more i formation becomes available without the need

.,to reprint the entire document. This will undoubtedly happen frequently in the next:.

,,5*years in_the area of heavy metals,and nitrogen reactions, where. considerable

research.is.rapidly reaching fruition..

)

Application of these same wastes to forested land, greenbelts, parks, golf

coursesor land redlamation areas isTnot considered specifically. Yet, the prin-,

ciples involved. and disdusSed-can often be applied to:these locations as well. ---

Bernard D. Knezek is Professor. and Associate aihanDepartment of Crop and

Soil S1tientes, MichigarOtate University, East Lansing, Mid). 48824.6

Robert H. Miller is,Professdr; Department'of Agronomy, The Ohio S.tiate University

and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Columbus, Ohio 40210

Sectiort 2

SITE SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS

for Sludge and Wastewater

Application. on Agri cul tural Land

,George F. ROL Larry 0: Wilding, and. A. Earl Erickson

Site selection criteria consider those characteristic's of the soil and land°.

scape which,will lead tb,the renoVation, of sludge and wastewater solids without

creating environmefital.problems outside the site perimeter. The basiC ob'ective

is to apply sludge and/or wastewater'to the soil in such a manndr that a soil can

assimilate the wastes and prevent the wastes and harmful by-products fr m moving on-

to adjacent land, -ihto flowing water, or. into thd groundwater beneath t e land.

The site selection criteria for Wastewater renovation are in many ways very

.similar to those for sludges. 'There are, however; some very important, differences.

Three basic interrelated parameters will .be discussed relative to the best possible

site selection. These parameters include landscape features, soil parent, material

including geologic characteristics, and properties of the soil. It must be empha-

sized that soils and landscapes are very 'complex and the principles given here are

only guidelines for the seleCtion of. &sludge and/or wastewater application site

On-si e evaluation of s&il and landscape conditions is essential prior to final site

selection. These on,.site investigation's should be made by qualified soil scientists

and supplemented in some cases by specialists such as geologists, hydrologists, engi-

neers, etc. Assistance can be obtained from a humb of organizations in each state,

includin

.Depaillpt of Agribulture,,Soif Conservation Service

State Departments of Natura4 ResOurces or comparable agencies

State Agricultural Experiment.Stations, or

Departments of Agronomy or Soil Science

CooperativsExtension Service

Colleges and Universities w t

Professional consultants with training and, experience

lagronomic soil science

.U. S. Geological Survey.

Site Selection

in the

An ideal site for sludge and, wastewater utiiization would have'

landscape/parent material, and. Soil characteristics. Keep in mind,

less than ideal sites may sometime be usable with proper design and

Landscape

field of

the following

however, that

management.

A closed or modified closed drainage system (Fig. 2.1)

Slopes less than 406; steeper gradients may be acceptable on coarse-textured

.soils-or whereimanagement practices (see Sections 4 and 7) or application

methods (see Sections 5 and 8) reduce erosion haiaraS.

...---... ---

%........ ........ ....-.7... ..-7.. ,, <\ \\

... ZI %

......-. - (\ \ \/1

"--- ----=-- r--- -,---.. \\ \ \.\ j1// I 1

. -' / .-- ---- ---

..." ...." ...> .-, \\\J_,.--- -././ ----

V '/ ..-::: _NI,_

c\s/ --- V /-

/-- ---7 ---- .------i 1,7 -'.

--: -------. ------ ---- ".., ' --"; --I

.... \., . -- -k

/- - --, -, . --_, '_,.. P_ / / I

___ / ,

/ a

s's .. ----- I"' r 1,

-.. , "--1--- ---:-"..--\,......

N- \\\-, _i)

\\.

N,.

.7 / i

)

FIG. 2. .--biagrammatic represen'tation of open and closed drainage systems.

ihorizon

lowpan

Fragipan

Cemented hard pah

GLACIAL TILL OR

IMOERMEABLE

BEDROCK

FIG. 2.2.--Diagrammatic cross-section of a sloping landscape showing the position

of various restrictive layers.

Parent Material

Medium- textured mateiials; finer-textured or high. bulk density materials

are suitable for sludges if managed properly and may "be'suitable for waste-

waters if overland flow is used.'

High pH's and/or free' carbonates (lime).

Soils

Bedrock and Unconsolidated substrata, when present, should be free-of coarse

conducting layers or conduits, and should always4be at least ,3 or-4.feet -

belpw'the soicsurface.

High surface infiltration capacity and moderate subsoil permeability.- .(See

Appendix! for methodology.)

A soil thickness of at least 3 feet 'Without restrictive layers.

Well or moderately well-drained soil conditions to provide Oxidizing con-

diti ns throughout most of the year; legs well-drained soils if adequately

tiled.

Moderate to,high moisture supplying capacity' '(15 td 20 percent by volume).

Soil pH Values ranging from 6.5 to 8.2?

Medium and high levels of organic matte t In the .surface horizon.

A more detailed 'discussion of these site selection criteria is contained' in the

following paragraphs.

Landscape Position.

PositiO on the landscape 1so f major importance because it asserts, a majot

influence on surface and subsurface water movement (hydrology of area); it influences

the amount f soil erosion and therefore the amount of sludgey wastewater, and by-

products wh ch may move off the site; and it asserts a secondary influence through

its, coniro on the kinds of soils found in the watershed.

TWo eneral landscape drainage. exist; the open and the closed system

(Fig. 2.1,., The open drainage system of most humid and subhumid areas permitS the

movement of sediment and soluble material from a given_ site to the watercourse and

then to he major sediment loads in streams, and rivers.

contrast, the closed drainage system of some arid and semiarid areas. it a

landscape where essentially all products derived within the perimeter are trapped

within the system and are not transmitted to major streams or underground water

suppl' s. Excess water is ponded and evaporates or filters for short distances

throu h the soils in'these areas. These systems contribute little, to the pollution

of t e environments outside their perimeter.

In the selection of a site for sludge utilization, a landscape consisting of or

app oaching a closed drainage system is most desirable. Containment of the sludge

an 'its by-products is'necessary until the risk from potential environmental contami-

na is has been removed by physical, chemical', or biological reactions of the soil.

;.-

A modified closed system can easily be developed on a nearly level-landscape

erection of small ridges across the outlet of the draiTge,baSin.

11:'

site for wastewater applicatiqn:shoUld.be a MO fled open system. Wherp.

visions are made for the interception and removal of Water after renovation

In nost landscapes, the surface soiAis underlain by horizons or st t;ignich

,are less permeable4Fig. 2.2) and which restrict water movement and renevat ve cap-

abilities. Examples of leSs permeable subsurface and subsoil horizons-are:'

finer textured B horizons (claypans)

compaction, pans plowpans

fraglpans (silt pans)

dispersed subsoils .(chemical ions)

denseglacial till, shale, siltstone, and!;esiduum overlying limeS'tone

duripans (silica-cemented hardpans),

petrocalrcic .horizons (caliche or lime. cemented hardpan)

.1.

ironstofie sheets.

Where these layers occur, much of the water moves-down to the less perme

layer and then laterally downslope. Where slopes become more concave,'or w re the

less permeable layer comes 5loser to the surface, seeps. occur (Fig. 2.2).

Shaping of landscapes may cause some,of the above conditions. At anyyroposed

site requiring major shaping, the characteristics of the subsoil hoe ons Should

be carefully evaluated to determine the 'types of chemical and physi al character-

istics which may be exposed or brought closer to the surface during the phaping

operation.:

Soilsion convex landscape positions or on steep slopes qsUally,are well drained,

well oxidized, thinner, and subject to erosion. Soils on concave landscape positions

and on broad flats are often more poorly drained, less well oxidized, and eper

Water al sediment from. higher positions move to these dow7lying landscape eas.

Soil and Parent Material

11,

On land used for sludge' and/or wastewater,APpli/CatioAs; the s 1 functions as.a

natural filter and as a. tedium for the biological andAemical reactions which result

in renovation of these waste materi s. The'suitability, of a site is therefore a

function of thephysical, chemical and mineralbgical Characteristics of the soil.;

These are discussed in detail bel w:

Texture

Texture of the soil and parent geologi material is one.of the most important

aspects of site se/ectidh because it influ nces infiltration rate,subsoil percola-

tion rate, moisture holding capacity, and dsorption reactions for waste components.

Fine textured, oils include Clay, sandy clay, silty clay,clay.loam, and silty

clay,loam.' Medium textured soils are silt, silt loam, loam, and sandy clay loam.

Coarse textured scals include sand, loamy-sand, and sandy clay loam: Definitions

of textural terms can bR folind,in the U.S.D..A:/Soil Survey Manual (25).

mostlesoil, 1 the clay fraction #1115resents only about 10 to 40% of the total

,soil, but because clays are plate shaped and have high surface areas, this component,

along withorganic matter,-gpverns most physical and chemical reactions in-the soil.

These ele4rically.charged particles have structures and properties which permit

their large surface areas to hold various nutrients (including phosphates), heavy

metals', and pestidides. Nitrate, on the other hand, is not held to these surfaces

and is mobile.

'Inf.iltrationana Permeability

Fine textured soils often have as much pore space as coarse' textured soils but

pores in fine textured soils are very small and transmit water very slowly.. As

result, most water movement in fine textured soils' is along the surfaces of the soil

aggregates'andcracks.rather fhan through the entire soil volume. When fine textured

surface materials are wetted and theAarge transmitting channels closed, the infiltra-

tion rate becomes very slow. Percolation-rate in, the subsoil followsa similar pat-'

tern in medwm and fine textured materials. .Swelling of' the clay fraction, particu-

larly high ghrink-swell clay minerals; effectively seals the soil against'fuikher

downward movement of water. This sealing causes the water to pond on top 'o-r.Vie?$ub-

oil which in turn favors runoff and erosion from the landscape. One should pe cau--

tious.in evaluating a site for Sludge,application on fine,tektured soil to 'apure

that the amount of water added will infiltrate. Failure to achieve rapid infiltra-

tion could, result in temporary anaerobic conditions and increased,risk of odor.

If -poorly and imperfectly drained soils are 'to be used for renovation of waste-.

watpr by spray.irrigation, drainage systems will be needed. These drainage .systems

should be placed at greater depths and at more frequent intervals:than in normal .1

agficultural drainage deSign. qhi.s will insure several feet, of aprobic soil'for

normalcrop growth and adequate wastewater renovation. If artificial drainage is

provided, monitoring of drainage water should be undertaken for'the first season to

insure that the treatment system is performing as designed.

Recently there has been considerable interest in utilizing overland flow for

wastewater renovation on fine textured soils where topOgraphy is favorable (see

Section 8). Design criteria for determining both the percent'and length of slope

for proper renovation are still being developed. ,

In:contrast to the fine textured soils, coarse textured soils have many large 1

"interconnecting pores which allow waterto move rapidly through,the soil. Unless

the coarse textured-material is unde lain, by a finer textured zone (such.as a finer

textured subsoil, pan, or parent ma ial),eq;er carrying suspended soluble compo-

nents from sludges and wastewaters an move ZOwnward to the aquifer' and may cause:

contamination of a public or private water supply.

If only coarse textured-soils are available, improved renovation can be achieved

by limiting the quantity of wastewater applied at any one time. This allows more

time for plant uptake of nutrients and for the soil chemical and biological reactions

important for renovation to occur. Under intensive management and proper conditions,

wastewater renovation has also been achieved in coarse textured soils by the rapid

infiltration-percolation method'(5).

2.5

Infiltration and permeability rates tend to increase with incased organic

matter content. Organic matter improveS aggregatioh and porosity and allows

water to be transmitted.more rapidly. In addition, organio.Lmaterial in the surface

'helps prevent Crusting; particularly in silty soils. -

Biotic factors also contribute to variability in permeability. In areas which 2:1;

are forested or which have recently been cleared, old(root channels permit water

and potential pollutants to move,through the surface soil more rapidly. Burrowing

insects and animals also creatte channels. Following a fieavy rainfall, water may

move through the soils in these biotic channels rather than through the soil profile.

Thi§'' effectively reduces the renovative capacity'of the soil.

Moisture Holding Capacity

Soil texture and b lk density (soil weight per unit voldme) of the soil are

important factOrS in de ermining the available moisture holding capgcity. This capac-

ity it a measureirofth -moisture a soil can hold for plant Use It also gives an

index to the amount ofmoisture a soil can absoib.. Medium textured soilS with bulk

densities of less than-95 lb./ft.3 have available moisture holding capacities of 15.

to 2Q%. Such soils, when dry enough that plants permanently-wilt: will.absorb 9 to

12 inches of water from sludge, wastewater, or rainfall in the upper 60 inches be-

fore transmitting water to the underlying,aquifer; Finer and coarser textured soils.

have lower moisture holding capacities and thus would' not retain as much water.

Bulk Density

In all seals, the moisture holding capacity and percolation rate decrease as

bulk density increases. Additionally, platkroot growth is limited-in soils with -

high bulk densities. Bulk densities greater'than 100 lb./ft.3 are restrictive to

moisture movement and plant.root growth. Two common situations where these high

bulk density values may oceurare in;fragipans and in unweathered glacial till.

Often in the spring of the year, these very dense zones will limit vertical' water

movement to such hn extent that watet will be ponded above these horizons and a

perched water table Situation develops. . Dense zones or horizons limit the thickness

of the soil as a renovation medium, and favor anaerobic conditions above the pan.

when -iyaterlogging oCcurs,, Soil compaction and increased bulk densities,may occur

when sludge application equipment is used on excessively wet soils (see Section 5).

Soil Reaction .,

The glacial till and loess rom which most of.the soils of the North Central

Region are developed were calcar ous when deposited. As a result of leaching and

soil development, carbonates ha e been removed from the surface.. Soil reactions'

near neutral (pH values 6.5-7.5) arejMportant for the,fimmobilization of heavy, metals

and phOsphates which occur in sludges and wastewaters. Most soils, of the Western

United States; since they have soil reactions near neutral, have suitable soil re-

actions toimmobilize heavy metals and phosphates. Soils with low pH's (<6.5) must'

be amendedwith lime prior to applicationS of sludge to raise the pH., Medium tex-

tured soils with,free carbonates at less#than 4 or 5 feet are very effective in Am-

mobilizing heaVy metals and phosphates which might move downward, particularly in a

closed drainage system.

Restrictive Layers ,

Soils are not uniform either vertically or horizontally. In cross-section, the

soil can be seen as a series.of layers of differing permeability. A number of these

layers .n different soils are restrictive to water movement.

The most common restrictive layer is the horizon of clay-accumulation. (clay pan)*

which occurs in-most upland soils. Asecond restrictive layer is-the plowpan, or

traffic pan, which may form 6 to 10 inches below the surface as .a result 'of traffic

of heavy equipMent (either farm or construction) over the'surface: Fragipans (silt Aa

pans) are a third-type ofrestrictive.zone resulting from natural soil-forming proces-

ses in silty or loamy materials. These compact pans:s,tart at depths of 15 to 40

inches and haVe. bulk densities ranging-from 95 to J25 lb./ft.''. .

A fourth type of restrictive zone .is the dist) ed',subsoil situatiton_or chemic41

pans.. These, restrictiue layers result from the di rsiohof4ndiyidual soil Parti-.

clAsh-404that,the soil mass has lost Moseof its'ftructurardharaCteriiiics.and water,

.condacting channels, The main chemical resfiOngiblOor the dispersion-is sodium,..

Most soils with a major clay component of, montmorillonite and a sign4icant amount

of sodium have restrictive layers.

A fifth- type .of restrictive'layer is, the ,result of .dense parent mdterial or

bedrock Such as gl4Eial till, shale., siltstone, etc.' Rock-like layers can also form

as the result of preMitation of silica '(duripans), carbonate (petrocalcie and car=

cic horizons), or iron fironstOne layers)

Soil Variability

In selecting any site for sludge and/or wastewater Tenovation, iCis important,

'to consider soil variability, Soils developed from loessialMnd-blZ* silt3-mate-

rials are most uniform, while those derived from glacial-outwash or interstratified'

bedrock materials are most variable. Glacial till may idso be.qUite vb.rJ.ableo parti-

cularly when in close proximity to glacial outwash deposits. The'magnitude and, type

of soil variability may determine the suitability'of an area for Sludge And/or waste-

,water application and are importantin determining the patterwand extent of sam-

pling for site evaluation. On-site investigation of a proposed site is essential to

determine the'hagnitude of soil variability. Failure to do,so could result in some

unexpected environmental or management problems.

Sampling

every soil series there is a given range inphysicaly chemical, and

mineralogical properties. Soil. analyses in Soil Survey Reports represent the central

concept of the soil; but soils at a proposed site may have somewhat different charAc-

teriStics. Therefore, it is hikhly recommended that analyses be made-of the soils

fOund atthe site Useful laboratOry analyses include particle size, organic-mitter,

tpH, cation' exchange_ capacity, moisture holding capacity,.and bulk density. On-site

evaluation shouldinclude the measurementpf percolation, perMeabiiity, and water

table levels at various times of the year. If clay minoialdgrof the. ,soils is not

swell documented, this analysis should also he made. Inmost: of the Western United

States and in the central'and western portion of the Noi"th: Central. Region where high'

sodium 19vels are commonly found in the soils, electrical conductivity of the samples

should also be determined. Soil samples from the actual site also proVide base line

data from which soil changes may be, evaluated after sludge and wastewater application

Available ReSourdr Material",

The preceding diicussion has Outlined a number of properties of the lAndscape,

soils; and soil parent materials which bare important in. evaluating a site,for sewage

sludge and/or wastewater application. This discussion is not sufficient for making,

afinial decision on site location. Many other resources of published material .14

...

,, .:

personnel: are, available-and shOuld

be onsulteOefore.

filial decition..1.5. made.:

Some sources tf-quaIified personnel, w re diScutsed-.on page .2.1. -,-.

:-.. .

Tubtished reports on. soils, geo ogy, topograph5r,Hand hydrOlogyeare available

for most 'AreatinthecOuntry:: Emph sit is being placed on:publioatiOn,of.more re-

ports for.areasundergoing urbanexpartSion Among theiMost ..liefill standard. reports:

available are:the Soil SUrvey Reports produced:by the .,National Cooperative Soil Survey

and pUblished by Ae.11.S.. Dept, of Agriculturaehlreport. contains: a detailed map

thoWing the areallCdistribution of soilt in the are,-7along-with'physical-T-chemital-,---:--c.

,and mineralogical:data .and/or es iMatet forall the soils, :'In many aroat, Maps may

be available',even thfuerthe.final report hat not.beOn print'.; Often-an-interim .--

report containing soil desdriptlions and data. is'available prior to:the final report.

ATtOils MavisideViloned:by .so-theientire area, :mid is:useful

for:generalplanning purposes' At is nOthowever, detailed enough so that it can

be used wit' fl' t" On-site ntp ction byAualifiedpertonnel.t In areas where a soil.:

tUrVeyjtno available, .a.s ils map can be requested by contacting the local Soil

.Conservation'Service office.. ;.:

,In some areat, geolOgit repOrtg-on a.AUdrangle'base are available. These: re- .

ports ,give details on thefgeOlOgid-:ttrata:Inthe area, including a map an .disCussion

offsurfi:dial*potits./Some dhemical nd.1hysical data' -on the various strata .are

.alSo included in'mottIof'thetereportt,,; ,Thete reports are particUlarly uteful in:

identifying-,aquifers and -thus areas where-sandt, gravel, limestone, and:Other-rapid

,conductOrs ff'waterfare'lOcated. .O.potraPhidmaPs of the 7 -1/2. minute quadrangle

series )are,aVailable/from theU:S.-ox'Statt Geological Survey for. most of the country.

ThesdimapsishowContoUtlines.and cultural:features,.A.nciuding roads, houses,-and'

laket..Inmany'areaSYsPe&ialrepoithave been made on 'groundwater.hydrology,by the

U.S. ,,or State seOlical:S.urveylptl:.bylocal groups 'interested in knowing the

..,' .' ,-7' .:

"On- site inspection lay trained professionals is a must fOr all tludgeand'Waste7

'water application 44:'..7Thequalified soil :scientist can provide the user withmdre.

detailed infOrmatiOnbn the limitatibns.of the soils at the siteand ca identify

areas ofsoilt that differfroM tiiosdelineated on a standard soilt map accompanying

SoilSuryy Reports.Qualified soil scientists Maybe available.at the local Soil

Conservation -Service office, the'State Department of-Natural ReS4Urdet,:the State

AgridultUral'EXperiment'Station, or at local professional consulting firms. The

Cooperative. Extension SerVice usually has personnel in theCounty7wWcan assist in

determining suitable sites.. Geologists' should. alto be consulted Xntases where in-

stallations are to be made-to. depths greater than 5 -6 feet; or. where. there may be

questions conderning a shallOW'orcoMplex aquifer: Help from geolbgic contultants

is available from the.U.S:. or State Geological Survey and.professitnal engineering

consulting. formS.

George T. Hall its Associate. ProfesSor, Department of Agronomy, The No State

University and.Ohio AgriculturaiResearch.and Development Center, Columbus,

45210.

Larry P. Wilding is Professor, Department of AgronoMy, The Ohio State University

and Ohio Agricultural Reseatch and Development, Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210.

A. Earl ricksOn is Professor of Soil Science, Department Of. Crop and Sdil

Sciences, Michigan, State University, East Lansing, Mich. 8824.

.ANALYSES AND THEIR INTERPRETATION.

for.Sludge Application to AgriculturAl Land

L. E. Sommers and:3arrell

Sewage sludge is a general term u,sed to descriBe' a variety: of materials, com-,

monly a_ suspensiOn containing .1 to 10% solids, produced during treatment of

wastewater. Sludges generated during the secondary stage of wastewater treatment

are normally "activated sludges." Solids seParated from the wastewater during

Primary treatment (primary sludge) are subjected-to anaerabic,digestion, producing

what is generally referred to as "sewage sludge" or "anaerobically digested sludge"

In some treatment systems, both the primary and secondary sludges are digested

anaerobically. In addition, wet7air oxidation processes or lime (COI treatment

are being used in, some treatment as alternative methods for stabilization

of primary and/or secondary sludges. In 'accordance with recent policies of

U.S. EPA, the recommendations discusSed herein 'refer to application of stabilized

sludges on land. The principal reason for requiring stabilization of sludges is

the potential threat of. dispersing pathogens contained in "raw" sludges. ,Additional

types.of sludges will require consideration in the future, such as tertiary

sludges resulting from lime or alum treatment of secondary wastewater.

In general, the majority of sludge applied to land will be either anaerobically

or aerobically digested sewage sludge. After digestion, sewage sludge may be

further processed to reduce the water content by vacuum filtration or centrifugation,

resulting in a sludge "cake" containing 30-40% solids. In many cases, sewage slddge

will be applied to land as a suspension containing from 1 to 10% solids (i.e.

the form exiting the digester or settling tank). The dewatering of sludge not only

influences the economics" of. sludge disposal but it also alters the chemical Composition

of the sludge and thus the rate of application on agricultural land.

It should be realized that sewage sludge is a very heterogenous material, vary-

ing in composition from city to city and, from day to day in the same city. Thus,

before a serious attempt is made to devefop plans for sludge application on agri-

cultural land, considerable thought should be given to obtaining representative

sample's and making arrangements for accurate chemical analysis of the sludge.

Sludge Analyses

Sample Collection

Preliminary analyses can be made. from a single grab sample, but more detailed

sampling,is needed. For calculation of application rates, se rate samples of the

sludge should be'collected once per 2-3 months for a period cf'6 to 12 months in

`order to obtain a representative analysis of the material to be considered .for land

application. The most desirable sampling scheme involves obtaining samples based

on flow so that the flow-weighted average chemical composition can be determined.

One litert (or qt. of sample'should be stored'in a plastic or glass container so

that evaporation of water is prevented. If, dry,sludge is used, these precautions

arehot-necessary and a plastic bag will suffice for sample storage and transportation

.4011ples, should Ee,§mchemical

that

bjected to chemical-analysis as soon as possible. If -storage

irrequired, it isgtecommended thasamples be frozen or stored,at 33-36'F. If

more than 1 day will elapse 'between sample collecticin and cold storage, enough

hydrochloric acid should 6e 'added to -slurry samples to bring the pH viTab to'

between 0-and 1.

Sludge Analysis

'Sewage sludges contain-a wide variety of materials, including plant nutrients,

organic materials, oils; greases, and trace metals. The metil-tontent-df sludge is

especially important be'Kuse many metals are essential fpr plant growth at small

concentrations, butjri to)qc at high' concentrations. A complete analysis of

s-sewage sludge iA-very involved process requiring considerable effort. Fortunately,

a complete, analysis is not reqUired to. make a recommendation for rates of sludge,

application to agricultural lands. The sludge analysis recoMmendations which

follow should be considered tentative since future information may indicate that

additional elements should be included or that some of the elements Ahcluded' need

not be determined.

Necessary Analy

Analyses required 'of all sludge samples and the suggested 'analytical- methods

are shown in fable 3.1. Since the solids content of sludges varies from batch to

batch, all composition data must be expressed on an-oven-dry solids basis. The

following parameters must be determined to develop recommendatifts for application

rates on agricultural 'soils.

TABLE 3.1 Methods for Sludge Analysis

Parameter

Percent solids

Total N (nitrogen)

NH4-N (ammoniu9), .

NO3 -N (nitrate)

Total P (phosOhorus)

Total K (potassium)

Copper (Cu, zinc (Zn), nickel

lead (Pb,) and cadmium (Cd),

Suggested MethOd

Drying at 105°C feir 16 hrs.

Micro-pejdahl and

4". Extraction withtassium chloride, and

S.D.

Extraction with potassium chloride.and

S.D. after reduction

Nitric acid-perchloric acid digestion

and colorimetry

Nitric acid-perchlgric acid.digestion

and-flame .photometry

Nitric acid-Perchlori.c acid digestion,

and atomic absorption

* References (4,11,20)

t S.D., steam distillation and titration of distillate with standard sulfuriC acid.

ColorimetriC methods may be used for ammonium and nitrate.

$ Background correction (e.g., deuterium or hydrogen lamp) may be needed for

cadmium, nickel and lead.

3.2 rl rl

r",.

Additional Analysis

The following elements may be of concern in special instances, but in most

sewage sludges which are encountered they will not influence the rate of applica-

tion of sludge to land: seleni-um, cobalt, chromiUm, arsenic, boron, iron, aluminum,

mercury, silver, barium; sulfur, calcium; magnesium, sodium, molybdenum,'

inorganic carbon, and organic carbon. (Refer to Secttqn 11 for information

qualifying the above :list of elements). With the exception of.sulfur, fcarbon,

'and Wron, all analyses listed above can be acComplished with atomic'absorption'

spectrophotometryprovided thessludge contains significant amounts of the element.

In most cases the elements .arsenic, selenium, boron, chromium, and mercury are of

greatest importance in industrial wastes; however, some municipal 'sludges may

contain elevated levelsof these metals if industrial wastes ar added to.the sew-

age sAtem. In these eases the industrial wastewater should b examined and based

on this information a-decision should be made as to which SW e parameter iSiof

greatest concern. :Even though some of the above elements may be present in high

concentrations in sludge, they do not appear to limit crop growth to the extent

of the elements listed under Necessary. Analyses.

Considerations for Applying Sewage Sludge on Agricultural Land

The: following. information is needed prior to calculating the rate of sludge

application:

Sludge composition (see Table 3.1)

Soil pH, cation exchange capacity, -and lime requirement to adjust soil

to pH 6.5

Soil test for available

to be grown.

trops to be grown.

and K; P and ;K fertilizerrecommendatiop for crop,

The rate of sludge application to land is based on the nitrogen requirement

-of the crop grown and the metal content of the sludge. ,If the sludge being

applied hasa low metal content, then' it is-possible to use sludge as a nitrogen

fertilizer material. However, if the sludge contains high concentrations of Cd

then the sludge may be'Used as a supplemental nitrogen source only. In either

case it may be necessary to use commercial fertilizer materials to furnish potassium

for crop growth: The ranges of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents

typically found in anaerobically digested sewage sludges are shown in Table.3.2.

TABLE 3.2 Composition of Representative Anaerobic Sewage Sludges.

Component Range*Lb/Tdnt

-Organic nitrogen 1% - 5% 20 - 100

Ammonium nitrogen 1% 3% ,20 - 60

Total phosphorus 1.5% - 5% 30 - 100

Total potassium 0.2% - 0.8% 4 - 16

* Percent of oven-dry solids

Lb:/toa.dry,:sludge

3,3 c)

ow.

After addition to soil, sewage sludge is slowly decomposed, resulting in-re-

lease of nitrogen available for-plant growth. Available data suggest that 20%

of the, organic nitrogen is converted to plant avaidlebTe forms the first year and

that 3% of the remaining 'Organic nitrogen is released each year for at liast three

subsequent years. Thus, plant available nitrogen is released for several years

after sludge s been added. to soils.' For example, decomposition of a sludge-con-

lig

taining 3% arg i nic nitrogen applied at 10 tons/acre/year for 3 years will releasp

41.of nitr en the fourth year Thus, sludge application.Tates are bSsed on

the quantity of readily available nitrogen in sludge (i.e.., NH4 and NO.-a) and on

the amount of.nitrogen released during sludge decomposition in'soil. The data

presented in Table 3.3 is based_upon N mineralization,ratesof 20, 3, 3, and 3%

for years 1, 2, 3, and 4 after sludge application. The'exact percentages-used for

organic N. mineralization in sludge.: treated soils are undOubtedly a 'function of

sludge, soil and climatic Conditions. In more temperate climates, the percentages

are likely greater than those used herein! Nevertheless, a deCey-series for

organic N mineralization should be employed for calculating-sludge' aliplication

rates based on N required for crop growth. An additional consideration in sludge_

application rates is the method of application. For surface applications.:af

sludge, approximately 50% of the N4-N applied will be volatilized as NH, re

sulting in increased application'raes. If sludge is incorporated 4mmedlatelv

(e.g., injected), then available N applied.in.sludge should equal the fertili,,

N recOmmendation. When sludges are added to soils at N utilization rates, the

amount of P added exceeds that required for crop growth. Excess availableiP in

soils may be related to decreased soybean yields encountered in some'eXperAments.

Based on the limited data available, the level of available phosphorA in' soils

receiving sludge should be checked and serious consideration given to discontiny-

.ing sludge applications if available phosphorus exceeds 1500 lb/acre.

The criteria used.to prevent metal injury from sludge application on lalid

are based upon the total amount of Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cd added in sludges:

Whereas nitrogen commonly limits'the annual application rate of sludge, metals

in ..I.udge will determine the length of time a given acreage can receive sluage.

The upper limit for metal addition is given in Table,3.3 The current version of

Table.3.3 differs from the first edition of this paper in that the limits for

Ni have been increased by a factor 2.6. This increase in Ni limits reflects

recent research data indicating that Ni toxicity to crops will not be a problem

in soils maintained at pH > 6.5, as required for 'Soils receiving sewage sludge's.

The limits for Pb are not based on potential toxicity of Pb to plants but rather

to protect both animals and huMans from Pb exposure through direct ingestion of''

soil receiving sludge. In addition to the maximum accumulation of Cd shown in

'Table 3.3, the rates of sludge application should result in no more than 2 lb.

of Cd per acre being applied on an annual basis. It must be emphaSized that.

soil pH must be maintained at pH > 6.5 after sludge applications are discontinued.

If sludge applications are limited by Zn, Cu or Ni, metal toxicities to plants

could result if the soil is allowed to 'become acid in the future.

The use of CEC in Table 3.3 does not imply that metals added to soils in

sludge are present as eXchangeable cations. -Rather, thre ability of a soil to

maintain added metals in-a form, unavailable' far plant uptake is related to the

organic matter, clay and hydrous oxide.conient of the soil.: As these soil para-

meters increase in concentration, increases in CEC result. Thus, CEC was chosen

as a. single, easily measured soil property which is praportional

to the ability

of a soil to minimize metal effects.on crops.

TABLE .Total Amount of Sludge Metals AlloWedson Agricultural Land.

Soil Cation Exchange Capacity (meq/100

- 5 .5 - 15 >150

CU.0

N -1

Maximum. Amount of Metal (.Lb/Acre) e

500

250.

125

125 ,

100'500

250

..-,

--'

2000

1000

500

500.

*Determined by. the pH 7 ammonium acetate procedure.

The values in Table 3.3 are the total amounts of metal.s wliich can be` added

to Soils. With metal contaminated-sludges, one of the above criteria may be

Met with a single application, -whereas 5, 1:0, or 20 aPplications._lay,...beneedad for

lic,lean" domestic sludges. Furthermore,-when the..metal limits are keacha, sludge

'application must be terminated.. A soil pH > 6.5must be maintained,in sites

;after sludge is applied to 'reduce the solubi 1 ity and plant uptakerof potentially

thxic heavy metals.

Calculation of Annual' Appl ication Rate

Step',1. Obtain N requirement for the crop grown from Table 3.4 or obtain

N fertilizer 'recommendation from Cooperative 'Extension Service

or soil analysis laboratory.

Step 2 .Calculate tons of sludge needed

Available N in sludge

%-Inorganic N(Ni) = (% NH4-N) + (% NO -N)

% Org.anic N (N_) (% total N ).- (% inorganic N

i) Surfate applied tludge,

Lb available Niton sludge =,,(% NH4- 14 X TO) +,(Yp NO3%

ii) Incorporated 'sludge .(% N 0X 4)

Lb available N/ton sludge = (:' % NH4 -.N X 20) + (% NO -1*X:20)

+( % No X 4)

Residual sludge N in soil

If the ion has' received sludge in the past 3 years,

residual N fromsTable

Annual 'application-rfate

i) Tons sludge /Acre crop N re9uirSint rpsidual N

Lb. avallaple N/top sludge

2 lb. Cd/acre

ppm' Cd x .002

two amounts is applied.

Table 3.1 Nitrogen, Phosphorus,.and Potassium Utilization by Selected

riops.*

Crop. Yeteld Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium

Lb. per Acre

Corn 150 bu. 185 35 178

180 bu. 240 44 I 99

Corn, silage 32 tons 200 ° ,

'35 203

Soybeans ,. 50 bu. 257t 21 100

60 bu. 336t 29' 120

A. Grain sorghum 8,000 lb. 250 40 ,166

Wheat sp bu. 125 22 91

80 bu. 186 '24 134

Oats 100 bu. 150 24 125

Barley 100 bu. 150 24 125

Alfalfa 8 tons 450+ 35 398'

Orchard grass .6 tons, 300 .44 311

Brome grass 5 tons 166 29 211

Tall fescue 3.5 tons 135 29 154

Bluegrass 3 tons. .200 24 149

r*.

Values reporteeabove are from.reporis by the. Potash Institute of America and

are for the total above-ground portion of the plants. Where only grain is re-

moved from the field, a significant proportion of the nutrients is left in the

residues. However.; since most of.:these nutrients are temporarily tied up in the

residues, they:are not readily available for crop Ose. Therefore, for the purpose

.of estimating nutrient requirements . for any particular, crop year, complete crop

removal can be assumed., .

a. I.\

t.,...

°Legumes get most of their nitrogen, from the air, so additional nitrogen sourcesi,

are not normally needed. :

Table 3.5.--Release of Res,i,dual.Nitrogen During Sludge DecomPosition in Soil.

'Years After

Sludge Application .2:0

1.0

09'`

.6rganic N Content of Sludge, %

2.5 a.o 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0

kb. N gleaied per Ton Sludge Added

1.2 1.4 1.7 1.9 2.2 2.4

.2 1.4 .1.6 1.8 2.1 2.'3

1.3 1.5 1.7 2.0 2.2

!e;.

.3.6

-Step 3. Calculate total amount of sludge allowable.

a. Obtain maximum amount's of Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cd allowed for

CEC of the soil from Table 3.3 in lb./Acre.

b. Calculate amount of sludge needed to exceed Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, and

Cd limits, using sludge analysis data.

Metal

Pb: Tons siudge/acre =

Zn: Tons sludge/acre =

Cu: Tons sludge/acre =

Ni: Tons sludge/acre =

Cd: Tons:sludge/acre =

lb. Pb/acre

7174745715b x .002

Zn/acre

ppm Zn x .002.

lb. Cu/acre

ppm Cu x .002

lb. Ni /acre

ppm Ni x .002

lb. Cd/acre

ppm Cd x .002

(Note: Sludge metals should be expressed on a dry-weight ppm

mg/kg basis).

The lowest val6e is chosen from the above five cilculitions as

the maximum tons of sludge per acre which can be applied.

Step 4. Calculate amount of P andq.K added in sludge.

. v

To.25,rof sludge x % P in sludge x 20.= lb. of P added

Tons of sludge x % Kin sludge x 20 = lb. of K added

Step 5. 'Calculate amount of P and K fertilizer needed.

(lb. P recommended for crop)* - (lb. P in sludge) = lb. P fertilizer

-needed

(1.lb. K recommended for crop)* - (lb. k in sludge) = lb. K fertilizer

needed -

A sample calculation may be found in Appendix B.

*P and K recommendations based on soil tests for available P and K. Fertilizer

recommendations:1m be obtained from Cooperative Extension Service or soil analysis

laboratory.

Lee E. Sommers and Darrell W. Nelson areessociate Professor and Professor, re-

specttxply,,Agronomy Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907

3.7

SeCtionA

CROP AND SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

for Sludge Application :to Agricultural Land

Robert H. Miller

The primary emphasis of this document has been the application of sludge to

agricultural lands in a manner which will assure that no permanent damage is done

to the land or to the environment. This is articularil im ortant i _

receivi was es is ease rat er than purchased and the farmer applies the

sludge t his land, as an alternate source of nutrients. If this approach is followed,

the annual. application rate will usually be based on nitrogen sufficienc for crop

growth (see Section 3) and usually will be under 10 tons/apre. The long-term quan-

tity of sludge applied to any one site will be based on the type and quantity of

metals .present in the, sludge (see Section 3).

Thi section contains a number of considerations important for managing the

farming. Operation when sludge is applied to land. As with so many other aspects of

waste ap lication to land, no one proposal can be recommended for all situations.

The design and management of each site will be unique and require the coordinated

efforts ,f the farmer and/or farm manager, the treatment plant operator, qnd agri-

cultural, engineers.

Management Consideration

Soil Management-Site Selection.

Proper site selection prior to sludge application greatly sihplifies soil man

agement. These factors have been discussed previously in Section ,2 and will be re-

peated only brief4y before going-on to other considerations.

_Of primarimportanoe to ihe success of 'the system is the establishment and

maintayfice of. a pH >6.5: Most metals are less sluble at pH 6.5 than at.lOwer pH

and d a pH >6.5 will restrict plant uptake a d accumulation of met is as well

as th ir downward mobility in the soil. Soils should be selected which lave the

desir pH or be limed until.a pH of 6.5 or greateris attained. After sewage

sludge are applied, soil pH should be evaluated annually to insure that the pH

remain at or near pH 6.5. Oxidation of excess nitrogen to nitrate or sludge sulfur

to sul ate could lower the soil pH. Other soil properties influencing the chemistry-

,and availability of metals'in soils include the'cation exchange capacity (see Seb-

tion 3 and the influence of cation exchange capacity on maximum totalsludge.applica-

.tion rate), the soil organic matter content, the presence of hydrous oxides of iron,

alumiRum, and manganese, and the phosphorus Content.

Soil drainage characteristics, which are influenced by a myriad of factors

(Section 2), are also important because they influence the timing and method of

sludge application, as well as tillage,,planting, and harvesting operdtions after

sludge, additions.

Soil Management-Fertility Considerations

The nitrogenAin anaerobically digested sewage sludge usually consists.of about

one-third ammonib&ICApher sewage sludges also contain significant, concentrations of

ammonium nitrogen. The most,commonly employed method of sludge application is on

4.1

4,0

the sOil'surfaCe, after whiCh it may or may'not be incorporated. If thesludge is

allowed to dry on the soil surface, Considerable ammonia is volatilized into the

atmosphere. The actual amount lost will depend on the nature of the soil, soil. water

content, quantity of sludge applied, and the, sludge itself. It has been estimated

that 25-50% of the ammonium will be lost if sludge is applied on the surface. If

the sludge is dnjected directly into the soil or incorporated into the soil immmedi-,

ately after surface appliCation, most of the ammonium will be retained.

Sewage sludges generally contain considerably more.phosphoruSrelative to the

nitrogen needs of most crops. Sludge applications based on the nitrogen rfquirements

of the, .crop may often .over-tertilize with respect to phosphorus. Unless very high

amounts of sludge are applied,' howeVer, the soil will immobiliie excess. phosphorus

rapidly and over - fertilization, should not present problems for'manY years. : However,

in one experiment in Illinois, the application ofa very high amount of sewage

sludge in a single year resulted in phosphorus toxicity to soybeans.

Sewage sludges are usually very low in potassium, a value of about 10 lb: of

potassium per fon Df.dry sludge being common. Other cations in theSludge will.often

compete with potassiUm.in the soil solution and restrict pOiaSsipm uptake by plants.

Thus, no credit should be :given to even the low amount of potassium in-. sludges and

the soil should be fertilized with potassium according to the results.and recommenda-

tionspf soil.tests.

Soil Management-Rdnoff Control

Sewage sludge applied to the surfaCe'ofthe soil without immediate incorpora-

tion can be transported, in.runoff waters and result in contaminated surface waters.

The potential dangerof runoff increases greatly on sloping land inyegions of high

rainfall and is the reason that soils to be used for sludge application shOuld. be

-restri/tited to those with less than 6% slopeswherever possible. (See Section 2.)

The dangers are most severe if an intense rain occurs soots after liquid Sludge is

spread on'sloping land. Methods of application other than surface application muse

be:considered where,Sloping,land is'employed. Diversionsor earth-ern barriers-may

also .be necessary to contain runoff temporarily, and prevent Sludge from reaching

watercourses. These latter considerations.are all. facets of engineering design.

.Regardless of slopecertain.conservation practices.can be adopted whichjvill

minimize runoff from sludge- treated soils.. Such practices include reduced tillage

systems, terraces, strip cropping, and retention of crop residues. on the soil surface

wherever possible.-

Crop Selection

Crop selection is not an important management consideration in Systems where

the sludge application rate is based on nutrient needs,or.restricted.to minimize

potential damage by heavy metals,. The farmer or farm -manager has available almost

all of the common agronomic .cropS.

With no limitatiOns in'the'selection of plant species, it is usually advanta7

=geous"to maintain:on'utilize the normal cropping patterns found in the community.

"These patterns have usually evolved beCause of favorable soil, climatic, or eco-.

nomic reasons and will probably maintain certain advantages in the sludge applica-

tion system as well. One possible exception could occur if the:.crOpping pattern of

the area is restricted largely to a single crop. _Here there could be advantages

employing an:additional crop 'or cropS to increase the opportunity of applying sludge

during a variety of seasons... ,.A simple example would be a corn monoCulture.system

vs. a corn and grass forage rotation. In the 1 tter system, sludge can be applied

to corn land, and incorporated prior to planting after harvest. Additional sur-

.face applications could be made on some soils.of he North CentralRegion through-

'out the winter months, subject to'local or state egulations, when not frozen or

.covere with ice or snow. The forage component wo ld allowisludge applications to'4

../land those times when the corn land would be in cessible, e.g.,.wwhen tbo wet for

tr ficability. #

Timing of Operations

Timing of sludge applications to land as well as 1 the farming'operations of

the system are dependent on climate, soil properties, crop, and the tillage,

planting, and harvesting procedures employed. ,

Climate has a major influence on management of soils .a d crop Arstems reCeiving

sludge. Temperature has a direct influence on application ,o sludge in areas where'

frozen soils or snow cover make sludge applications impractical or environmentally.

unsound. In northern areas of the U.S., winter storage facilities for wastes are

required and increase the operation costs for the municipality emperature also

influences the growing season of plants and the 41114e of decomposit'on bf sludge

organics in soil. Both of these factors.influence the renovative ,c ability of the

soil. The mean length of the freeze-free,period in days (growing se on) varies

greatly within the North Central Region from about 100.days along thb,'Canadian border

to about 200 days in the southernmost states of the region. The freeze4ree period

varies from 150 to 180 days in.most of the Corn Belt. Useful tempetature data for .

the North Central Region -cah be fOund in N.C. Regional Publication No 174. 'Cqk

Rainf1l has an influenCe on all management decisions involiring Sludge appl

tion; tillage, planting, and harvesting., Care must be exercised to. assure that

sludge _is not applied to met soils with heavy equipment. Such, applications would

result in.compaction and reduction in crop yields. Rainfall distribution also in-

fluences the amount of sludge storage required by a municipality. If the soils are

too wet fof sludge application at the planned or desired time, the farmermaY not

be able to accept the'sludge as planned. Storage would thus be required until con

ditions are again favorable for applications to continue.

Soil prope ties are extremely important to scheduling sludge application as

well.as determi ing the ease and timeliness of all tillage, planting4 and harvesting

"operalions. Ap lying sludge to land by almost all methbds is an additional opera-

tion of concer to the farmer as well as the treatment plant. Delays for the farmer

may mean a disruption of his normal tillage and planting operations, indinay be

economically unacceptable. Unfavorable soil properties, e.g.,1high water table,

saturated soils, etc., also mean that sludge cannot be applied in the Spring of the

year and reduce the acceptability of land application for a municipality which must

have the capability-for all-season application.. Likewise, delays in' harvesting

becauseof wet soils might limit Fall application of sludge with the same result.

Thus it is very iMpOrtant that soils be chosen which are well.enough drained' to pro-.

duce a minimum deka* for all important operational procedures of the system.

,..,,. .

.tol

The choice 1pfl,crop or crops providei a means by which the fartheras well as the

treatment plant operator can vary the time periods during which sludge cah applied

to land.' These aspects have been discussed briefly under'Crop Selectio .Some flexi-

bility in sludge application can also be provided by altering the maturity dates of

small grains, cOrn, or sorghum cultivars'so that harvesting,`tillage,'and planting

operations can more nearly, fit-the,climatic or soil limitations,bn sludge applica-

tion discussed,previ:ously.

4.3.

Other. anagement Co iderations

There are so data showing that.sludge Can retard seed germination and early

plant growth. Most ;of these cases have occurred at sludge application rates higher

thanthOse recommended here. The retardation is, thought to be caused by a high con-

centration Ofsoluble salts and/or:high.ammonia contents: These problemS can be

further redUced:byOpplying the. sludge 2 to'3 weeks before planting,.by thorough

mixing of the sludge in: the tilled soil layer, or by'a thOrough.irrigation%rior to

planting. In the humid regiciris Of the U.S.,. the problemwill be potentialli less

severe than.inthe'mOre arid non-irrigated regions.

Herbicide:applications for weed control on soils receiving sludge should be the

same osithosenotmally Used:for.a.porticular.crop'or soil.. Weed control is espe-.

cially important because of a desire to maximize crop yields andnutrient removal:',

An'additional weed problem may arise because tomato seeds survive wastetreatMent

and grow profusely in sludga-treated soils. a

Ii general, the useof other pesticides on'sludgqtreated soils will nothe

altered from the normal procedute recommended for untreated Soils.

.Sewage sludges should not UsuollACbe applied directly on leaVes of groWing

plantS unless:;the sludge Solids can be subsequently washed:Off by arrigation water..

Liquid.Sludga WhenOpplied on leaves. of plants will dry:anO coat the leaves, reduc7.

ing photosynthetic Observations from studies inIllinois have indicated

that torn yields will be redueedAf the leave.are Coated with sludge repeatedly

during the growing season. If deSired, liquid sludge can be applied to row crops

dutirig the growing season by.gravity i'rrigetion techniques, by tank wagons, or by

oVerheadirrigatiom systems equipPed--With dibp-hosesbetweeiCiOws.

Sludges can-be applied to forage crops during the season if applied prior to

spring growth, after dormancy, or immediately after cutting and.before signikicant-

new growth as begun.

rt H. Miller is a'Professor, Department of Agtonomy, The Ohio State

y and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Columbus, Ohio

,,,,

Rob

Universi

.43210.

4.4

Section 5

SELECTION OF THE SYSTEM

for Sludge Application oreAgricultural,Land

Richard K. White

System and eq 1pment considerations are the major engineering inputs to a` work

operation of enovating municipal sludges by land application. What are the

criteria which need to be considered in designing an acceptable system? The criteria

should meet the following: no detrimental impact on the environment (air,.water, or,

soil), while using the best available equipment to handle 'and apply the sludge on

the land, in an economical Manner, with good management practices such as uniform.

application and minimum nuisance.

Three phases in the handling of. sludges for land disposal are interdependent:

treatment (storage), transport, and application. The degree of treatment will affect

the mode of transportation, e.g., vacuum filtered sludge will need to be uled as

a solid. Partially stabilized sludge will need to be incorporated into e soil to

avoid nuisance. A vital part of.the total handling system is storage t allow for

periods when application to the:soil may not be possible, e.g., freezing weather or

soft ground.

Once the decision *is made that the sludge will be handled as a slurry (liquid),

semi-solid, or solid (cake), the type of transportation and application equipment

can be selected. Table 5.1 indicates a range of solids content and handling charac-

teristics. In the following sections on Transport and Application, systems and equip -.

ment 411 consider both liquid and semi-solid or solid sludges. One additional con-

sideration, without respect to the sludge being in the liquid,,semi-solid, or solid

form, is whethei soil incorporation is needed to prevent odor nuisance or surface '

runoff.

Transport

The selection of the transportation_systems and equipment should consider the

.sludge production rate; i.e., quantity, distance to site, proximity of application

area to waterway, railWay, or highway, whether application will be seasonal or year-

TABLE:5.1.--Sludge Solids Content and Handling Characteristics,.

Type

Solids

1Content Handling Methods

Liquid.

Semi-Solid

("wet" solids)

So litd

( "dry" solids)

8-30%

Gravity fl

tank trans

Conveyor,

transport

box)

Conveyor,

transport_

ow, pump,

Oft

auger, truck

(water-tight

buckei, truck

(box)

round, andthe life of the application area Tablet .2 lists alternatb modes of

transport for both liquid and solid sludges.

For large cities, i.e., largelquantities of sludge, the use of a pipeline,

barge, or rail tank car may be the best choice from'anieconomical and management

viewpoint. The use, of a truck which provides flexibility often is the best choice

for'a smaller "ommunity.: If hauling dislauces are long, it maybe.best to use tank.

trucks for hauling over the highway and transfer to either a high flotation tank'

truck or tank wagon for field spreading. If year-round application by truck or tank

wagon is selected, the use 9f flotation tires is necessary to allow field travel

over soft ground. The use of tank trucks provides, flexibility in locating-land

application-areas, scheduling hauling, and enabling direct application, soil condi-

tions permitting.

TABLE 5.2.--Trnsport Modes for Sludges.

Type Characteristics

LIQUID SLUDGE

Rail Tank Car

Barge

Pipeline

Vehicles

Farm Tank Wagon

and Tractor

SEMI-SOLID OR SOLID SLUDGE.

Rail HopperCar

Truck

100 wet tons (24,000 gal.) capacity; sirs

pended solids will settle while in

transit.

Capacity determined by waterway; Chi go

has used 1,200 wet,tons (290,000 gal.)

barges.

Need minimum velocity of .1 fps to keep

solids ip suspension; friction decreases

as pipe diameter increases (to the fifth

,power); buried pipeline suitable for

; year-round use.

Capacity--up to maximum load allowed on

road.: Can have gravity or pressurized

discharge. Field trafficability can be

improved by using flotation tires.

Capacity--800 to 3,000 gallons. Prin-

cipal use would be for field application.

Need special unloading site and equipment

for field application.

Commercial equipment available to unload

and spread on_ground; need to level

1- sludge piles if dump'truck is used.

Comiercial tank trucks are available from companies handling equipment for sew-

age_and sludge handling and for livestock manure handling. Gravity discharge from

'the tank-truck is most common. The rate of dischvge and the area of application

can be increased by using a pressurized.tank or .a pumped discharge:

Storage,

At some point in the system for handling sludge, Atorage will need to be pro-

vided. It can occur at the treatment facility cor at the land application site

Except for large cities-which may have limited space at the treatiftnt facility, it

would normally be best to.proliide storage-at the treatment facility., This storage

is necessary so that the. transportation will not be hindered by fluctuations in the

sludge output.- Storage is also necessary if a breakdown occurs in the transporta

tion, or weather ana,soil conditions at the application area prevent immediate appli-

cation. Storage may, be provided in the digester or aeration tanks for a short time.

For longer term storage, a tank or- lagoon is normally used Public acceptance of

storage tanks or lagoons at the treatment site is*better than at the. application

site,

Settling of suspended solids has been a problem in sludge storage units and in

tanks when hauling liquid sludge over long distances. The agitation of sludge in

storage units is necessary before transporting. It is best to minimize the number

of storage events in the handling system.

Application

The criteria for selection of application systems and equipment are/dependent

Upon several'factors: the form of the sludge (liquid, seMi-solid, or solid), the

quantity, the areal. application rate, whether .a yearly application to the same area

or one application in several years, whether seasonal or year-round application,

topography of the area, and time of year To prevent runoff, some states may'require

berms and/or diversions to be formed, requiring land shaping.

*TwOimodes of application are surface or subsurface (soil incorporation.). The

latter may be required to control odors of partially digested sludge. If large ,quan-

tities of digested sl9dge are being applied, soil incorporation may be necessary for

a good public image. Table 5.3 indicates, methods and equipment which 'can, be used

7"for4surface or subsurface application of liquid and-semi-solid sludges.

Surface application may be done by two 'general methods--irrigation or tank vehi-

cle. Experience has indicated that a fixed irrigation system, in lieu of using port-

able pipe, is easier to manage. Because of this, irrigation will be better suited

to a system which applies sludge regularly. It is_possible to include sludge with .a.

treated wastewater irrigation application system. An irrigation engineer'(agricul-

tural engineer) should be consulted to design'the irrigation' system.

Communities of 10,000 to 15,000,population have utilized tank trucks to apply

their sludge on farmland. The tank truck provides flexibility in whento haul and

where to apply the sludge. Year-round application can be performed by selecting

sodded fields for application during wet conditions. The use of a pnkliped discharge

on the tank (commercially available) will allow discharge over a wider area'or from

a roadway, which may be 'important in an eMergency.

If there is the possibility of public nuisance from sludge application, and for

greater nitrogen use efficiency, soil incorporation should be designed into the

application-system- For_special conditions_or at particular seasons' of the, year;

-51:3 kij

TABLE 5.3.--Application Methods. and Equipment for Liquid and Some Semi-solid

Sludges.

Method Characteristics Topographical and

Seasonal Sui tabi 1 i ty

SURFACE APPLICATION

Irrigation-

Spray (Sprinkler)

Ridge and furrow

Overland flow

Tank,Truck.

Farm Tank Wagon and

Tractor

Large orifice required

on nozzle; large power

and 'lower labor require-

ment; wide selection of

commercial equipment

available; sludge niust

,be flushed from pipes

when irrigation com-

pleted.

Land preparation needed;

lower power -req ui re-

ments than spray.

Used on sloping ground

with, vegetation-with no

runoff permitted;. suit-

able for emergent

operation; diffic ft to

get uniform areal. appli-

cation.

Capacity 500 to more

than 2;000 gallons;

larger volume trucks

will require flotation

tires; can use with

temporary irrigation

,set -up; with pump dis-

charge can spray from

roadway-onto field.

Capacity, 500 to 3,000

gallons; larger volume'

will require flotation

tires; cantuse with

temporary irrigation

set7up; with pump dis-

charge can spray from

roadway onto field.

Can be used on sloping

land; can be used year-

round if the pipe is

drained in winter; not

suitable for appliCation

to some crops during

growing season; odor

(aerosol) nuisance may

occur.

Between 0.5 and 1.5%

slope depending on

percent sol ids; 'can

be used between rows

of crops.

Can be applied from

ridge roads.

Tillable land; not usable

with row crops or on soft,

ground.

Tillable land; not usable

with row_crops_or on soft,

ground,

TABLE 5.3.(continued -APplication MethodS and Equipment for Liquid and Some

Semi -soli d Sludges.

-7Metho Topographical and

SURFACE APPLICATION,

Flexible irrigation hose

with plow furrow or disc

cover

Tank truck with plow,

furrow cover

Farm, tank wagon and

tractor.

Plow furrow cover

Subsurface injection

Use with pipeline or. Tillable land; not

tank truck with pres- usable on wet or frozen

sure discharge; hose ground.

connected to manifold

discharge on plow or

disc.

500-gallon commercial

equipment available;

sludge discharged in,

furrow ahead of plow

mounted on rear of

4-wheel-drive truck.

Tillable land; not

usable on wet or

frozen .ground.

Sludge discharged into .Tillable land; not

furrow ahead of plow usable on wet or frozen

mounted on tank trailer-- ground

application of 170 to

225 wet tons/acre; or

sludge spread in narrow

band on ground surface

and immediately plowed

under--application of

50 to 125-' wet tons/acre.

Sludge discharged into

channel open6d by a

tillable tool mounted

on tank trailer; applit

cation rate 25 to 50

wet tons/acre; vehicles

should not traverse ,

;injected area '1pr,

several days.

Tillable land; .not

uSable onwet or frozen:

ground.

Sludges.

TABLE 5.4--Methods and Equipment for Application of Semi-solid and Solid

Method Characiteristi-c..1--

Spreading

Piles or windroWs

Reslurry and handle

as in Table 5.3

TruckmoUnted Or:tractor-powered.bqx:spreader

(CoMmercial101able); sludge spread evenly.

on ground;.appliCatiOn rate controlled by over

the - groundspeed; can be imorporated.by

ing or4lowing.

Normally hauled by dump, truck; spreading and

leyelinTby bulldozer or grader needed.to give

uniform application; 4 to 6-inch layer can be

incorporated by plowing.

Suitable for Tong haul's by rail.transpOrtatiOn,

soil incorporati6 can be omitted; e.g., cold weather or.land areas located far from

reiidences. Soil incorporation will require a. larger power unit to perform both till-

age and application SimultaneoUsly.

.Where equipment is currently available at the waste treatment facility A de-

watgr the sludge into a cake,;:: land application in a solid form...may be the best option.

If the sludge has to be transported a long-Olstance, economics may dictate dewatering.

Table 5.4 presents methods and eqiipment for applying sludge to the-',soil in the solid

fokto The'spreading method would be preferred over the piling OT windrow-

ing-so that normal farm tillage. operations and cropping can follow.

It is important to,considerthe land application oesludges as part-Othe total

treatment system. This means teat not only is the selection and use of,s4i4.164

equipment important, but also management of the total land applicationt6mNin0'

operativen fact, without good management he system will not i:04iitiff.

...

A review. of the methods and equipment noted in

for selection 00 Laild application system components

equipment.

this article will giV4.4dt.i:

as well as specific types of

Richard°K. WhIlteLis Associate prOfessor, Department of Agricultliral-Engineering,

The:Ohio State Uni;yqPity and Ohio 'Agricultural Research and DevelopMent,Center;

Columbus, 'Ohio 43210'.

Section 6'

ANALYSES AND THEIR INTERPRETATION

for Wastewater Application on Agricultural Land

Boyd,G. Ellis .

Wastewaters may be generated by municipal, agrisultural, or industrial; waste

'treatment facilities. Because of the nature of their. origin, wastewaters' ire quite

.variable and as such'.offer a great challenge to the analyst... Variation in data may

occur because; of the method, utilized in obtaining the'sample or from laboratory, to

laborafoiy due- to the use of ;different procedures. Recommendations made here should,

be considered a'S the procedure (ts) that will produthe most uniformity in 'data and

not as the only method possible or even the best ibthod in some cases. 71

Sample Collection

The most critical stage in analysis cif wastewaters is generally iii,*ohtatiiing. a

representative sample. 4dividual analyses require one liter (or qt.). or'.1ess .

whictl represents a very small part of the total' flow into or out of a Waste treat7. .

ment facility. For this reason, it is recommended:'that the minimum 10 equa 1-

tune grab samples obtained over a, 2-day period and cempbsited to give a single e

for analyset. The404,.and common system invOiyes .automatic samplers 'which take

samples in'troportiailitcoflow for longer periods -0 time : More detail on-sampling

is contaiged in. North 'Central Regionl Publication 'Nct .';,.,

Preservation of samples without some change in 'Cheinistry is almost impossible;

consequently, analyses should be completed as soon as possible after t'he saffiple is

:obtained.. To keep changes in the sample to "a minimum during storage, the guidelines

,O the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (11) or American Public Health., 4ssocia-

tibn (1) should be followed. It is important to note that a single method, of pre-

..srving samples is not adequate -.for all analyses.

Wastewater*Analyses

4Analyses which are ,recommended in all oases prior to application of wastewater

to land are given in 146. 6. LOther anplyses should be made if the presence dl,

,i ... ., certain materiati (i:e. ..1eavy metals) is suspected in the particular wastetiater.:

4,.'.,Generally, a knowledge of .the source of the wastewater is sufficient to ide tifv I

tee analyses that should be made. Many of .'he _procedures recommended are p) lished

in Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water ana' Waste (11) .Other alternati* lietheds

arefound in Guidelines for Planning and conducting Water Quality Experiineil* a.1-1

jo*t..report of NC-12 'and NC4R8 (19) and Sampling ancrAn'alysis of Soils, P.4i

Waste Waters and Sludges: Suggested. Standardization and Methodology, a publ. ion.

of N.118 (20). ,,

;,A.s in all.. analyses, analytical procedures shoUld be constantly checked in

laboratory g/the use of carefully prepared standards Alich match the matri

the samples being analyzed and. by cross-checking with Standard -sainples ex

tween laboratories .6, .:;..

Interpretation of Data

Any of the parameters listed in Table 6.1 mity limit the quan

that may be. applied to a' particular- site.. In .general, the par

commended Analyses:and PrOteduret:for WasieWater$ .

BODS

COD

4 total solids

Yes

if.suSpected to

If highsciiuble

.Conductivity

j17'

041..N (nitrogen)

1:::(-alt019n1 um),

OtaVitOhosphorus)

EPA.(f.1),

-EPA (11)

be high EPA (11)

salts- are suspec* EPA Cat ,

EPA (11'); Black (0"

"IPA (11)*

EPA: (11)

(pP (11); Black-(4)

SiiTUb-1P;Orthophosphate -_If total: s,'high

(chloride) 'conductivity exceeds

at 25° t.

If conductivity

,at 25° C.

If conductivity.

at 25° C.

. -

(pbtas Si um)

Cat' (calcium)ci um)

mg2+ .(magnesiln)

Na ( sodi um)

Heavy metals

171' (boron)

Pesticides

Industrial organics

If conductivity

at 25° C.

If c06ducti vi ty exceeds' 2.0 ,m % cm

at 25° C.

It.'Tiource of wastewater incl udes

fipavy metals

Municipal effluents and if-iuspected

i n .others.

If ,suspected -;

If suspected-.

*El q.

erode methods may be used tf the, quantity 17000 .than 10 ppm N as Ntli

or 10 ppw'Cl-,-

..;.,

tFederal Working. Group on. Pest Management. 1975. Guidelines on Analytical

Methodology for. Pesticide Residue Monitoring, Pesticides Monitoring Journal., U.S.

Government, printing Office. .

..,

It 1

to influence gthe short-term performance of` a land application system are water, sus,,

pended solid-S, readily decomposed organics (BODO, nitrogen, and total salt. Para-

meters which may be critical in liMiting the numbers of years a particular system

may be used include phosphorus, heavy metals, and industrial organics. A discussion

of individual parameters fpllows. *---.---//

Water

"Watqr'is 4'0041 resource 'which may be utilized for crop needs (i.e., applied

-*11;s;' lesS.thab 20.inches per year) or it.may be renovated by its assodiation

and thhiological environment at considerably higher rates (i.e., 60

or thole inch year),. The soil may pose definite limitations upon the quantity

cif water WhiCh may be applied. (For ,a discussion of this aspect, see Sections 2 and

and BOD '-

-solids apd BOD are generally low in secondary effluents but may be

qUi:te,high in wastewaters .from: canneries or other industries which process agricur-,

forest proabcts.' Infiltration capacity 'can be lost by sedimentation and

sAi*.forMation if suspended solids and BOD ldadings exceed the respiratory capaCity

of' Mi*obi4i':Opulatichs which decoMpdse organicS filtered out at or near the soil

soWsystem is overloaded with'BOD, anaerobic conditions will

develop,',44Csevert b1or and insect problems can result. At moderate rates of ap-

plication, the'teadily decomposed organits which give rise to BOD can augment the

vegetative cover in supplying energy for denitrffication and structural carbon for

immobilizing nitrogen and other. pollutants.

Nitrogen

,I.

NitrogenJn the nitrate form is the critical form of.nitrogen-because of its

solubility afia:.'mobiliiy in water, its stability in groundwaters, KO its implica-

tions for eutrophication and for.human and animal health. Thd other mipqraq. forms

of nitrogen tare ,ammoniuM and .nitrite. All three are readily taken up bY,Nlants.

Amkonium and nitrite are converted (nitOfiedp)?40ickly to nitrateim,,moderately

well-aerated soil: Under poorly aerated conditions and in the ftes, ce of rapidly

decomposng organic matter,. nitxate and nitrite are reduced (len4r fied) to gaseous

fdrms.47hith recycle back intOtt;he atmosphere. Botha nitrification gild denitrifica-

tion ar biological processesarried OuPp:by microorganisms which are not very act've

at temperatures below 50° F. -i' .' .;;.;.i.

As much as one-third of the organieliltrogen applApd in wastewater-may be re-

leasedqpineralized) as ammonium and nitrified to nitrate the first year The re-

,maindery4ill be retained (immObilized) in residual humus. The humus will continue :

to decoilme and`-trease mineral forms of nitrogen and other nutrients in subsequent

yeaTs,,J2uP '.4.11erY' Mich reduced rates. the rates of initial and residual release

;., ,are tedutea'in the presence of'rapidly decomposing carbonaceous materials (BOD) ,..

which flay be added as wastes ar: supplied.rby roots and surface trash from the vegeta-

tive

tive cover.

In overland flow systems, nitrogen may not be a critical loading parameter.

since the objective, frequently, Iwill be to obtain partially renovated water for

intermediate use rather than for disc tate_irrigation systemS, inputs

of nitrogen should not exceed the cap city of the.vegetation to take it up, plus

some'allowance for denitrification immobilization. ff no crop is to be har-

.77.

';O. ek

vestedd.Ame arbitrary limit--perhaps no more than 50 lb. per acre peyear--should

be set initially and adjusted as indicated by monitoring experience.

Lf crops are harvested, annual inputs of nitrogen should not exceed by more than

t096the anticipated harvest removal at yield goals which past experience indicates

car0Q.at:t4ihea'onsimilar soils with good management (see Section 7) This quantity-,

is d'function 'Of.bOth'tOncentration and rate of application. ''An example calculation..

is given'belowr'-

Problem : Wastewater,,v4th 12 ppm N as NH4 and 8 ppm WAS NO is tote applied to a

corn crop with an expected yield of 150 bu7lacie.

Question: How many acre inches of wastewater maybe applied, during the growing .

season?

...

Calculation: 150 bu. of corn will remove approximately 4i, lb /acre of N, there-

fore, no more than 125 x 1.5 = 187.5 lb. of N*.!3, b applied

1 acre inch = 226,512 lb. .of water.

Therefore, .P; ;210 -_

ppm N 4.53 lb. N/acre inch.

187.5 lb..g' 41.4 acre inches of wastewater maximum.

4.53 lb. N/gcre. j.nch

Litt-- le nitrate removal is expected during periods when actively growing vegeta-

tion is not present.. Consequently, any level of nitrate exceeding :',10 ppm nitrogen

would be considered a sexions hazard in wastewaters applied to barren land. pil..mse

of cover crops might,W0U'extend the successful application season on,many treaftilOht

sites. .

.!....:. :.

.....:. 0

High Rate -i

Nitrogen application rates for high"rate infiltration percolation systems are

dependent upon the magnitude of denitrification and dilution within the aquifer.

These parameters will be highly site dependent and cannot be 4sdussed in a gener-

alized manner. )

A4.; Phosphorus

Phogphorus may be a key element lbr the success of a land treatment system hen

viewed over the long term. It can be utilized by crops and adsorbed or preciO4ted

by the soil 'Both total phosphorus and soluble orthophosphate determinations; are

necessary for proper interpretation of data from wastewaters which are to l applied

to land. Within few days (or weeks), all of the applied inorganic condp'Sed,,

phosphates should be converted to soluble orthophosphate. Org40# phosphornS-Imay

be mineralized more slowly, but should be retained by the so%nIir converted to

orthophosphate. If the conversion:to soluble orthophosphatekivreurs, wastewater'may

be applied even without an actively growing crop with little danger of immediate

loss to the drainage water ,The phosphorus will be adsorbed by the soil and a por-

tion of it will subseq:lasntibe removed by cropping. Soils from each particular

site should be examined with respect to their ability to adsorb phosphorus

Due to9limited contact between wastewater and soil in overland flow systems,

.phosphate is inefficiently removed and runoff may not be of a quality that can be

.directly discharged into surface waters.

11.4.

TABLE 6.27.414ximUrititates- of Wastewater Application Related to Soil

Texture, and- thb.;Abiiity cofttie Soil to Adsorb Phosphorus.*

Rateof Application

Silty cl y'to clay

Cray oam

Loam

.Sandy loam

ThLoaMy sand' .

Sand

(

acre. inches/year

)

Assume 7 ppm total phosphorus in the. wastewater and a crop removal

of 25 lb. phosphorus/acre/year, with a 50-year expected life of the

system. Data froM Michigan soils,

Soluble Salts .

Soluble s.alts----grally will' ot accumulate in the soils of the: North Central

,..Region since precipitalitiruses,,im Fafl, Winter, and Spring remove salts

by leaching. This.is not trig in the arid or semi -arid areas of.the United States.

31i local.situations,.salts from special indUstries or from use on city streets may

give rise to abnormal concentrations in sewage.or storm Waters. Further` concentra-

tion of salts occurs insoils.by evapotranspiration.- In soils which do not transmit

rainfall and irrigation water rapidly enough to keep salts moving downWard.throUgh

the root zone,4salt injury tosensitiVe crops can occur if wastewater containing 1°-

-more than 1250 ppm.dissolved solids (electrical conductivity mmhos/cm) is

applied regularly during the summer-M6nths.

'Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR)

Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) may be an important consideration in the. use.Of

wastewaters even though Na.(sodium), K (potassiuM), Ca (calcium)-and Mg (magnesium)

are not frequently a probleM inwastewaters. A calculation of SAR values should be..

made according to the following equation:

SAR = Era Mg

An example of this calculation for a typical wastewater is shown below:

Problem: A wastewater is found to have 150 ppm Na, 75 ppm Ca, and 20'ppm Mg.

Question: What is:the SAR for this effluent?

Calculation:

1.50 mg 'Nail

23 mg/me...14a.

75 mg Ca/1 +.20 mg Mg/1 6,522 i.07

SAR-.= 20 mg/meCa 12. mg/the Mg. 1.64

'Wastewaters with SAR_values greater than 15 should be avoided because of their

detrimental effect on soil structure and ultimate reduction in the infiltration rate

of the soils. Sodium' adsorption ratio values from 5 to15 can, over a peiiod of years,

lead to loss-of structure in soil horizons containing more than 10 or 20 clay (loam

or finer texture). Lower values are generally satisfactory, although log tend de-

clines in infiltration and percolation capacities have, been observed in moderately

fine-textured soils when irrigated with water having SAR ratios as .low as 3.

Micronutrients

Micronutrients and metals are expected to accumulate in the sludge and not in the.

wastewater. Boron is a notable exception to this It is likely to remain in the

wastewater and move with the soil water. The toxicity of boron is related to plant

species, with the most sensitive crops,showing toxicity at 0.5 mg. B/1. Semi-tolerant

crops may show toxicity for levels of 1 mg. B/1. or greater.- In some soil situations,

plants may actually benefit from low concentrations of boron in wastewater. The

same may be true for iron, manganese, and zinc.

Organic Compounds

Organic compounds are found in wastewaters. Pretreated wastewaters contain

natural products of partial decomposition and resistant synthetic compounds which

have detergent or chelatinf,properties and can enhance the mobility of potentially

toxic trace organics and metals. Known organic toxicants which persist in waste-

waters from conventional sewage treatment include a number of pesticides, chlorin-

ated plasticizers, fire retardants, and other industrial chemicals.:. Most are strongly

adsorbed by_soils and. are subject to slow decomposition or alteration to harmless

products. They may pose, an environmental hazard in special situations, particularly

if water is allowed to percolate too rapidly through the soil. Sources of such

chemicals should be identified and regulated to avoid excessive concentrations in

wastewater that is to be applied on land where discharge into streams or lakes might

occur.

BoydG. Ellis is Professof of Soil Chemistry, Department of Crop and Soil

Sciences, Michigan State 'University, East Lansing, Mich. 48824.

AA.

Section 7

CROP AND SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

for Wastewater Application to Agricultural Land

Arthur R. Wolcott and-Ray 1.-:"600k

'Land application may be viewed as an alternative treatment method or as an

intermediate use for wastewater at a stage of renovation which cannot be discharged

directly into surface streams or lakes. The two views do not oppose but support

each other. The.need to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater presents the

opportunity to use these and other waste nutrients to upgrade natural landscapes or

to support production of economic crops In turn, beneficial responses of vegeta-

tion to added water or nutrients can contribute to the cost effectiveness of treat-

ment.

The choice of land application.as a method for .treating wastewater Will be in-

fluenced by public policies and attitudei, funding°incentives, and regulatory con-

straints which are described in other sections in this publication. Considerations-

in site selection and system design also are dealt with in other'seCtions. In this

section, factors which should be considered in selecting vegetative covers and

principles for management of wastewater application sites are discussed.

Selection of Vegetative Cover.

The selection of vegetation to receive wastewaters cannot.be considered inde--

pendently of the selection of site or design approach. Consideration must be given

tothe hydraulic capabilities of soils and terrain in relation to natural hydrologic

systems or to,hydrologic systems which can be imposed on the site by engineering:

Climate will influence decisions regarding site, design approach, and vegetative cover.

Economic or other advantages associated With a given type of vegetation ,or a given

resource management system must be considered as well..

Influence of Water Application Method

The widest latitude in choice of vegetative cover is afforded by,. ow-rate irriga-

tion (2 to 8 ft, per year). Low-rate irrigation on moderately permeable soils and

slopes of 0 to 6% has the greatest-potential for environmental benefit and economic

return of any design approach. Options for vegetative cover and resource management

systems range froni public and private landscaping", greenbelts, wildlife habitats, or

commercial forest plantings to agricultural and horticultural crops. perennial or

annual species can be considered, including intertilled Crops..

In the case of crops grown for food or feed, the appftCation of wastewaters

which originate in livestock operations or municipal sewage systems will b0 closely

regulated by state health authorities and marketing agencies; Restrictions on use

of wastewater will vary with the crop and from state to state.

For effective renovation, by low-rate irrigation, the, wastewater must enter and

percolate. through 3 to 4 ft: of the soil profile. 'this approach'may not be feasible

on slowly permeable soils which will not accept and transmit at least 2 ft. of water

per year. On such soils, substantially renovated water can be obtained by overland

flow.

With suitable engineering, numerous crops can be grown in overland flow systems.

On grass or forest cover, as much as 20 ft. or more of wastewater can be applied

annually.

Vigorous, water-tolerant grasses which form dense. sods are ideal for high rates

of application. Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinaceae L.) and tall fescue

(Festuca elaiior L., var, arundinaceae) appear most promising under climatic condi-

tions in the North Central Region. Reed canary is slow to establish itself from

seed. An established grass in old' fields in many cutover areas is, quackgrass CAgro-

pyron repens Nackgrass rivals reed canary in production of tough, interlacing

rhizomes to bind the soil and carry heavy equipment.

All three of these grasses are highly productive under Continuously moist con-

ditions. However, they lose .palatability rapidly as they approach maturity and must

be cut two to four times a year to produce...hay or silage acceptable to liVestOck

grass

A more palatable grass Adapted-to moist conditions is timothy (Phleum pratense

L.). This is a buiichgrass, not a sod former. Improved strains are highly produc-

tive and are readily established from seed. Timothy, seeded alone or with watei-

tolerant legUmes such as ladino clover (Trifolium repens L.) or birdsfoot trefoil

(Lotus corniculatus), can be used to provide productive ground cover quickly. Reed

canary drilled at the same time in widely spaced rows (3 to 4 ft.) will normally

spread, over a period of years, to dominate the stand.

In areas of the WeStern: Repon'::where humid conditions and diseases associated

with high' humidity are .fiote4:.pi-oblem,. fOrage legumes such as Alfalfa may provide pro-

ductive cover.

Influence of WastewaterAnalysis

qoc414temiinicipal wastewater. will be required to approach standards

for seCondar...y.c.,..kreaXlient14efOre it is applied on land, Standards for wastewaters

frOnt;-wdbtiltoductsOr.i.00dprodessing. will be less strict, although primary. treat-

greie or coarse solids which'ilight clog distribution

, Often' the concentration. of nitrogen left after:these treatments will ...determine

the rate of wastewater: appliCation. The nature:of .the vegetative cover will be a

critical consideration, since the important processes' which-Can remove nitrogen ,de-

.pend on plant activities/and plant products.

N. The fate of phosphorus is less dependent vegetative effects. Nevertheless,

removal of phosphorus by Plants will help to extend the. useful life. of soil minerals

whiCh adsorb Or .precipitatephosphate: Other 'nutrients in wastewater are of concern:

mainly in terms of the balance of nutrients needed for Vigorousplant growth. In

special cases wastewater loadings 'may be limited by constituents which are toxic to

plants,. liVestock, or'humans.

Nutrient Removal Capabilities

If wastewater is applied on vegetation which is not to be harvested, relatively

large acreages may be required to provide adequate renovative 'capacity. Under con-

tinuously moist conditions, accumulating masses of dead and dying vegetation can

intercept oxygen needed, for normal root function. The excessive. 4emand for oxygeh

can lead to loss of infiltration capacity. Odors and insect -problems also may be

r'aggravated. Grasses. and other succulent vegetation should be clipped two D r three

7.2A,

TABLE 7. .--Harvesied Removal of Nutrients for Selected Cr6ij'and Yield, Goals,.*..!.

Nutrient

Crop Yields and Nutrients Harvested, Lb./Acre

Corn

Grai n

Reed ".: tiardwood Forest*

Corn -.'Seat Alfalfa, Canary '::(Annual Uptake,

Silage Graff Soybeans Brame Grasst', Lb./Acre)

Yield

Nitrogen,

Phosphorus

PotissiuM

Calcium

Magnesiuii)

150 bu.

125

*Ellis, G.*et al. (10)

*Sapper, W..E. (26)

60 bu.

165 72

30 13

150' 14

45 2

35 bu.

V20

36;

"/ 5 T. 5:61..;!.

220 ,4

166

times a season to stimulate new growth and avoid excessive accumulations of ve eta7

tive debris.

ved.from the site by harvest of vegetiii1Ohor:,

"n,he-system. Some nitrogen,will be:;10,st,:Oroidg,

% if inputs do not greatly exceed*ChitiOgeni*

Nitrogen and phosphorus whicif.are:titalhed'in"a

standing crop, detritus, and residual humus must be reckoned mi ',/te'potential sources

of soluble nitrate aid phosphate at some time in thOuture.

-Nutrients which are notr,em

products will tend to accumulate

denitrification, perhaps 15,to

quired for optimum, plant growth.

The effective life of a system can be extended by removing some of the applied

nitrogen and phosphorus in harvested Crops. Frequently the first consideration will

be to optimize harvest of nitrogen (Table 7.1).

In general, agricultural crops produce more harvestable dry matter with higher'

nutrient content. than tree species grown for-timber. Large harvest removals can be

achieved with perennial legumes and grasses if they are cut frequently at early.

growth stages when their nutrient content is high. It should be, recognized that .,

legumes can fix all of the nitrogen they need from the air, but they are active I

scavengers for nitrate if it is present, as well as for phosphate. ,1,1

;It

The potential for harvesting nutrients with annual crops is generally1

with perennials since annuals utilre only part of the available growing seaSo

growth and active uptake.

Design estimates of harvest removal should be based on yield vials which;1 "- k

experience indicates can be achieved with good management on similar soils. Es

mates of nitrogen removal can be extended to allow for effects of roots and surf

trash-left in the field after harvest. Unharvested residues retard the release4.,

soluble nitrogen during periods when no actively growing crop'. is present. They'at

supply energy to support denitrification.

,;*..t.

:CI I..:

For design purposes, the overall capacity of a crop to remove nitrogen can be,

estimated at 1-1/2 times the expected removal by harvest. If vegetation or plaht

products are not harvested, some arbitrarily ioWer figure will need to be used.

Actual retrOvals will vary with many factors of site and management and can only 'be

determined by monitoring in the operational system.

potential Toxicities

Nc;rmally, micronutrient imbalances'OT metal toxicities will not be a problem

with wastewater. In fact, low concentrations of boron, iron, manganese, or zinc may

be beneficial to plants on. some soils. Increased uptake of cdbalt, copper, molyb-

denum, or zinc into forage may benefit livestock.

Boron toxicity can occur in same Situations since this element tends to remain

in solution througW:se'dimentation, filtration, and biological treatment. If the

wastewater contains more than 0.5 ppm of boron, local agricultural authorities should

be consulted regarding tolerant crops which might be grown. If the concentration

exceeds 1.0 ppm, it may be necessary to identify and regulate sources of boron in

the waste collection system.

Unusual concentrations of organic toxicants (pesticides, industrial chemicals)

also will 'need to be regulated at their source.

Certain hazards are associated with ensiling or with indistriminate feeding of

forages maintaifed at excessively high levels of nitrogen nutrition. Abnormally High

concentrations of nitrate caps,'''b:6ild up in corn,, sorghum, and succulent annual grasses

if growth is slowedipuddenly'by drouth, cold, or extended periods of cool, cloudy

weather. Nitrat'e poiso ng can result if such r2ughages° are used as the principal

ration for vestock. n the silo, nitrate can Te reduced to nitrous oxide, a poi-

sonous gas which can e a serious hazard to personnel -for several weeks after silo

filling.

Grass tetany (magnesium deficiency) and fat necrosis (intestinal tumors) may be

-encountered where cattle arepastured on grass receiving high rates of nitrogen.

Grass tetany is associated with high inputs of potassium relative to magnesium. ',Fat

necrosis has -beelkound only onF heavily manured fescue pastures:

Excessive nitrogen cap cause lodging of cereal grains and.reduce the process:-

ing quality of drpps such as'sugar beets and potatoes. No toxicities are involved,

but such effectt must be considered if,thesecrops are to be grown and marketed

successfully. L9

Susceptibility to DiseaseNii'IndeOtPeses

,,,.,,

A number of, plant diseases and insects MI10:1atfac,,,

soils.or by atmoipheric humidity. asSoCiat60.4itli. equ

range and hosi plant specificity these Pes*k

to a given pest can be enhanCed4'.91'Octive tires

stations and other local authoritOs. should b'

lems might be anticipated and '6 identify. plant"

fully resistant.

Climate, Soils, Topography

are rfavored by moist

ation. The geographic

jFrequently resistance

r4 -fecer1e:rin=e

iie7a tgtp-

rieties which are use

,Native plant species or crops whose culture 'is well established in the general

'area of the land application site are the most likely choices for vegetative cover

since their adaptation to local climate and soils is known. With adequate water and

nutrients on well-drained soils, any crop can be grown which is climatically adapted.

The availability of water will permit economically valuable species to be grown on

7:4 43

FIG.-7.1.--Scrub oak and sparse naileigrasses on drouthy, cutover land in north-

ern Michigan, feplaced (see Fig. 7.01:115-y`corn irrigated with municipal wastewater.

,,A31 -0,14

04.14

7.2.--Corn is a good candidato for irrigation with wastewater. .Adapted hy-,

brids with tolerance 'to importanipl:tli.sease. and inect pests are available for most

areas in the North Central Regiod,-. Photo by R. L. Cook.

7.5 9

'dtouthylsOils, so submarginal areas can be upgraded forMore interisiveuSes,(Figs,

7.1 and 7.2).

If it is necessary to apply wastewater frequently on slowly permeable soils,'the

choice of cover may be narrOwed to grasses or fOrest,Ipecies. On rolling land sub-

ject to erosion, year-round protection should be provided thronh use of perennial

species or by fall-planted winter covers and trash mulch systems of management where

cultivated annual crops are grown.

Cropping Patterns

Operational efficiencies can be realized thiough specializing'in the'production

of a single crop for which there is a ready local market, or two or three crops which

require similar field equipment and handling facilities: Corn and sorghums are can.;

didates for single cropping because available hybrids cover a widerange of climatic

adaptation and tolerance to disease and insect pests.

Monoculture promotes the build-up-01.6ecific diseases and,insects. Many crops

cannot be grown in successive years in the same field for this-reason. Rotation of

crops interrupts the normal life cycles of host-specific pests and helps to keep

their: numbers low.

Rotation of crops offers benefits in addition to pest control. Rotations in-

volving cultivated and sod crops will help 'to maintain or improve soilStructure and

the infiltration, aeratiOn, and adsorptive capacities of the soil. On soils with

tight subsoils, improvements in internal drainage can-often be achieved by growing

a deep-rooted legume like alfalfa or sweet clOver froth time to time Irrigation may

need to be'discontinued for a season to permit such crops tb-develop their character-

istically deep root sygtems.

Double cropping--soybeans or silage corn after winter wheat or barley, for

example--may be feasible where the growing season is long enough. The accessibility

of irrigation water helps to assure quick germination and rapid seedling development.

These are essential if two crops are to be harvested the same season.- With suitable

short-season varieties and good management, the potential for harvest removal of

nutrients and for economic return is substantially greater than with more productive

long-season varieties which produce only one harvest a year The system also pro-

vides year-round soil protection byvegetation and decomposing crop residues.

,Other Considerations

Numerous other factors must be considered in selecting vegetative covers -fore

land application4systems. ;Since large acreages may, be involved, the established

ag4cult4re of the area and available skills, equipMent, storage, handling, trans-

port, and processing facilities are of prime importance, as well as the market

potential fora crops which might be grown.

Regulations of state or local agencies may determine the quality of water or

the schedule of irrigations which can be used on crops for human or livestock con-

tumption. Availability of land or considerations of cost may dictate high irriga-

tion rates and the selection of water-tolerant crops or other vegetation, or these

same considerations may lead to selection of native vegetation on submarginal land

.where wastewater can be applied at low rates or at sporadic intervals.

Management of,MastewateApplication Sites;' %

Under' provisions of the 1972 amend ents to the Federal Water Poll.ption Control

Act, areas used for land application of, astes will be regulated_as "On-point"

sources of pollution. For this reason, they must be:managed as an integral part of

the total waste renovation system; Theprimary objective Mustbe to produce reno-

v0.0 water meetings federal and state st444aTcls. for surface discharge, groundwater

rOharge, or special intermediate, uses .J,:mPortant but secondary_abjective4sto

realize economic or other benefits wiliOlita credited against the cost of..tic6atment.

Timing and Rate of Wastewater,..!.4pplication

Whter suitable for groundwater recharge or for surface disthargeWiind4drainl

age can be:obtained by low-rate irrigation.- Application,'Tates should_n0,t4eed the

soil's capacitY to accept water without runoff. or without.: ponding for, mdr,e.thah,an

hour or two. Instantaneons...rates on intertilled crops should not-egceea-0 .5inch

per hour on loamy sands or 0.1 inch per hour on clay loams. SoMewhat higheeinten-

sitiesmay be feasible.'on.grass or forest vegetation. To avoid excessively' rapid

transit through the soil, the total application should not exceed 1.5 to 2 inches in

a 24-hour period--even on soils which will accept more water.

-Weekly loadings and irrigation schedules should allow sufficient resid-etcetime

for waste constituents to interact with soil systems and plant roots, On perMeable

soils, up to 4 inches of water per week (including rainfall) may be feasible during a..

summer and early fall-When-evapotranspiration is high. At other times,,treatment-,

effective loadings will be much less because of precipitationsurpluses.and reduced

biological activity. Wastewater containing high concentrations of nitrate should

not be applied on, cold soils (below 500 F.) when vegetation is dormant and denitri

fication occurs slowly or'not at all

Winter irrigation of cultivated cropland should not be considered'in the-north-

.ern tier-of states in the North Central and Western Regions. On grass or forest

vegetation, wintery irrigation with low nitrate water at reduced rates may be feasible,

except duiing very cold weather or when soils are .frozen.

Ir igaton schedules should allow for resting periods between applications for

drain& e and aeration of the root zone. This is commonly achieved by irrigating

every to 10 days. Longer intervals are required during cold weatheiaan at. nor-

mil growing season temperitures Oxidizable organics (BOD) applied with wastewater

can build up in surface soil to the extent. that infiltration and aeration are inter-

fered. with and anaerobic conditions develop which are COhducive to odors: This is

frequently the factor which determines how often processing wastes high in BOD can

be applied in'low-rate irrigation systems. In cold weather it also can be a factor

with wastewater pretreated to reduce BOD. i

,,.. _

dRapid infiltration is not'essentiar for .treatment of wastewater by overland,

flow. Some deep percofation can occur, depending on slope and soil type. However,

the main flow of water is downslope--over the surface or by seepage; hrough upper

soil layers. Suspended. solids are filtered out on vegetation, litter, and soil.

Thus, they are distributed over a very large Surface Area exposed to the air. BOD

is dissipated rapidly,'even at near-freezing temperatures. Effective residence times

c n be achieved.on4Iniform slopes of 0 to 6% with downslope exEpsures of-150 to 200

fe . .,Daily applications can be made, except during rainy weather. During cold

weat er; applications may need to be less frequent or'discontinued if soil and Titter

are frozen. '

;-,-44.

Ni 4!

Nitrogen can be.rtilpVed effectively by overland 014 7

4' At 'pm,peratures below

50° F., however, niticate.in the wastewater may pase.sthroufar.the--system unaltered 'since

very little wilV be taken Up by .0 vegetation or remoVed'ty depitrification. Much

of the ammoniu0'and organic nitrogen filtered out from winter applications may be

release&-tapiOy as nitralp when biological activity resumes in'the-ilpring. Mos-

phorus is rethaved less eflectively than nitrogen. Runoff from overland: flow may

riot meet standards for dischargearid may need ta4e diverted for lat4-rate irrigation

on other land areas or for permitted uses in IndAStry.

In both overland flow and low-rate irrigation systems, water appAications must

'be discontinued well in advance of field operations so soils can draip and stabilize

to carry tillage or .haryest equipment without serious impairM9nt,,afbil'structure.

Applications should not,bp.made on bare soil except as needed.toProMote germination

and,rdpid development af .a:-newly planted crop.

a.v."4*

Tillage' and Residthe:lianagement

Tillage,operatiOns which expose bare:soil should be kept to a minimum. Conven-

tional plowing (8 to 10 inches) and preparation of a seedbed free of weeds and trash

are necessary for most vegetables and root crops: Many field,crops, however, can be

planted directl?, in sod ur trash, from a previous crop or after partiallincorporation -

afjesidues by'shallc*dpcing: On some soils, it,may"be necessary at some time to

1p,wrydeep (2 ft. or:more) to mix impermeable SUbSo04..strata with Mre:ppY0eabie

Surface materials..., More 6t4en, impermeable pans fatted by yehicular traffic: pr,by.,.

natural processes can be broken up by subsoiling equipMent which leaVes'tfid.Silrfacet.,:

wlpflotected by Nqjetation or'Stubble alf&trash.

Minipt)umr4illage and no-till methods c4serve fuel, reduce labbi,Casts, and mini,

mize compacliOn of soils by heavy equiiirilent.'t,' Crop residues left on the surface or

partially incorporated to a depth a 3 or 4 inches; provide protection against runoff

and erosion during intervals between crops. The 'decoMposition of residues on'or near

the soil surface helps,to maintain a friable, open condition conducive to good aera-

tion and rapid infiltration of water.

Local soil conservation district personnel should be consulted regarding till-

age practices appropriate- for speeificgalops, soils, and terrain.

,yegetative covers should be managed to promote both a high rate of nutrient

harvet'and frequent return of unharvested residueS. Return of residueitp particu-

larly important where wastewaters have-beentltreated to reduce BOD.. There 4dpes

serve to restore an effective balance ofrenelsgy and structural carbon re4tiqi, to

nutrients and toxicants. The cycling of Aitrogen and phosphorus through'&60a:y organ-

isms and their products helps to tegulafp release'of soluble nitrate and phqs-

phate. Actively decompcling organic matter also helps to reduce the concentration

of other soluble pollutants and can hasten the conversion of toxic organics, like

pesticides, to less toxic products. Carboriaceous solid wastes or wastewaters high

in BOD, from canneries or wood processing industries, can be used'to augment pro-

duction of organic matter by On-site vegetatipW. Minimum tillage or no-till methods

will reduce decomposition rOes and help to ittaUtpain or increase.the level of cycling

organic matter in the soil.

;nother approach for restoring the carbon balance in' pretreated wastewaters is

to manage 1' vhs and holding ponds so as to promote growth of aquatic plants. These

can be harve ti e!ti; for feed or for aPplication on land.

Nutrient- Imbalances, Toxicants, and pH Control

.,Wast ater applications in a given.` may be:.limitedby one or a combina...: ..

Lion of veral loading parameters Water, suspended solids,. BOD, phosphorus, sOlti- 3

,.. .,

ble Sits, sodiuth; br in, spectal casesYby certain micronutrients, metals, or toxic;.',

trace organics In any case, ',nittogen'.,loadingS should not exceed 1-1/2 times the :: '. ,,..:

.,, .. .

antitipatea-izeinttiraL of :..illtrogefi by harvest except.' as justified by actual monitoring. .,,

experience :etc the itp.'

/At thiS - level Of nitrogen input, many wastewaters will supply other. ksential .

nutrients in, quantities -adequate' for optimuml,prOdUction of crops. Nutrizitnbal-

1*.es may obCur however. These. must..be CorTeoted :since vigorous grovith and high -

.)ieldS-are es sential to assure- efficient removal of eutrophying nutrients by 'harvest: .

and maximum benefits from living vegetation and decomposing residues.

Nutrient 'imbalances can be identified by visual symptoms and quick tissue tests':`

in the field diagnoses can be confirmed by detailed analysis of plant tissue`.

sampled at a critical stage of growth. Often, developing deficiencies or toxicitie'

can be tected, before' serious imbalances by testing soils systeiatically

every ye r or wo, for available nutrients:ana pH.

The balanCe among .major and Secondary, nutrients is;:of.,primary concern.. Analy

tical,:dqerininations shouldbe tadefor phosphorts, potassium, calcitm,':and magnesium;.

using ureic of known dia0Cistid Value for soil or ;..for tissue, astheda.se may be:

Total-:nittOgen (Kj el dahl. N) can be .uSeful , , but the of :nitrate* .(NO3)', in tissue.

o.r soil sv e indicatot,of the nutritional status of plants with

respect ,to.' Nitrate also : should leafy vege-

table's there is teasOn to suspect cOikentratiian' WhichAfifght: be-toxic to- livestoa _

or humans,:

Imbalances involVinOnicronuttieniS' ancrother Metals will be determined-maInly

byl.SoilpH rather that by :their concentrati6nSin'the wasiewater,'..' TOxicitieS.aie

most likely under. acid conditions and May:.d014.1)1Op SiMPly'becaUse. of the increased

availability of-native soil sources.: DefiCiendies, of :essential miCronutrients,are

40ie:likely under 'alkaline conditions. MolYbdenin:.4*IiSejeniuln. are .exceptians,', and.'

Contents toxic to animals have been assOciatedgi*S4ils. above .pH .

..ProblemS of deficiency: or toxicity will be minimized-.if.Surface soilS are

tained: at, pH. S. to '7,1011_0§,..;Can-be:done by adding lime to:aciac,spils or sources

of acidity . fa l tm ; ..1.11fatej to alkaline sOils.,_.4s*114ted by soil tests'

made every 2 61-3 year:,. Ipthe.wastewaterj:S veryHatid:-(pW*4:4i lower) or very

alkaline (pi.8,3 or higher),: these extremes will .need: to be neutralized before the:.

water is applied on living vegetation: : 7

Supplemental ntitieltO correct deficienCies can be apPlied thtoligh the. itriga-.;

tion system or by sUiltable an

attachments. to tillage or planting, equipment': Supplemental

feitiliza tion:Shoula be gauged to .actUal regUl4ted:.aS indiCated 'by visual

symptoms or by changeS in soil or tissue tests.

'Abnormal tissue 'analyses, and visual symptoms can be caused by conditions, such

as high salt concentration or poor soil aeration., which impair root functions. Salt

concentrations in certain ,irocessing wastewaters may be high _enough to cause direct

injury, to plants unlesS, salt tolerant speciei are grown. Note,often, :injurious salt

concentrations build, up during the growing season in soi'l's which d,ykot transmit,.

water fast enough to assure leachi 'rWitiStewaters with unusual silt' content khigh

electrical Coteductanc should not be used for lour -rate irrigation on slowly per

Meable means. Can be found to improve internal, drainage.

Loss of soil, may result from efPetts of waste constituents such As-

Clay or sodium. If sodium is 'responsible, it may .be necesSary to increase the caI-

'7..Cium content of the wastewater:or to amend the soil .with- source of calCium (gypsum;

slag, liMe). Deep tillage. or the installation of additional 'tile- for underdrainage

may be needed to assure rapid movement ofy salts and.Sodiwn through' the soil. Improve-

ments in internal drainage also Will. improVe ,Soil 'aeration.

0..

.ProbleTs with weeds, insects, and plant diseases are, akgravated under conditions

of frequent irtigation,..particularly when a single crop groi.niti year ,,after year or

when nO-till praCtices are used: Most pests can.be.c"Bntrolled by,.selecting .resig-

tant or tolerant varieties and by using pesticides in combination with appropriate

g cultural practices. "State and local experts should be consUlted developing an

overall pest ,control program. for a given" situation.-

...

Harve'st.ing

., Mast crops require 'a perfoci,,Of dry weather before harvest to mature and nd reach a

moisture content compatible with harVesting equipment. Additional drying by artifi-

cial, means may be necessary for safe .srrage-;Or .to meet market standards.. Soil';

'smoisture at- harVest,tiMe should lawenough to minimize compactidn by-harvesting

e4uipMent.:::..Eor' ;these: reasons; irrioti.Ons: must be 'discontinued Well ,.n advance :Of

' harVest,'...: ...... ...

!i..-; ... ..

To Miniiniie sruption of, irrigation.; seheduleS, harvesting aria tillage or .'

planting operations which follow must be carried out. Adequate power,

. labor .and equipment must be -proVided for thisi fOrAnevitable delays due :'

.1', 'a

.:',. ..`; to weather (Fig. 7;3) .Poorly drained areas it a field can lead to ,expensive delays

(Fig. 7.4),. Operations ,in such areas-should be avoided until adequate..-impro;imments

in drainage Ican:b.e.,.effeCted.

A wide, range of managerial and; tecinliCal skills-inay;be.needed. to coordinate

land application ,witly ,the: COAlection,;!pretreatinent, storage of wastewater in a

total waste 'treatment SYsteir.- A.Central cOre" ,:profeSiicinal;eXpertise in - 'sanitation

'and irrigation ,engiTieering,:ai well as..,the.'agronoMiC sCienCes;iS,.'essential for a well-- .

....r,mariage4land*applitatiOn. site AnaliticalIcayabilitieS for the monitoring required

by.State'tagencies must b'e provided within the organization or',by contract with inde-

pendent: laboratories. These, .plus necessary administrative .and Clerical personnel,

technicians, and labor, may suffice if wastewater is applied on submarginal land with

,IminimPm management. 4. 1.

If there is Concern for upgrading land USe ors,for realiling economic return from

application of wastewater, other competencies will be requirted. Specific skills will

depend upon tie proposed Use of the land-whedier 'for, recreation, forestry,

or agriculture.:- Managerisfor such areas 'should have professional training, or,Unique

interests and; e4erienee,'approptiate for the type of management required. Technical'

and:fiedhanical. vary with the nature of the'',:resource. SethiSkilled labor

May perforM many .tasks, bUt..,welltrained..perionnel;:are 'needed to train an1 supervise

FIG. 7.3:--Timeliness in field operaiions, re ires heavy equipMent and personnel'

skilled in its use, and maintenance. 'Soilt MO be allowed -to :d.i'ain and stabll -tie

such operations. Photo by R. L. Cook.

(.L

FIG. 7.4 .--Poorly drained spots in a fyeld will be unproduttive and can cause

expensiVel'delaYs1(' Additional tile are needed here,. Deep tillage may be needed.

to repairidamage to soil structure.. Photo bY R. L. Cook.

ti..... .

In some situations it may be feasible to distribute wastewater to independent

operatOrs:, Such grrangements should be contractNal.. .Legal . counsel should be sought

in drawing up agreements wnich are mutually advantageoUs and yet jetain rights of

access' for monitoring.purposes apd provide for courses of actin in the event that

water quality ,.standards for d,.scharge. or grotindWsatev fechkaike are nowt met. Personnel .

and .organization ttkuSt be novided to administer Such, contracts. el .

s' ....

...! *,

0. 44gi

4Key individuates should have responsibilities "for liaiscii with reiulatory *gen-

ciesand -for informational and 'educational' exchatge within the;, oroanizatioon and with

it, .. s, 0.4.

the general. public. -., ,.1 .,ii, sr ,

-:'; tit, e.. i

-4SI

Arptir R. Wolcott is PrOioessor sof Soil Biochemistry; Department oil Crop and

i- A%4111%

`Soil Sciences, Mchigan State University, East Lansing, !itch; 44$82411 . * '

47*fh ..".'4.

Ray, L.... Cook is hProfetsor tmerit& of. Sok ''Scieshce tvid.thairbeft (Retired) , *

Department of Soil. Soiinces: Michigan Staip niversity, East Lansing, Mi0:048824..

.4,

., 0

., *

aa4.;

tir

Ott

Section 8

SELECTION OF THE SYSTEM

for. Wastewater Application on Agricultural Land

Ernest H. Kidder

Three methods of wastewater application to land are considered. --They are

sprinkler irrigation, surface irrigation; and overland flow:, InfiltiAtion-percola-

tion systems are not discussed.

In the Western states, including thoSe in the western part of Ole North Central

Region,both surface and sprinkler irrigation methodp may be used In the Eastern

states, the amount,of land leveling and the resulting damage to the soil profile

would, in most instances eliminate surface irrigation. Thetinjection'of wastewater

into the soil by knifing does not appear to be practical bedause of the dk§turbance

t6 the crop and to the soil which would result from weekly applications, and because

of the high cost of operating the application equipment. Arenovation and utilia-

tion concept of wastewater application'is emphasized;

it. Water. Management Strategies

Certifiable waste treatment plans may include cycles of re-use for.purposes

which do'not iequire water of the quality specified for terminal,discharge. Uses .

which generate revenue will contribute directly to the cost effectiveness of a system.

Such lees are to be found in industry, agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture.

There are beneficial uses of partially renovated water which may produce little

orno revenue but which can influence the quality of life and, indirectly, the eco-

nomic and social goals oT communities and regions. Thbse incl de irrigation of

public 'and privy landscaping; greenbelts, and wildlife hhbitats, and containment

and control of surface flows' for recreational and aesthetic puriloses: Land applica-

,tion'and surface containment. of 'wastewaters can lead to increased recharge and stor-

'age in local groundwaters, with increased efficiencies in water use Increased re-

tention of water in local reservoirs (ho.lding basins, cyclic are-uSe systems, soils,4

groundwaters) can contribute significantly to moderation of seasonal and,long-term

,;fluctuations in stream, flows and lake levels.

'.An essential objective in total design must be to provide for containment, moni-

toring, and control of wastewater flows until water of, the desired discharge quality

is achieved. Seasonal and cyclic fluctuations in wastewater and storm water flows

originating within the system, and in natural flows entering from outside, must be

anticipated it t4.e initial design: Probable increases involtme Or changes in,

quality of flows requiring treatment must be allowed for initihlly; or anticipated

in Ontingeney plans for, expansion or for adoption of new treatment technologies,

as needed, overh,the projected life of the "system.

Design and tanagement options for application of wastewaterswill ;vary with the

hydraulic capabilities of available soils and terrain and their relation to natural

*And engineered hydrologic systems (Table 8.1).

)

`1The renovativecapabilities of soils and vegetation a3e utilized most.effec-

,tively with'low rate irrigationiftstems (Fig. 8.1)!. With appropriate management,

drainage water suitable for surfffe discharge'or percolate suitable for'groundwater

recharge cap bt obtained. Economic benefits from increased eTficienciesin produc:

TABLE 8.1--Comparative Characteristics of Low-rate Irrigation

and Infiltration-Percolation Systemp.*

Factor

verland Flow,

Low-rate

Irrigation

Design Approach

Overland

Flow'

Infi ltrati on-

Percolation,

Liquid loading rate 0.5 to 4 in./wk.t

Annual application ,2-8 ft./yr.

.Land needed per 1

Soils

Slopes

mgd 140 to 560 acres

plus buffer zones

Removal of suspended

solids an4 BOD

Removal of nitrogen

Removal of phosphorut

Fate of wastewater

Moderately permeable

loamy:sands. to clay

lOams

Cultivated crops:

0-6%. Forages and

forest ,species:

0-15%

2 to 5.5 in./wk.

8 to 24 ft./yr.

46 to 140 acres

plus buffer zones

Slowly permeable

silt loams to.

clays

2-6%,

4 to 120 in./wk.

18 to 500 ft./yr.

2 to 62 acres

plus buffer zones.

Rapidly permeable

sandy loams to

sands

Less than 2% ,

w,!. 90 to 99%

0 'to. 80%

70 to 95%

80 to 100%

(may exceed 100%):.

95% to 100%

(may exceed 100%)

Evapotranspiration

and deep percolation:

for groundwater ;

recharge,. disCharge

into surface waters'

Or recovery, and re-

use:. Runoff Con7

trolled

70 to 90%'

5O to 60%

Runoff maximized

for -recovery and

re-use. Relatively

1 i ttl e; evapotrans-

piration or deep

Percolatfon.

Adapted from R. E. Thomas and C.

R. W. Crites (23). EPA-660/2-73/006a.

Deep perdolatiOn

maximized for

groundwater .

recharge, recovery:.

and, re7use. RunOff

not allowed..

Negligible eVapo

transpiration.

C. Harlin, Jr. (28) and. C. E. PoUnd and

Irrigation at 4 in./wk. would be seasonal. An 8 ft./yr. application would

average 2-1/2 in./wk. over a 40-week irrigationlieriod.

IRRIGATION SYSTEM

EVAPORATION

SURFACE

SPRAY OR-----ma

Y_*

APPLICATION

ROOT ZONE

... ,.. ''.':';.'..;:'. . .

J..:,i

SLOPE

:::VARIABLE

;i;WOEEP

.... .

FIG8.1.--Diagrammatic representation of the low-rate Il._rigation system

for wastewater renovation.

.tion or increased yields of crops\ will compensate for increase&costs, for trans-

mission and distribution of partially treated wastewater and,the need to extend

managerial control over relatively large acreages. Ln most cases,-municipal efflu-

ents to be applied througli.liate irrigation systems will be required to meet stand-

ards for sbcondary treatment kwith regard'to DOD, suspended solids, fecal conforms,

and pH. ;;,.

The permeability of fine-textured loams and 'clays is too low to accept and trans-

mit significant, quantities of water in-excess of normal precipitation in the humid

areas (see Section 2). On such soils, substantially renovated water for re-use can-

be obtained by controlled overland flow. Other descrifiritre terms for this approach

are "hillside irrigation".and "grass filtration." The filtering action of vegetation

and associated organisms at CT near the soil surface can remove suspended solids

and organics as effectively as conventional primary plus secondary treatment.

Sprinkler Irrigation

Sprinkler irrigation involves spraying water out through the air. The water

normally infiltrates the soil at the point where it falls. During recent years, a

number of mechanical systems have been developed for use on large areas. These

systems generally work quite well and :a minimum of labor input is needed for their

operation (Fig. 8.2).

SPRINKLER IRRIGATION

RAINCROP

ACTION

--, --I /A/.

- . .. -. 7.. , ' V 0 i / /

....'

" .i.<4.* 1*17c tt. 4 r ; t -',%* 4r ...: -. ."'...."- :.;,

pf . b ytk s . - .4 rp,4 .;11...%W.. 4.. ., ... & q

.....c. 7......0,c,A0reilg .f;q"'"31.-. fr.,:%%;." '°.".0.1.4. 4..."-. \--_..- Q./." ..":"....

. VA '-iiP.C.r.."1. J. .. '4'74. et,J., a r Alr, 1 r ac% q. c:qqq., c .I. ',wen

...1.z Cs or.ctoop 4,,,,. 4 .0e.t.....-03rdec..cod 0 &c.c.' .c.....7. em .. r

ii..... ....;,,;\ss <\, % .. 4% 1 ...... .c.... A.). ssv, ..,:v .c., te 4. q 4 q. ,.---

FIG. 8.2. - -Diagrammatic representati, of a sprin-

TITT/IlifiIiltV

kler irrigation. system for applying W stewater to

land.. .;.

TABLE 8.2.--Range of Infiltration Rates for

Various Soil Textures.

' Soil. Infiltration Rates

.in./hr:

0.50 to 1.00

0.30 to 0.80

0.25 to 0.50

0.25 to 0.40

0.20 to 0.30

0.10 to 0.25

Coarse sand

Fine sand

Sandy loam

Silt loam

Clay loam

Clay

Sprinkler irrigation IS used extensively for the application of was tewater.

Rotary sprinklers, which range in capacity from 0.5 to1,200 gallons per minute, make

possible a wide .range of application rates. The soiliegture, structureand .vegeta-

Itive cover largely dictate the maximum water intake rase.:: AppeOximateinfiltration,

rates based on soil texture...ar,e given in Table 8.2. 1

It must be pointed out that the infiVtration and percolation rat4,3Ve-a func

tion of time, cropping practice, quality of water, permeability of deepersolVlaY-

ers, and antecedent moisture in.,:addition to the soil texture. It is stronglY'*".

mended that infiltration and percolation tests be made at, intervals along .a

line, on the specific soil (for methodology, see Appendix A). Observations during

these tests will provide the initial estimate. of the application rate.

Because the water from the rotating sprinkler is, projected through the air,

there is concern about the drift of tiny droplets (aerosols). Hence, isolation from

public roads and private property must be prescribed when sprinkling wastewater.

Some testing is being carried out with sprayer type nozzles and other applicator

devices at crop level in an attempt to reduce droplet drift by directing the spray

downward, decreasing the opportunity for droplets to become airSorne.

The type of equipment used to apply the'mastewater will vary depending on the

land area involved,-.available labor, economic ana climatic factors.

Solid set type systems have been used, consisting of permanent buried or quick

coupling portable pipe laterals using properly spaced rotary sprinklers. Several

mechanized systems also are available., The side roll lateral in which the-pipe be-

comes the axle to turn the. supporting wheels is suited to low-growing crops. It

requires about an hour's labor every few hours to roll the lateral to .a new setting.

The central pivotusystem,.as the name implies, uses a lateral line supported

by towers to rotate abiSut a pivot point. Great flexibility is available both in

application rates and rotation-speeds., 'The system is powered by water hydraulics,

oil hydrauLics, eleCtric motors,:air pfessure, or mechanical cable. A rotation

period of one revolution in 8 hours makes three rotations in .24 hours possible..

A third type of'system is a giant or boom sprinkler. pulled through the field

by a winch. This traveling unit is supplied by a drag; high pressure, flexible hose.

Both its speed of .travel and application rate can be adjusted. It takes abOut an

hour's time to reposition the applicator unit, drag hose,-etc., after each trip

through a field. This unit is commonly used in 40-acre fields and irrigates about

10 acres with each trip through the field. However, giant sprinklers project water

high into the air and result in aerosol drift for a greater distance than smaller

sprinklers.

Surface Irrigation

Surface irrigation incfudes all systems which allow water to flow over the soil

surface and continually infiltrate as it flows. The land must be rather flat with

no excessive slopes for, this system to be feasible (Fig. 8.5).

Generally, some land shaping is necessary to level the surface to a sloping

plane for efficient irrigation. The dePth of top soil present should be considered

in planning for land leveling. Surface irrig tion has not been extensively studied

for use in renovation of wastewaters, but is ikely to be used in cases where aerosol,

effects limit sprinkler irrigation. The vari us surface irrigation systems are

described and, evaluated regarding their poten ial use for land application.

In one system, a ditch or .a pipe distrib te the water to the high end of the

field where it is discharged onto the surface If a ditch system is used, various'

tructures'are required,to assure that'water in the supply ditch is at the proper.

SURFACE IRRIGATION

FLOODING

RIDGE AND

FIG. 8.3.-,-Diagrammatic representati

methods for applying wastewater to 1

elevation. Pipe systems may be either buried pipes with risers which bring the

waiter to thesurface or may be gated pipes placed oh the surface of the soil. Where

surface irrigation is uiiaTidiich system is required for collecting and handling

excess water which runs off the lower end of the field. This runoff could be applied

to a lower field, pumped back to its original supply ditch, and applied again to the

same or other fi,ds, or returned to storage.

In another system, the entire surface of the soil may be inundated or small

channels may be formed to carry the flow over only a part ofthersurface. The par-

tial flooding systems are called furrow irrigation if a row crop is involved.

Smaller channels similar to furrows used for a cover crop are generally spaced closer

and are called corrugations. Ridge and fUrrow irrigation involves the use of large

channels with, crops planted on ridges between furrows. These large furrows may be /

flat, forming long narrow basins which are filled and.allowed to set while water

infiltrates from thein4

Any of the partial flooding systems should be applicable to wastewater irriga-

tion. When water contains some suspended solids,'the surface of theffurroMaY

tend to seal after they have been wet for several houi:s, but a period rest

which the soil surface is allowed to dry should restore the infiltration rate.

Bendixen, et al. (3) r4ort 'Satisfactory operation'a a ridge,and furrow system in

' which effluent from a two-itage trickling filter was applied to a silt Joam soil.

tn'some cases occasional tillage of the furrow may be necessary to fully restore th

:infiltration rate.

- Land Pi.ePaTAd forfurrow,irrigation also provides, good surface drainage for

wastew er applicatiqn betause water does not contact the plant foliage and hence

runtff"from heavy precipitation: Furrow systems would be advantageous for

wasthWaTer, residues:ai=e not deposited on the plant. ,

POsnrfAte irrigatiiinWhere'Oe entire surface4SiflOOded,;ith,gaith-strUctdre,--

the 1.16 f'or- conventional border_irrigation small leVeet

4e the: p

*lqw down e41Ope:. Contdur borders with dikes along the contours, or

cntOur4,44Ch6s Whicn,,:d4ifibute the flowacross.the:slope and allow water to flow

otie'diWto the neWone down the slope, aiso are'used.

,P0T erJr;n4ti appears to be the surface irrigation systom/with the most

tentiti4*r.USeqn wastewater renovation. It has been studied rather extensively

4444(in4.des:16tcri,te4a have been developed. Border widths usually range, from

0:to,:fi0,,eWands1opeS,:doWn the border are between 0.1 and 1%. Length of runs

ranges froill',1d0t61326:feet Slope across the border must be nearly zero.

irhe,b0444-..4,:ri.gattow.:SysteRillcanbe.adapted to most soil types and can be

designecl:towtntwelT-even on sanftsoils by using higher application rates. This

typel3flzrigat1(30'0!0h6Taibi.;:U$Otfor grain and forage crops. Furrows may be

-'formed'ip boTder.StY115-i w crops.

The deCtetopient-Of*.kiphiltl of 'systems. for 'surface irrigation has been

TheTe-hcot6t41-1,:iefeied;:,but several ideas show promise and have been

successful in 11114t.ed.f4v1d40:'' Automation of a surface irrigation system requires

'gates system to provide for delivery of water to

the proper field JocatiOnand,4 -*Icing the opening and closing of turnouts which.

deliver t14*i.6r-fT6 the 6::the'field. The devices which have been developed

to control the lOW,'O watitrIs PI5rAitches are checks and drop gates which may

be timer-Ciikr ed or operated b reme5tely controlled hydrauliccylinders. By

OVERLAND FLOW IRRIGATION,

SPRAYApPLICATIONTh

SLOPE.2-6%

FIG. 8.4.-.7Diagrammatic

EVAPORATION

GRASS AND VEGETATIVE LITTER

°61NA/

106400 F?

SHEET FLOW

OVERLAND FLOW

representation-of 'the overland flow nkt1144,of apply-

irig wastewater. to land.

-f

'RUNOFF,

/COLLECTION4.,

',;'

',I-

setting time clocks prior to the beginning of an irrigation, water can'be advanc0

from poinf'to point along a ditch by removing checks at-,set time intetttals.

Overland Flow, Irrigation

tOverland floi4(Table 8.1, Fig. 8,4) has.been used successfully for renovating

fporprocessing wastewaters and is presently being studied for renovating municipal

Viatewaters AS well [Carlson et a1. (6), Hoeppel et, a/. (17)] If feasibility can be

demonstrated; overland flow might be.used to,' renovate wastewaters from communities

in areas with soils'of low.permeapility. Land4ormedsm064-.slopes and a length of

run'compatible with the soil texture are necess4ry toagOte,even distribution,

effective detention.!times, and Containment and tecolleirof runoff,.- over-

'-land'floW irrigation is ,aforrli'of surface irrigationknown as b0r4r check The -

emphagis is On "cleaning uji" the large volume of water. which fl *s'4Own the slope

to be collected at the base"of'ihe.slope for otfier-Use aable 8. !',1

None of .the pointsmentiOned4teviously will allow for the complete design of

a wastewate0:pplication system.. Thefinal choice and` design of a wastewater appli-

cation, metho4 involves the input of a competent engineer, soil seientist, crop scien-,,

tist, and ecdhomist, as.-4ell as consideration of the:regulations of local, state,

and fPcler41 agencies

Ernest H. Kidder is Professof,4 Agricultural Engineering, Department of,

Agrict4tural Engineering, Michiga. State University, East Lansing, Mich. 48824. The

assistance of Dr. T. L. Loudon inAtheo,preparation of this section is Acknowledged.

The figures used in this section are reproduced, with the permission of C. E.

Pound of Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. Thgv first appeared in Pound and Crites (23).

PUBLIC HEALTWAND NUISANCE CONSIDERATIONS

for Sludge and Wastewater Application to Agricultural Land

Thomas P. Wasbotten

.Plans for any proposed sludge nd/or wastewater application project should be.

reViewed:With the local unit: of government where the .project is lOcated forcom- ,0

.pliancei4th 1(301 ordinancei. Lotal, County, .or district health dePartmdilfs, shduld

also bili:,Ontacted to obtain periinent-infOrMation on health regulations.: The state

water pollution control .agency should be contacted and they shoUld be able to pro-

Z*ide direction on any requirements ot,other state: agencies. Assistance can also be -H

,provided,,,by4.0e U.S. EnVironmental-Protection Agency,' the. U.S. pepartiileni ofAgri-

culture,l.c.aggierative Extension Service,, and the.. Food and Drug AdMinistration.

In evaluating overall environmental impacts of any land application 'of waste-

water effluent' or sludge system, -consideration must necessarily be given to potential

public health hazards and off6nsive odor nuisances. Effects that must be considered

include;groundwater.quality,#erosols, contact with the wastewater or sludge by the

public employees operatint'the facilities, insects and rodelits, .iiolation from

"fie stormwater runoff zfttalit the site, and contamination4Wthe crops.

Odoi:.COntrOl

Sinde.State,and:federal governmentreidlatoryiageilaOsrequire that':zufficient

'jevel,of 130'efiM4ailiireatment be providWfor.:-waSteWater*systems (usuallythe

alent',Of:,idat treatment)). odor nuisal*:00fttatiOris.,,shouldfnot be, experienced

lethe#tiiai;:40.1cation of waStewater d::EXperiencewith induitria;

viaitkew#0.'s,:i ere 'offensive odor nuisance cond4 ns haVe:existed generally shows. the''

'0,41,iS,:*:.*:.:the result of inidequAte .treatment to land application.Often com

dby excessive ponding on the site. - A more likely location for the

eni.octicill 6f: .Offensive odors.. is at the source' of the. putrescable wastewater 'consti-

Sludge applications to:the land pose a much more serious potentdal for,Offensive

odbr nuisances if not properly managed. Odor problems tan begin-at the point of

initial sludge handling and the odor potential can extend ,for a'significant period

of time after the actual application of sludges .to the land. Since sludges producd

from wastewater treatment facilities vary greatly in liquid or solid consistency,

chemical composition including chemicals which may be added for sludge conditioning,

and type and degree of preliminary treatment (very important with respect to odor

generation), a case-by-case evaluation 'is usually necessary.-

Plans for land application' should include provisions for soilincorporation of

sludge prior-to rewetting of the sludge by the next. significant rainstorm. Liquid

sludge application methbds employing subsurface injection and liquid manure spread-

ing followed by plowing and' discing have been cited in the literature. as being suc

,, cessful. Other treatment and odor control methods, for sludge have included'heat

treatment followed by sludge dewatering, composting, chemical treatment with high

concentrations of lime and chlorine, and pressure filtration of sludge cake. The

, application of well-digested drying bed sludge to laii4 has been-successful for many

years apd is still, probably the most 'economical and norMally %dor-free method for

smaller facilities.

The often employed method/of applying liquid digested sludge to farmland has

ngt always been an odor-free Method, but has been tolerated at isolated locations

bdcause, of the lack of freCtuency, duration, and intensity of the odors generaied from

the application area in small installitions. Many of these operations are faced with

citizen complaints and litigation as 'the frequency of application increases due to

greater volumes of sludge generated at the wastewater treatment plant and with

.adjacent land use ckanges (i.e., a new .residential type house in the country; the

adjacent farmer stopping his livestock operation and growing crops, thus eliminating

the manure handling operation, etc.). However, with proper sludge digester opera-"

tion, sludge handling techniques, and land management at the application site, these

odoriproblems can be kept to a minimum. .Better management procedures should be

planned for new sludge application systems rather than just duplicating so-called

"successful,.1. systems" in a neighboring community.

Themost serious, question 'raised in land application systems for wastewaters and:

Sludges from a public heal*,!apect is the potential for the...transmission' of patho-

gens, including both bagteriarand viruses. Transmission cari potentially occur..,:ia

the groundwater,i,iyia man eoming. into physical contact with either the wastewater

or Slydge, 'via the food :41,iaiii; Gr handling of t4:crop grown eon. the land; Viand via

aerdSoXs. 3n. general;: eantrollinethods :haveeconSisted of multiple barrier rest-tic-,

by health regulatory dgenp. es, ;including such techniques as immunize.-

tiaii;stif 'tiiiployees of wastewater treatment: systems, requirements for the disinfectiOn

f'10,stevater, the degree of digestion of sludges required before application-, 'and!,

isoratiOn of wastewater and sludge handling facilities from the public.

Although the soil is generally agreed to be an excellent filter and,inactiva . or-

of bacteria, and viruses, the literature cites a number of cases Where both viruse ;

and bacteria have traveled significant distanceS rough the soil mantle. Of compar-;

able concern, from a -public health standpoint;.qs he protection' of tlleigroundwater; ,

aquifer from contamination by' other wastewater or. .sludge constictuentS including '.

nitrate nitrogen. Many states require that the minimum U.S. Public Health Service

drinking water standards not be exceeded for' any' existing wells in ti4 vicinity of

the project. Qthers require no measurable ,degradation ,to water quality from exiSting

wells or from future wells as,a result of .the.project. .4....

Aerosols are microstopi9 droplets which could conceivably be inhaled into the

throat and lungs. Aerosol, travel and pathogen-`survival are dependent on factors such

as wind, temperature, humidity, vegetative screens, distance, etc. tittle is actually

known about the survival of , pathogens in _aerosols, but research projects are underway

to evaluate this potential hazard. Current methods employed to .reduce this potential

problem include isolation distances, vegetative screening, effluent and .sludge appli-

Cation techniques. reducing aerosola n, i.e., low pressure, large droplet= spray irri-

gation equipment, stopping. Of sprayi g during high winds,. and disinfection prior to

.application.

Parasites

The ova of intestinal Tarasitic worms are excreted in the feces of infected

individuals and are regularly present in raw sewage. Of particular concern have

been Rita of Ascarig lumbridoides. These ova are generally resistant to adverse

envirahmental conditions and are still present in both treated wastewaters _and sew--

age sludges. Concern with food chain; transfer by the ,sludge-milk-human ;route has

'prompted at ,least one State Health :Department (Ohio) to resgict, sludge application

to dairy pastures. This is an area requiring an 'immediate,. intensive research effort:

The control:of insects.and,rodentS:bti:niancFapPlication'site is moreCritical'

application .-

than ,for,either.other agriculturapaankoi0Orrig4tedf:agricUltural land because of the

possple transmission of bacteriaand:vitilles, from the wastewater, or sludges. Wetter

condltions anVincreaSedlyeggtative'cover'.alSciincrease the potential,for the number

of insects., and rodents; howeiiei, .conventiQnallii2thOdof control7can normally be

uti 1Ao,ContrOT thesepests. :Mosquito propagation could besevere on Wastewater

app ati li site unleSS the-facigty is properliyi designed:and..pana0ato eliMinate

pond rand.,allOwSfilir etsufficient drying.Periodi bweeq,-appI4ationsof,waSte-

i.1.4t(Or ..t,

d., ,..'.; :A;

.. -

Isolation f4rili the,:Public

er Of constraints mayheplaCed:ohewasteWater and sludge land:.

sliesAiT.I0Calstate or,..federalregOatorycagencieS:that:have current authority to

lsolate:the,ii,4tei.frOm:thepObliWfroM.Potential odor nuisance and health hazards.

or sludge management systems.must often'

be suitably fenced .4110,POStedtolinform:the general public:of'the use of.the'Site.

isolation distan'c0f0OUldWproyided proportiOnalto the deeree:of potent4al

health:riskof AOSOlsfroWmastewater irrigatiOn'sitesand-risk of bdOr npisance

4from sludge appllif6oti*SiteSMinimum distances may be imposed fl'Om residOces,:

Water;suppliies,' surface waters,roads,: parkS playgrounds, etc. Publica4ss.shOuld

onlyhe on a regulated.basiswiO duecOnsiaeration given, to the ad4tiOnalrhealth

baiards associated with:wastewater or sludge.

StOrmwater 'Runoff from the Si t%

Along with the need to protect surface:water quality, Surface runoff frommaste--

water and sludge application sites,must be managed to protect adjacent landowners.

Commonly, berms:and-dikes are, used to eliminaiesUrface runoff from wastewater

gation sites.`. Grass filtration wastewater' irrigation systems shoula,havecollection

systems. with additional n

treatment and assUre.the-resultani.disdharge

:-tosurface water meets discharge requirements, $Urface runoffsfrom.:siudge applica-

tion sitescan usually be. controlled hy:conVentionalHagricUltural soil erosion con-

trO.1 methods.' With high, rates

.higrate of liquid 'sludge application,. additional:precautionS

may he,neCessary to Control.:.surfate runOffAoreduce potential.healtirhazards and

nuisance problems,'

Contamination of -the Crops

Almost all.stateseitherprohibit or'tightly regulate tWgrowth of crops :direct:

ly consumed by man where sludges.: or wastewater effluent are applied Of recentcon

cerniire:t/10.jargedyunknOwn.health.effects of heaVy metals, PCB', mortur,..And

4het.potential toxicants which may,enterthe food chain. coMmon:practices to reduce

this pckentiii involve Control or elimination'of the discharge.of theSetexib cheMi--

cals'.-at the industrial wastewater source A prohibition of;ppkiCation of these

:INTAstewaers and sludges to the land where agricultural crops orliVesto4,Operations

would cause a. potential foohainprobleM-could.be applied'by_goVernmental regulaiOry:

-agencOs.:

Thomas P. WashOtien Engineer,MunicipalWasteWaterDiViSion,

Michigan. DePartmeni ofi\latUral ResourceS414asOn-BUilding, Lansing, MiCh.:'48926

PUBLICACOPPkaILITY AND:.,LEpkycoNspERATIONS,...

for S1.udgtrif494,:t4aSteWat.er Applidatfon on AgrictiltUral Land

Renovation of. municipal wastewater and sludgeg"'on 1,and is not Particularly .a

new concept, but it jias 'undergone a:iecent . revival becaUSe of water, quality and

economic: concerns, Such .systemi of renovation, if properly implemented, call, greatly

reduce nutrient build-uP in water Courses and place the nutrients on land where they

can be used beneficially. Applying wastewter and sludge to. the land is often a

more cost-effective waste treatment alternative:than conventional renovative, and dis-

posal techniques. .However, .municii3a1..kauthorities, and the public must recognize that

certain problems may arise when they.66nsider-the land renovation altern tive. Among,.

these problems are concerns and Procedures for acquiring the needed land Air such :a

system and the general acceptance. by,, the pubric of the land , treatment` concept '

Legal and 'Economic Arr ements

Land Arrangezpents

Land treatment of municipal wastewater and sludgeS'',is.' an alternative' that should

be evaluated; after considering specific community 'COnditions and :goa1s., ,Once- a deci-

sion is made 'to employ land treatment, a Varietyof land acquisitiow Options can be

used Each will ;have different impacts .on: landholders and the goals .df -municipal

authorities. The variety of the options used refl.ectS varying:caPacities. of cOmmu-

nities to impose costs:on landowners.

Fee simple: acquisition of land (outright purchase) provides better control .of

the renovation-system' by municipalities. It enahles the monicipality to pursue its

ownagoals within state, federal, and loCal, law., -However, the,muni4pality is gener'-'

ally required, to Pay, high land costs for the fee interest property.rights and, in

addition, is required to add another function ,(agricoltural production:and 'management)

to its existing service activities. Landpurchase is al50115;re disruptive to farmers

and local,agricultural economics: relative to Other types of:land 'acquisition . arrange-

ments. .

.In the North Central Region, municipalities. will currently :have' to pay -in the.

range of $650 to $1,800 per/acre for agricultural land which is suitable for' renoya-

tion' of wastewater and sewage sludges. To purchase a fart unit and relocate the

family under condemnation procedures would currently cost in the range of $18,000 to

$26,000 for the farm headquarters buildings, plus approximately $8;000 in relocation

costs in addition to the land costs. This assumes the average tract of land to be a

160-acre unit.

Easements or use rights (other than fee interest) on suitable land can be

obtained without- acquiring full property rights if mutual gains for, the nicipality

and farmer (s) exist. Such use rights could run the gamut of permanent easement to

seasonal land use agreements. Use-right arrangements reduce the control of the treat-

. ment system by municipalities but lower the land cost and are less disruptive to the

local economy.

Acquiring the use of land, via us-right arrangements usually, meets with better

public acCeptance than land acquired .by fee simple acqUisition. 'Further improvethents

in acceptability occur if' all 'risks and unknowns of the. renovation system are mini- c.

mized, nutrientg to farmeTs ire. made available economically with no- inConL

veniences, and farmers' costs are reduced as a result. of the arrangement. .°' '"

One example Anconvehience ana un own isDexCess water.: Excess4ater is As

problem in most of .the Nortfi Central states :Thus, .application'of wastewater to

lapd 'will...be:met with 'skepticism. by farmers since they require nutrients as inputs

to 'their production. activities but do not 'require greater 1:4ater use ; Excess" water

impoSes drainage. costs in 'addition to the costs,, of irrigation Such u.tosts will haver

to be barne by the municipality before they can negotiate for use rights to apply

wastewater o land (7,. 16). In contrast, the water may, be a''distinct .asset which

will . attract use -right arrangements in more arid states of the United States.

Negotiations between municipal authorities and farmerg tca-apply municipal,

sludges to.' land will? not meet .with these problems since the quantity of water applied

with sludges 4.s inslknificant. Howeyer, farmers who apply sludges must be assured

that their soils or. crops will not be temporarily or permanently damaged by factors

such as excess heavy ,metals or solul?le. salts.

Payments to _the farmers or landowners for any use-right .arrangement will cer,

tainly be involved if uncertainties :with respect to the, application of wastewater

and sludge to the land exist; e.g. ,unknown heavy ketals, harmful salts, unknown

irrigation rates, etc.. these payments by the municipaliiky to Agrmers will probably

amount to approximately the existing net agricultural land rents in area since:'

farmers stand to lose, at least that much money if problems. arise :For corn-soyh'ea4,,

land in the. Corn Belt, such ,rents currently run in the range' of $35, to $60 per'

If drainage is required:'°current tile and drain structure costs range from $200 to

$550 per acre, depending on local soil and topOgraphic conditions. This figure

assumes 10% of the total drainage structure is already in place.

Land may also ,11.. acquired'. for use,,'from wastewater or sludge farming cooperatives,

In such case, `an agreement is made, between the municipality and a group of landholdeil

,organized. into cooperative for the purpose of receiving and.; using given' amounts of

wastewater or sludge generated by the Municipality: The application rate and timing

of wastewater .or sludge applications to the- land is largely deter4ned by the- members

of the cooperative.. Some.tudies Michigan and. Ohio suggest that even under .'this

arrangement, most additio0.1 irrigation and drainage costs would "have to be borne by

the municipality in the forM bf a paythent to the ccioperative. ,Negotiations often

'break down if farmers' inputs; are altered greatly because, of additiolial capital for,

Modified,drainage Or irrigation.systemS. .

;;:,InVestment cd't.s, of 'sludge appliCation' equipMen may. he spread: among farmers in

Coeii4eratiVe Arran; ement Operating: costs,:maY:e:inCliidect in the cost, .of sludge

.delaVereditC the:brOiyidual farM unit. bata:ifor-:Sludie, analysis..:(nutrients and Other

elements) would:.haVe to be 'provided. to memb:ers 0V the cooperative. before agreements

far land .use,tand sludge 'delivery. could be;negotiatea, to ;insure. a .patentiar positive

economic rettpi vitlt*Minimai problems: -te .,

I, a

,.(g

.1;,. .

oies, alidoRegulation

,,legislatian under ,Public Law 92-500:

72) have made land treatment of. waste,

litieS 'should corisider.',.becauSe of rena7

e laW is, a combination of .coercive?..,

.latiOn-and./ centi4e5ifUnd.iitgrio7aChie.Ve ,t e--objectIve of eliminating the

Charge of'pd a'nts into: navigable.' waters by 1.91. The laW Calls for public ;

overnmentT,'

12ecentl&APeci.ar. pr, isions %

(Water Pollut or Control,

water a ..Signil;f7*ant-aliiiative4Li

owned'.treatment plants to Upgracte:to:-'at-least secondary 0-eatment PrOcessesy mid -

19T7. The U.S. Invironmenial- PrO4tion Agency..4,S the federal agency c1arged with

the. responsibility of executing th0aW and allqifing matphinggrantifUndSlii-the

states enabled by the law and appropriated` by the U. S. COngreAs:_

Grants to,state an 1A agencies now encourage renovation ofWit-te ter and

sludges on land as provided under ,utl.tection 20(d).of the 1972 AmendmentsEncOurage-

ment of wastewater treatment' management thavresultt,in f ,he-construction o* revenue*

--producing systems and recycling of wastewater and sludges througkagrieulturai prodUc-

tion processes which are not harmful to the environment is now part of the:grant pro-

:visions of the Act (15). The grant prograth is designed to assist municipalities with

75% federal grant funds, leaving 25.%,as the .1Ocal sharedf investment. .

Acquisition .of landsites hick are an integral part of the4treatmentItYstem

.(excluding land used for. sa station buildingt and.treatment_plants) is authorized 'a

by othefSeCtiont of the:Am ndments and is'included in, cost sharing,. Federd

funded grants.areamailable for all secondary and tertiary treatment systems provid-

ing such. systems are the' most practical ffom an Operational viewpdint and subject.

.demonstrations.that such systems are most cost effective as outlined by section

:212(2)(c) df'the1972 Amendments (121.;

...

.MunicipaLofficialt,have.to be aware of state agencies. and regulations as well

as federal provisions. Indeed, it is the state agency with which municipal officials

will-work most directly to initiate and implement land treatment. systems. Generally

a'specific water quality, pollution control, or intergovernmental relationt div4ion

'of these agencies is set up to work directly with community officials on matters per-

.taining to wastewater treatment.

Traditionally state agencies maintain control of water resources which are not

under the, navigable waters control powers belonging to. federal jurisdiction. ,Now-

ever, very. few states in the. North Central Region have specific statutes and.regula-

tions pertaining to the Application of.wasteWater and sludge on land, although this

status is changing rapidly. Some states have informal guidelines for wastewater

treatment general, while others approve of various systems invcompliancamith

thelederal regulationsas reviewed by the state agencies. 'Currently, it is the best

practicable criterion (operational practicality and,most cost-effective) interpreta-

tion of subsections 201(d) and 2.12(2)(c) of Public Law 92-500 which have moved

municipalities and state agencies:to consider the land treatment alternative,

Other legal restraints with which municipalities should be familiar are regula-

tions restricting the use of condemnatioe powers,"acquiring easements, and contrac-

tual agreements. Municipalities must have the authority or work in cooperation with

the Appropriate governmental agency to acquire interest in land outside their juris-

dictions. Such authority or interest is usually restricted by state law. Authority

may be changed if a municipality is includedin a sanitary district; i.e., extra com-

munity powers are enjoyed..by such authorities. This is.the case in Illinois, Michigan,

Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Public Acceptability

. .

.Acceptance or rejection of the land treatment concept by a particular community

and/or extra-community involved it based. primarily. on two elements of concern:

." economy and health. Economic concerns are based upon the perception by landholders -,

or their neighbors of outside factors which might result in positive or negative 4

economic effects when wastewater and sludges are renovated within their community.

10.3 6

?.%

e t.

fr 3/4*

4 4

.ta '

...:c.4

Such outside.factorS may include. loss of piloperty values, loss of coMmunitytax base, ::

fear Of odors, and others. ..

,q.-

;, '

.a+IC .

Healtt concernsarebasic to evtryone Ad, can arpuse even.thoseindiduakt who

are otherwise indifferent to normal dommunity;affairS It t.S easp;:for even small

groups of opponents :to cause public controversy by :raising doubtA, fouhAed or un-:*

founded about the operation of a lan3reatant system and iWPaCt on human '

heaath. Such doubts are often resolvidin4alkirofekisti or -conventional treatl' As,

,;ment systemswhichare'Sometimes much more expepsive and sometimes provide.evenless llf

protection OfThealth. Negotiations within alloimginity illstsurely Aeall.Idoi.niikift

current agricultural producilion systems art greatliy tered-at a OW* costIndAn-

....,

formation about Potential health prNlems remainivague,'

ii. :: 1mportant Factors Infl uencinglipubl ic. Acceptabi li-ty

.14 A number 9f factorS are of particular importance in deS7troying the cpportunity.,

... for.faverabie publiC acceptance of a land treatment system. .i' ,:; sl

.. -IMplementing a land treatment project-without presenting' thecknown.f4ts tv

ikteryone eoncAmed about the operation of the 'system (economics, health, or,:ri-sk of

nuisance's). is'inviting.failure. Pit should alSo be nosed that providing suctiinforMa-:A

tiou will not insure acceptab144.ty. However', previqus social researc4atd experiences

'gin the waterresource development area suggest that perception of thOatianalg'for ..

the plopoted project,is an important factor in determinipg the reaotion of indivi-

duals to both thevprOject and municipal officials and agenciesin/aived. '

The magnitude of community resistance.varie4 directly wit egemagnitkidelpf ')

,9 4'.

economic disruption and population reloadYion. This suggeSts that land acquisition

by4utright pkgchase should seek very, large tracts from a minimal :number of rural"

landholdars.-THowever,this works againse'minimizing economic%clisrupflon because'stic.h,

ap attion imposes serious income redistribution. VI rural. area_s between4andholders 440.

and others receiving income from rural enterpfirs. :.' JP. 4

(,) 6 v .41'` 7

ii ''

Locali400 neighborhood resistance at thesite other than frourthelandpwners 47-

will vast generally exist either for ecgnomtc or health reasons. Such attitudesoilt)

often generact&widespread public controversy anPmust be counteracted4ty accurate

infarmationand community education. *.I.

.6 .

ca Q

eil4.

Renovation of a municipality',s wastewater and/or sl udge involving land in 4'

anothel. political juiisdiction may'present additional problems First, voterl,ndif-

ference in these jurisdictions may delay the decision-making process. Second, t%e lb

,concerns with4conomichealth'or nuisance problems maybe magnified inthese,juri6-

dictions and result in outright rejection of,the idea of land treatment,.

v... _

If farming practices are.to'bechanged greatly and/or profits reduded by 6

applying wastewater or sludges to land, there will, often be no basis far mutual nego--.,

tiations between farmers,and municipal officls.- In the Corn Belt, for example, a

change from an intensive corn - soybean enterprise to a grass land-beef enterprise would \,

-. mean reduced profitS under currat economic conditions and' would not be acceptance..

However, somevfarmers may. choose to cease intensive productionactivities' and find

that engaging solely in the supply of use rights to. municipalities is artrogitable

and 'desirable alternative. .

Generally large land application projects are more likely to.fai.1 because

they are more difficult to.control physically or economically.

10.4, 1

-Excess water is ,a problem-in all but the Western Nprth Ce*tral states and

limits farmer.accePtabiftty of the quantities of wastewater *deemed economical and

necessary,by,the municipality: These differeAces.in,opinion should be reconciled

before plans are made.

Initial Approaches to Obtain Acceptability

The concerns-and restraints mentioned above4maiZe it imperative that municipali-

ties purposely plan steps to,gain public.acceptability iii4the initial stages of devel-

opment of a land treatment system. A number of important steps are discussed below.

is importantto inform farmers; their r presentaltives, other governmental

agencies, the tress, and, homeowners about the kno n effects of land treatment;! both

behefkcial and detrimental, including legal info atiOn about land acquisition.

IP Municipalities must work out the-details of legal restraints within which

land treatment can be_operative.

4..,,

tUniZipalities should' bite negative with

ve reactions ._h p

announcements that large acreages are proposed to be usedJor treatment prior.tO

announcements abouthe sewagTroblem'and the4land treatment alternatives: :' Farmers

and other. groups shOuldbe informed abod the operation of thesysteeand its land

requirement givenAte sewage load of *the municipality. 6

4,.

.,..1 ..

If the decisionhas been made to purchase the necessary land,- do not sched-

ule to purchase or obtain tise-riOrt:arrangements,immediately. Rather,, :a schedule

of land acquisition.should be so yeart uP'Ovet 2 to 5 s. .A contract arrangement with

One or two farmers*in the initial year could-be made (or a farm unit purchased) and

the unit couid be set up as a deMonstration and monitoring-site for publid view and

vo work on minimizing the uncertainities before pushing,ahead-with larger acreages

Mtnicipalitios should. consider operation ofland treatment systems-With a

wide variety of land acquisition arrangements-ranging froM NrChase of tracts

offered fOi sale Over.i.tlime,.:userright arrangements'*ith:a fee; use.,of land other

thwagricultur 4o.direct opposite negotiations i7e.;,.bid'by,farmers to acquire

wastewater and sludge on'their farms.. Tie systqms should be flexible with respect

to wastewater and sludge.applic#tion rates and tprms of,contract, which might re-

., quire planning for.jnereased storage:Ai #1.;ii-eatment pdant or at some station point

near ,land'sites. OperaaonAreements should alSa,beflexible in order tp4Sflmulate

;) ..

new teghnology with lower costs of Operation.. ,66.,

t...

The municipality should be certain thatnet, costs not:be transferred from

the sewage generating region to thpffecipient regfon. If.lbIS occurs, a form .of

compensation Will have to be paid in addition to thd Use-righOiee.. '!):

I' '5, .,

.-;4 .

... : ,.:

gethfbifferentoMmanity decision-making units.mayllave to either be. brought to-

r (couity,,municipalitA-and farmers) or re-arranged so thdt repnSentatives

ofApeagricilltural setor; homeowners, county and municipallofficials all have

kpartic*atiOn p the ffercisions,,involying land treatment. This is ajorm of inter -.

.nalizing the.publicotce bance problem, In such vcases each voter has some stake in

the decision vind bagaini g positions can be expressed and:made. known to municipal

:.IRO ), ..

'''' 4,Officials, . . c..

0,... is,

.,6 Lard pUighase4Or tho"citY:farm" arrangement is often desitable for a munici-

pality because 41 allowsl)eTter control'of the system. However, the arrangement is

often..Viewed negatively by the public andresUlts in land being taken from the,tax

.41

16'4 7

rolls.' Use-right arlangeents, orbetter still,. bidding by farMers to receive the

nutrients are better arrangements for public.acteptability, buttesUlt in weakened

municipal control and contract terms.

Continual conversion.ofvUncertainties. of the system into known facts. aids

dedision making, lowers costs, and increases acceptability. Acceptability. is also

.enhanced if knowledge of this conversion is Widespread among various:groups 'who mist

interact on public service delivery decisions, including farmers and others inter-:

,ested in the rural scene.

Terry F. Glover is Assotiate Professor, Department of Economies, Utah State

University, Logan, 11tah -83422.

10.6

SITE MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS

Or Sludge and Wastewater Application to Agricultural land

Paul A. Blakeslee

Monitoring in the broad context includes observation of system performance,

checking the quality of affected natural systerrth, and observing and recording envi-

ronmental impacts as'quality changes occur. The.role of monitoring in land applica-

tion systems shoUld be that of confirming the predictions and judgements made during

%. the project development and design stage with respect to these systems. It should

be employed as a tool in expanding understanding of system perfbrmance, not as a

,substitute fbr the fullest reasonable understanding of the many interrelated physical,

chemical, and hydrologic factors within any project prior to implementation.

The project designer must consider the impact of three basic factors on the

natural system when developing a wastewater or sludge application proposal in order

to predict project success. The factors for prime consideration are:

Public health impact through disease transmission

Toxic materials and their impact

Nitrogen compounds andtheir:impact on ground and

The objectives of system monitoring can be fulfilled

program which considers:

Applied wastewater and/or sludge characteristics

Soil characteristics

Groundwater and surface water quality

Quality of vegetation produced.

surface water.sources.

by devel9ping a monitoring

The costs of an effective monitoring program should bp incorporated into the

routine and ongoing costs of operation of the unit generating the wastewater or

sludge to be treated or used in an on-land applicatioA program. It may be possible

to develop a full monitoring program including all sampling and testing capability

within the normal operations of the generating unit where a large scale operation

is involved. For smaller projects, the specialized testing methods to be employed

may require the use of Cooperative Extension Service and/or commercial testing

services.i

Wastewater and/or Sludge Characteris tics

4,0

tote applied at a site is like the raw material in a

assured of an acceptable end product, i.e., crop,.ep-

to the the raw material must be of consistent,.

The recommened analyses hava2been covered in Sec-

Tpe wasteWater or sludge

Manufacturilig prOcess. To be

riched soil,, or other benefit

known, and. acceptable quality.

-ions 3 and 6.

Soil Characteristics

Th6tharaCteristics ofthe soil system employed fOr'treatment.should have?been.

fully:estAblished during project'design and the monitoring program developed should

identifY changes in.sthse characteristics to avoid permanent or irreversible soil

system damage. Samples of the untreated soil should be. bilected and retained fOr

future testing. ThecOncentration of applied trace elements in` the soil an&Where,

pbssible the available chemical form of such materials should b'e routinelydeteimihed.

The frequency ofsUch determinations mayvary from project to- project;. -with the

monitoring frequency'being adjusted to the rate of change obserVed.and prOjeft,:scope.:

In cases where domestic wastewater or sludge with little industrial waste pres6nt is

applied, annual sampling may be, sufficient.

COmmon grOupings of elements which should be considered fOr soil monitoring

:On be determined from the composition of the waste.material. These may include:

Cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc.

'Mercury, arsenic, chromium, and boron.

If other potentially harmful metals or organics are present in

or sludge; the testing program.shouldhe expanded to inciUde them.

Groundwater Monitoring

the wastewater

Monitoring wells must be designed and located to meet the specific geologic and

hydrblogic condit'iois at each site Consideration must be given to the following:

Geological soil and rock formations existing at the specifiC site

Depth to an impervious layer

Direction of'flow of groundwater and Anticipated rate of movement.-

Depth of seasonal high water table, .and an indication'of seasonal varia-

tidris in groundwater depth and direttion of movement

Nature, extent, and consequenceS Of..mOunding of grOundwaOr'Whidh.tan be

anticipated to occur aboVe the natUrallYbccurtirigwater table

Location of nearby streams arid Swamps-.

Rotable and nonpotablewater supply well's

'Other data as appropriate.

;' .

It. ma be. to'establish site. groundWater toWitions:.t OUgh:idst41*-

1:AT

lation of a seties.,,Of,5imple observation_wells priO.iftothe actu election of'. : ,..;;:°_

locations and depths for permanent monitoring, wells Groundwate uaatYShOUld.ble

monitored immediately' below thewater table.sUrface,near the site :',A5'..dist4hde-: :,,,;

from the site-increases,, the depth of sample withdrawalfrOm.Wittilh%tA grairidwalje.r

systeM may need to be increased or sampling at multiple depths. .$0.0qui

assure interception of affected groundWateronitoring well stOkjqp te

as to detect any influence of wa5tewaterapPlication on the'..groptwOr re OLurpe4'.'

Water level measurements should be accurate to, 0.01 feet (1/8 inch) and refer-

enced -to a permanent referen4e pOinf, preferably U.S. Geological, Survey.. dafum.

Measurements should be made under static water level conditions prior to any pumping

fOr sample collection.. Al]. monitoring wells :should be securely capped and locked

when not in use to avoid contamination.

}To e4ab_lish a suitable. data base for reference to :background conditions, a ..

minim*of,.three montE1Y---Satiples,--should: be collected from each monitoring well prior

s:tO. piacIn'g the on land application, system in operation. In cases where background

-,;Water.. quality adjaCpnt, tO the- site may be influenced by prior. waste applications,

Of'nonitOrineivells or 4analysis of water quality from eXisting wells in

the same aquifer bekOnd the area Of influence; will be necessary.

, f SaMpleSt.s14iiiilf'041111oi1OClitedii:Monthli, during .the first 2 YearS Of.: operation..

After the aCcumul,4t3ion,;:of,4, miniflium..of yearS of groundWater, ifioni:toring', information,

modiftication of the", freqtteistcy:Of sampling maybe considered. The follOwing sampling

procedures ,should pe44mplOyed; .." ;

:.A meastned amount of ..wa*ei - .tlianthreeltiine$ the ',amount

of water the well 'and/Or grairel pack '.shOuid be exhausted from 'the'

-,before 'taking a SART, fOr ig}n41 ygi s the aae_sof'irery -low :TtkermealiiNity

soldr., the Well 'may haVe. to be exhausted and latlowed to :refill. _before a

Sample" is cbIlected.:;. .,'

'Pumping equipment should, be thoroughly rinsed before use in '-each.Monitori.ng

;

w.e 11Y., . .. .

-..,Water qrpumped fr each monitoring. Well ,'should be discharged to the grounder

u face 'awaS, from the went to avoid -recycling. of flow in- ght-Ppe

a. .st be ctilleCted .stor

o.avOid co9,taminat.On

tion )

it b i1 ity

'.t!*

stranspOrt iCbr y in a

intWerence -s1.11).s0cp.eht,..0a.,Sri e:,

ample Analy'Si

ackgroUnd watei!..'qualityatWaStewater,:appliCation

ollowine.:'(Nete!%.Parmaeters1.,for4rOundwater..r. =

indusarial ,.waste' 'sit'es 'ate ,t

y, and-should: be determined An 'I' iir.idUalbasig*

'Wastes, ,applied,`

es collected for

e analyzed for t

.sludge applicati

analyseS may

th$ composi

oride

Specific conduct

,..!.1a.....,-;,;;

TABL'Iii.V-IPi'Obableo Available Form, the Average Composition Range for

Selecte ,ci4t6c1Pic CroPd Suggested Tolerance Levels of Heavy Metals in

-Wien Used for Monitoring Purposes.

Agrono A

Common Average Suggested

Probable Cpinposition Tolerance,

Available Range*' Level

Form PPm -ppm

Cations

Bat+

Cd++

Co++

Cu++

Fe++

Mn++

Hg++

Li+ .

Ni++

Pb++

Sr++

Zn++

10-100 200

0.05-0.20 3

0.01-0.30 5

3-40 150

20-300 750

16-150 300

0.001-0.01 0.04

0.2-1.0 5

0.1-1.0 3

0.1-5.0 10

10-30 50

15-150 300

Anions

urine

dine

olybdenum

Selenium

'Vdnadium

As0; 0.01-1.0 2

HBOi ,,7-75 (150

Cr04- 0.1-Q.5 2

F- 1-5 ,. ,10

I- 01-0.5 1

Mo04 0.2-1:0 3

Se04 0.05-2.0 3

VOi 0.1-1.04 .. 2

Averagerya1yes for corn, soybeans, alfalfa, red clover, 14fieat, oats,

.;.barley, and .grasses'irown under normal soil conditions. 'Greenhouse, both soil

and solutiOn, values are omitted.

Values, are for corn)..eaves at or opposite and below ear' leaf at tassel

stage; 'Soybeans., the youngest mature leaves and petioles on the plant after

first pod formation; legumes, upper stem cuttings in earl,r flower stage; cereals,

the wholC,plants at :boot stage; and, grasses, whole plants at early hay cutting

stage. 4,

TOtalphoSphorus

Methylene blue active substances

ChemiCal.pxygen demand'

.AniAiiavy,mefali:or toxic: substances fpund:In'the gioplied wastes.

er adequate background water quality information has been obtained, a mini-

mum of one sample per year, obtained at the end of the irrigation season in the'case

of seasolal operations, should be collected from each well and analyzed for the

above constituents.

other water samples should be analyzed for chlorides and specific conduc-

tance as indicators of changes in groundwater quality resulting from the waste,

applied. If significant changes, are noted in chloride and/or specific conductance

levels, samples should immediately be analyzed for-the other parameters listed

above to determine the extent of water quality deviation from background levels.

Vegetation Monitoring

The vegetation produced on a wastewater or sludge application site may be the

most sensitive, and meaningful monitor of the impact of materials applied to the site

Uniform analytical procedures should he'used. Similarly, uniform selection of the

portion of the plant to be analyzed should be used so that the information obtained

from a given site is readily comparable with other systems. (See footnote to Table

11.1.) The values in Table 11.1 have been'suggested (18) as common average,composi-

tion and suggested tolerance levels for monitoring purposes.

The tolerance levels suggested in Table 11.1 for agronomic crops are generalized

concentrations averagedover,many crops. They are one-half less than the values

which are:"i toxic to animals, plant levels at which appreciable transfer of the

element from the vegetative-portion of the plant to the grain occurs, and/or the

level known to be toxic to.the plant itself. Therefore, the tolerance levels allow

for some elementalincreases in the vegetative. portion of plants: without significant

increases in seed grain or immediate .food chain hazards. Levels are intended only

for grain crops-or hay for,animals.' Vegetable crops are excludeal The tolerance

levels do not apply to crop's where the vegetative portion of the pihnt may be con-

sumed by humans.

Sampling and Analysis Methods

To permit effective comparison of monitoring data obtained over a period of

time ara wastewater or, sludge application site, or to permit the.comparison of data

from one-site with,another, it is essential to use uniform sampling and analysis

techniques wherever possible. A bulletin entitled Sampling and Analysis of Soils,

Plants, Wastewater and Sludges: Suggested Standardization and Methodology, NC-118,

North Central Regional Publication No 230 (20), has been developed for this purpose.

11%

Paul A. Blakeslee is Regional Sanitary Engineer, Municipal Wastewater Division

Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Mason BuilAang, Lansing, Mich. 4926.

American Public Health AisOciation. 1971. Standard. Methods for the ExaMina.Von

of Waste and Wasteurater. -13th pd. .:,1v

Anonymous. 1970 Glossary of Terms. Soil Science Society' of

America-, Madi.sbn, Wis.

Bendixen, W., R. P. Hill, W. A. Schwartz, and G. G. Robeckr. 1968. Ri'clge'an'd

Furrow Liquid Waste Disposal in a Northern Latitude. J.'.San, Eng. Div.,'

Proc. ASCE, 94 (SA1): 147-157.

Blabk, C, A. (ed.) 1965. Methods of Soil Analygis. Part 2. Chemical and

biological Properties. Agronomy No. Y. Amer. Soc. Agron., Madison, Ills:

Bouwer, H. 1973. Land TreatMent of Liquid Waste: The Hydrologic System. In

Proceedings of Joint Conf. on Recycling Municipal Sludges and Effluents

on Land, July 1973, Champaign,

Carlson, C. A. ,, E. G.. Hunt, and T. B. Delaney, Jr. 1974., Wastewater Treatment

on Soils of Low Permeability. U.. S. Army Engineers Waterways Exp.

Vicksburg, Miss.

Christensen', L. E. 1975. An Economic and Institutional Analysis, of Land Treat:

ment-as a Wastewater Management. Alternative for Southeastern Michigan.

Ph.D. DiSsertation, MiCh.State Univ.

ommittee on Water, Quality Criteria: 1972. Watev Quality Criteria 1972.

Repbrt of a joint -committee of the National' Academy of Sciences and the

National Academjf of Engineering. U.S. GPO Stock -No-.-550100520.

Decker, W. L. 196'" Temperatures Critical to Agriculture.. Univ. of Missotri

Agri. Exp.. Sta.', N. C. ,Regional Research Publication Ncr. 174.

10. Ellis, B. G., A. E. Ei:ickson, -B. D. Knezek, R. J. Kunie, I. F. Schneider, E. P.'

Whiteside, amid A. R. Wolcott. 1973: Land Treatment of. Wastewater in. SoUthj

eastern Michigan. Report to%I.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Contract Nos.

DACW35-73-C--0163 to 0170.

11. Environmental Protection .Agency: 1974. Methods .for Chemical Analysis of Water

and Wastes. National Environmental Research Center? Cincinnati, Ohio.

12. Federal Register. Vol. 38, No 174; Monday, Sept . 10, 1973:

.1.1.1

°13. Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. Oct. 1,972. Public Law

92-500, 92nd Congress, ,5.2770.

14. Foth, H. D. and. L. M. Turk... 1972. Fundamentals of Soil Science. .john Wiley.

and Sons, ,.Inc.

15.:-.Glover, T. F. 1974-. Reflections on the EPA Interp. retation-of Best Practicable

40. Treatment. Dept. of Agri. Econ. and Rural Soc.-,- The Ohio State Univ.,. t SO

-No.-214.

Glover, T. 'F.' 197

of EcOn: Uta

d Treatment of Wastewater. and Sludges. Mimeo., Dept.

Univ.

1HOeppel, R. E., ;Pnt, and T. .Delaney Jr. 1974.. Wastewater Treatment

on Soil's of Low !ermeabil ity . U. S Army En gineers WaterwaYs Exp .Sta.,

Vicksburg, Miss,

18. Melsted, S. W. 1973. Soil Plant Relationships (Some Practical Considerations

in Waste Management). In Proceetlings of Joint Conf. on Recycling Municipal

Sliidges and Effluents oh Land, July. L973, Champaign,

NC-12--NC-98.

periment

20. NC-If8c.,1975%

SugOsted

1073. Guidelines for:Planning. and Conducting Water

Regional. Puilicati.on..

SI%) ling and Analysis of Soils, Plants, Waste Waters and Sludges:

St4ndardization and Methodology. N. C. Regional Publicatii.on 730.

'21. NC-124. .1975. _'Guidelines for Manure Use and Disposal in the Western Region,

USA. Washington' State Univ., College of Agr., Res. Center Bull. 814.

22. Page, A. L. 1973,. Fate and Effects of Trace Elements in Sewage Sludge-when.

;Applied to Agricultural Land. Environmental Protection 'Agency.

Pound, C. D. ,and R.' W. Crites. 19737* Wast

Application.; Report by licalf and Eddy, Inc. to U.S.E.P.A., Vols. I 'and'.

II. ,EPA-66/2-73-006a andltb. U.S. GPO.

er incl. Re-use by Land

24: Proceedings of the Joiht Conference on .Recycling Municipal Sludges and Effluents

on. Land. 1973. Sponsored by U.S..E.R.A., and the. Nat. Assoc. of.

State Universities and Land Grant Colleges. Library of 'Congress Cat.,, No.

'73-88570.

Soil Survey. Staff :

book No. 18.

26, sOpper;',W. E. .:1973.::.Crop Selection, and Management. AlternativeS,.t.- :Perennials.

Tn ,

PrOceedings'.of Joint. COnf, on Recycling MPni-PipalSludges and

on Landi-July .1973YChampaign,,,I,11.

Sullivan, R. H. ,M. M. Cohn, and. S. S. Baxter. -143. Survey of FaCilities Us-

ing Land Application of Wastewater. -Report of the American 'Public Works

Asociation to U.S.E.P.A., EPA-430/9-73-006.

28, ThomaS, R. E. and C. C. Hai4en, Jr.. 1972. Experiences with Land Spi-eading of.

Municipal Effluents. First Annual IFAS Workshop on Land Renovation of

Wastewater, Tampa, Fla. (June 1972). ,

U.S. Environmental PrOtection, Agency.: Water Quality. Strategy Paper.

Third ed. planning:Assistanceand Policy. Branch, East-ROom:.215,,,.401: WS

WashingtOn,:D,c. .20460, .WH

'30. White, M. Y .%,1-famdy.,and T, ShOtt,. 1974 SyStems arid Eqpipment for

Disposal of Organic WasteS SOp Ohio 14p.:,jRes.-und :Dev.Center, WOO

Acre inches/year -7.TheamOunt (inches)of Water, ,or effluent Spread on 3. acre o

land in l..

Activated. sludges = Sludge.floc producedjnrawi

bf:zOogleal,bacieria and other organisms in

,and:aCcumUlated:in sufficient concentration.

Product is waste7activated.sludge ,

or Settred.wastewater:py the growth.

the iireSenCeof,dissolved'oxygen

by returning ;floc previously forMed.

Adsorbed..- adsorption: The: attraction ions ..or.-.compoUndsto theSurface:o

Solid. Soil colloids adsorb largeamounts of ionS and. water.'

Aeration_ The ptocess by whiCh air in the soil

phere.

replaced by air from'the atmos-

Aerobic molecular oxygen aSaTart ofAhe environment.

HOnly in the'presendefof mOletular:,oxygen

digestiOxv Digestion Of:organic waste'sOlidS by means

AerosoTh Microscopic.drlets dispersed in'the atmgiphere.

Agronomic -trcips'haVing economic iMportance in agriculture. .

with .0..of.8.5!:Di higher, or with a high exchange-

mcire-Ofthe'exchange.eapacity).

Alkalinity A soil:or material

ablesodium.content

Anaerobic -- The absence of molecular oxygen. Living or functioning in the absence

of air or free oxygen

Anaerobic digested sludge -- The.stabilization of organic waste'solids brought about

through the.!action of microorganisms in the absence of elemental oxygen.

Annual &Epp -- A;Frop which completes Its entire life and dies within 1.

-or, fess:d.e7., dc#0, beans.

Stratum below the surface capabA:pf holding water.

Aquifer

readily available for plant use

Basin -2 An efficient system of4rrigating in which

is: divided into basins which. are .filled with 'waticiF.P

*st practlicablereatment 'sewage treatment as the,Most operationaT

.:,Area<tMent$?system and:waSteaterconterit.'

Forms of)4asteWatertreatmerAinwh$ch baCterial:.orbioChemt

:ical aeti*is.intenSified nitrify the Unstable .Or7.

ganiC.Maiterjr6S'entInterMittentSand filterS!, contacbeds; trickling fil

and activated slUdge 46tocesseS. are es.

BOD - ,..'Biochemical Oxygen DeMand. 'A standa;ci test used in assessing wastewater

`, Strength:. 'The quantity of oxygen used in the biochemical oxidation of organic

.., matter in a specified .time, at a specified temperature, and under specified

conditions. .

BOD -- 5-day, Biochemical. Oxygen Ilemand. The quantity. of okygen used. in thecbiOchein-

oxidation of.T.organic 'matter after 5 days, at 'a specified temperature.,, and

under specified Conditions.

Bilik density ..... Th mass of dry soil per unit. bulk.volupie including the air space.

The ,,bulk Vol i?s determined before drying ;ei co Stant weight at .105° C.

_Bu.nChgraSs 7- -Bun grass* lack stolOns,and form thick lunches such as fescue and

I,: ',wheat ''grass.

., .c'

r2--,:-... , ..h._

., l

'Caldareous -- soil containing Sufficient .calcium carbonate to effervesce:visibly

when treated. with cold.:0.1 N hydrochloric arid: ,..,:

. .

caz-boriate- A ,compound containing the, radical CO .

Ca-tion exchange capacity -7 The sum total of eXthangeable cations% a soil can adsorb.

Expressed in dillieq'uivalentff: per., 100. grams of soil or other aclsorbirtg material

such as clay,

Central pivot system 7Ari irrigation system in which .a lateral line supported by .

towers rotates out apivot point.

Chelating properties 7.2. The property of certain chemical coMpOuridS in which a metal-

ion is firmly -combinedwith the compound, by means of multiple chemical bonds.

C2ay. --,e Sotlparti'cle less than 0.6152 in diameter..

Closeddraitiage, ystem -- A landscape where essentialliy, all the products derived

within tbe',,perimeer are trapped within the system-and are not transmitted to

streams or water s,upplies..

tfr

COD ,7.-,4Chemical,., OxYgen, fiemand. !The

material in water. ".

oxygen consumeeby the chemical oxidation o

Composite -- TO::make up a sample df-distinct portions so the sample is representa-.

tive tVig tOtal anaterial being' sampled rather than any. single portion.

Conducting :.Zayars '.rayers..iof soil 41iich contain, the prOperty of 'enabling water

'and fluids vi pa s' thro!igh .with 1,i,ttle rt4iPfStanCe.

'Oost;effec eness -The least .cQst project or. means' to 'achieving a specific' gOal.

.Cover crop -- A crop grOwn:bgtoeen.peritds 'Of regular crops for adding ?irganic mat

ter.to soil, anclir,,protection,:iagainst erosion.

Denitrificaltion41-- The biocheMical cdductlion of nitrate or- nitrite gaseous nitro-

gen either as molecular poitro,gdn or as an oxide of nitrogen.

Detritus -- Any-disintegrtted,,material restating from a larger Material being rubbed

:or worn away; debris.

1.-ge.;-:

Thost..°.seeds or crops;

hich :planted inzrOWS of a.

feided.d.:partYjt;diake

Effluent liquid substance; predominately, water containing inorganic .'and

,Easement, use right- rig

ty!s real property. limited use of another'par-,

organic :molecules of those substances which. do not precipitate bY"graVitY!

Electrical ponductiyity An exptes,s.iOn .of the readirieSs with Which an electrical

impulse (generated 'by ionic .actiiiity-) flOws through a water or system.

Electrode method - A method of analysis: by Use of electrodes, for.. measuring various

substances-. ,.

Ensiling -- The .preceSsf:Of.placing green

sta4:.for:,fermentation: and storage:

Enyironmental Protection:Agency.

plant materialAn sird pj.t.,.trench, or

Eutrophication 7- ;['he proceSs:,1n..which :,-the rate of i'lint faster '(due

the: presence. of an abundant 7of nutrientS). than the :rate of decOmpOs#iO

Evapotrarispi47atiOn %L., The combined loss. of..Water from a giCren area, and dtiring' a.

periocf-Of,..tme,. by evaporatiOn .ifrom the soiL,stirfaCe :d.ntl'bi :trans-

piration: frOm'plarifs. ,-,

External tile-economic ,senSe, a force exteaiia:11Y imposed bY4344.,-;;,:ecoli9i115-'c

agent on. other economic agents . Stich :ft,orces irivol.ve costs and/or benefit s' aid

aTe sometimes referred to is externalities'-Oi spillover

Fecal coilforms -- 11 type of facu l tat ,-. 'anaerobic Gram-negatiye ,rod- shape'd cells

of nonsporeTforming bacteria ori,inatine from ,fecal-,material.

Fee simple An estate in land having unqual'fied. ownership p.hd pow6r .

of dispOsition.,...

Fescue pastures .--.Pas,ttiTes. or tracts of land sed for grazing which 'consist of

'of grass of ,,the genus 'Festuca, family Goramineae..

the

":10

grown

Forage:.crop A crop '''such as hay; pasture -)grass ; legomeS, .which is grown pri-

magi ly as forage. or ;feed for',.1i..1'lestock 'I

-FriableonciiticA -L soil.with aggregates*ich can readilyrUptured and crushed.:

.with application bf moderatd.Wce .Easily, pulverized or reded.to

granular StrUCture..f

.- A Method of iirigatirig inwhacho.Wateg iS'ruly, in small ditches,,

fuTrpws or corrugations , usually spaced 'Close' enough togethef:t0:affOrd:lai-

eraf penetratIon.heteen,them,:.

-,.

.Geol,ogio..7-". Related° te. ,or. based Oft geolo# dr the. preperties of the earth ..f-Surfa:cg 'd

and Subsurface soil and :r.66k ferMations'.

Glacial Outwash Stratified gi4:6a1 drift whiCh is watebuilt.

.'arranged' in.,.,layerSof material of differenttextUT

6.1

Glacial till -- The unconsolidated, heterouneous mass

.boulders deposited by receding ice sheets.

of. Clay, sand, 'pebbles, and

Grab $ample A sample obtained randomly at one time. This may Or- may not be 'rop-

resentative of an entire composite of samples.

Groundwater qualify -- The degree of purity of the water obtained from the. zone of.

saturation (well water, subsurface or underground water).

daroUndwater recharge, -- Return of surface.water to.itiliundwater aquifers.

..MP ,....." .

r. ,.

Heavy metals -- Generally, those elements in the periodic table of elemehts which

belong to the transition elements: They may include essential micronutrients

and other nonessential elements.

Holding basin (storage lagoon) hatural.o

the shape and character of confinin°

may contain gaw or partially treat

stabilizati4n occurs.

artificially created space which' has

enabling it to hold water. It-

waior,in which aerobic or anaerobic

Host4pecific pest -- A parasite or pc t wh Can live in only one host, to which

it is therefore said to be specific 1.

Humidtareas.-Geographic Areas where the,cli te-has sufficient precipitation to

suppbrt a forest vegetation. Precipitation may range from 20-60 inches annually.

HUmUOidual humus) -- Organic maitertn the S8Ii7Whichhas reached an adyhnced.

stake of dikomposition and has become colloidal.ihnature: It is usually char-

acterized by a dark.color, a considerable nitrogen content, and chemical prop-

erties such as a high base-exchange capacity.

Hydraulic capabilities -- Fluids, usually water, which'are moving or at rest under

forces of gravity or pressure.

'Hydrologic-- Relating to the. properties.

., and the underlying rock.forOations.

Immobilized -- The action or reaction by which a Substance (element) is rendered

:immovable; fixed, as by organic matter or clay.

'Impermeable pans -- Zones within the_soil which restrict the movement of gases,li

quids,androots.

and movement Of water within a soil system

Impervious -- Resistant to penetration by fluids or by roots.

'Industrial organics -- Materials such:as pesticides, chlorinated plhsticizers; fire 4F

retardants, etc. -'

Infiltration capacity --.,The maximum rate at which a soi4,.in a given condition at

a given time, can absorb water, commonly expr ssed in inChes'of-depth per hour.

.Interlacirig,rhizomes -- The crossing and interwoyelostems which'grow partly or en-

tirely beneath the surface of theAreund, oftenhaving.scale-like leaves.

Interstratieded bedrock -- Alternating layers_ofrOifferent'bedrock;:layes

between beds of different rterial.

13.4 Aft

bsr

octurrins41

,4 The injection Of a subgtance below the soil surface.

Ale

Leaching --. Tee removal of soluble constituents from-soils_or other materials by

mcolatill water.

.,OP

.41pading parameter NeeVariables Such as water, metals; soluble saftS, suspended

,,`'solids, nitrogen, or'phospharus which' May limit wastewater or sludge application.

..401% ,., -" :,

'1: .Lodging -- `Pertaining. toield crops'-,- tAreak,.bend over, or lie flat on the

ground i sometimes :forming a tangle. Lodgirig may be. caused by high nitrogen

.*Veyels'in the soil, t..14 growth, wind and. heavy rain, and plant diseases. .

of; 0., .

LOeSS--: A massive deposit of sil Inner buff colored), with particles typically

5 t.

angular and!Yiniform in size..!: It is usualry catcareouS, often contains concre-

.tions-ofdalciot carbonate an .,shows lamination or bedding.'

.41 T...k,

Major nutrient. (macronutrient) -,7, A-chemical element necessary in large amounts

(usually > 1 ppm in the plant) for.the growth of plants; i.p., nitrogen,

phosphorv, potassiuth. :,

..:

Matrices -- That Arch tIllifei)4in or formtolirthing, or serves to enclose it.

metg2 taxicitis 7- Tok,i-cities arising from too hi:J, levels of metals in the soil.

., ; f, .

These could be due tol'eadmiipm, nickel,', .zinc, Od Per, etc. at-such.leyels that

41. they cause stunted or, ,reducedreduced' and micronutrient4mbalances wiittin,the

plant. 1 ...

Methylene blue active substances -- A measuig of the amount of anionic surfactants

(detergents) present in water,.

10! '

MGD -- Millions of 'gallons per day..

k&ronutrient A chemical element necessary in on1;'extremely shall amounts

f< 1 ppm in tile plant) for growth of'plants; B, Cl, Fe, Mn, Mo; Zn, Cu..

Microorganism.-- An organisM so small it, cannot be seen clearly without the Use of

a mVoscope.

Mineraliz4 Theconversion o'E an element in organit_.combination to its inorganic

forth A a result of microbial decomposition.

qtionoigui ture--,Cultivation of la single crop, such as wheat or cotton,to the exclu-

:sion of other possible uses of the land.

Mulch -.7. Soil, ttPaw, peat,.or any other loose material placed on ite ground to'

*serve soil moiSture; or:prevent undesirable plant -growth or soil erosion.

NC-98. North Central, Regional COmmittee of the State Agricultufal Experiment Sta-

ti s and Cooperative State Research Service titled "Environmental AcCumulation

of tritnts as Affected-by-Soil and Crop, Manaiement.t

tov%

`'NC -118 :-1North Central Regional. Committee of the'State Agricultural Experiment Sta-

tions and Cooperative State Rpsearch Service titled "Utili'zation'and Disposal

of Municipal, Industrial and Agricultural Processing Wastes on Land."

;o.

POndihg *The accumulation of free water on thesoilsurface.

13.5

Potable Watell ,suitable foe drinking.

.Precipitated 7" To. separate out. in solid form from a. solution.r

Precipitation surpluses Excessive rainfall.

Primary sludge :(raw sludge) -- Sludge'obtained from a primary settling tank, which

is the first settling.tank for removal'of settleable soiltl'irough whiCh waste-

water is messed in a treatment work.

Putrescible wastewater constituents'-- Microbialy decomposed n:Ithabsence o

oxygen. 4

Renovation - renovated:water -- Water which has undergone treatmenOlitough.chem -

Iical or biological, means whereby, impurities,bayebeen removed,,thus making ;t

more desirable for ayarticular Use. ,:r

Risk statement A statement of probability with reference to t heproh 11

occurrate; impact, and duration of an 6ent..

Row crop.-- A crop such as corn, beans, sugar beets, cotton, etc., usually gra

or cultivated'in rows.

Runoff -7 That portion oftotal precipitation finding its way into drainage chan-

nelst. It consists of ever varying proportions of both surface runoff,and

groundwater: runoff: J' '1i. !i. JJ-1

Sand Soil particles between 22and 0.005 mm in diameter.'

Secondary treatment -- The treatment of wastewater.by biological methods after,pri-

maryitreatment by sedimentation.

Sedimentation -- Deposit of sediment by natural or mechanical means.

Seeps -- A spot.Where water oozes out slowly from'the soil and gathers in a pool

or prodqces merely a wet place, usually on a hillside as a hill base.

.-. ..

...

Selective breeding -- The breeding of selective plants or animals chosen .because of

certain desirable qualities o4. fitness,. as contrasted to random or chance

breeding. .

.The climate, characteristic of theregions intermegiativbetween the,

true deserts and.subhumid areas,under which precipitati'On is

such that.a vegetation of scattered short grasses,°bUnchgVaor:shrubs

prevails.

Shallow discing -- The 'process by which-debris as chopped int ieCes and put under

the soil by use of a diSk, normally feSs thal1.5

Shrink-swell potential - -'The potential 'of a soil material to ange volume as a

result of:wetting or drying.

Side.rO11 laterals Laterals used'in irrigating low-growtng row crops and forages.

TheyHaremOunted on wheels 1;.,th the pipeline as the Ale.. A. length of flexible..

hosris ilsedto make the connection to the main line.

13:6 4

Silt - Soil P'articles between 0.,O5 and 0.002 mm in diameter. q.

.2.

Soil compaction -- The process by which soil grains are rearranged to decrease,void

.spaceand bring them into closer contact with each other, thereby increasing

the-weight or bulk material per cubic foot.

di/ hprizon -- A layer .of 'soil approximately parallel to the land surface and dif-

fering from adjacent genetically related layers.

.,'

Soil profile -- A vertical section of the soil from the surface through all its

horizons, incleing C horizons.

Soil structure -- The combination or arrangemSnt of primary Soil particles into

secondary particles, Units, or peds.

Sod former -- Any Crop or vegetative cover, which quickly-forms a heavy, close-knit,

top growth over the surface of the soil and a root system which binds the soil

particles together, thus forming a sod, vIch as white clover or bluegrass.

capacity

Specific conductance -- A measure of the apacity of water to convey an electrical

current. This property is related tp the total concentration of ionized sub-

stances in .a water and changes in the, specific conductance at a given monitor-

ing well location give an indication of a change in groundwater quality.

Sprinkler irrigation (spray irrigation) -- Irrigation by means of above-ground ap.-

,ialicators; which PrOjecv\water outward through the-air, making it reach the'' -

in droplet form.

Static water level -- Equilibrium water level reached in an observation or monitovr

ing well after an extended period.

Strata Layeri or beds of rock.

Structural. carbon -- Structural forms ofmost organic molecules

carbon skeleton with other elements bonded to it.

Submarginal land -- Land incapable of sustaining a certain use

economically.

are made up of a,.$

or ownership status

.Substratum -7 The C horizon of a soil.

..4):

..Surface irrigation -- Irrigation distribution of water over the soil surface by

flooding'or in furrows for storage in the soil for plant use.

Suspended solids -- Solid particles whiCh do not precipitate out of sOlutionOr.do

not easily filter out:. They may be colloidal in nature.

.Texture (soil texture) -- The relative proportion in a soil of'the various size .

groUps of individual soil grains (sand, silt, and clay).

Tight subsoil -- A subsoil which is very compact and permits only very slow move-

merjt of water.

Tillage operations -- Working,the soil to bring about more favorable conditions for

plant growth.

Tolerance level.-- The highest level an organism-can

ing affected.

Toxic ,trace organics -- See industrial organics:

resist or endure before becom-

Tiickling filter. -- A bed of crushed ston', gravel, or cinders'ofrelativelylarge

It ',. size and usually about.S feet or more thick. Sewage.is applied at the surface

and the solids precipitate out during their descent through the bed. Aerobic'

bacteria decompose tile soli& _

4Rs' N

ainty,-- Usually refers to an eventrabout which nothing is known with'respect

to impact, duration,:; and probability of occurrence.

Underdrainage That drainage consisting of drain tiles placed in trenches deep

etoughoto all& the covering soil to be cultivated and the,p3file adequately

drained.

1,gs .''' -lit

.uptake -- the process Oy which plants take elements from the Soil. The uptake of

,,,..

1, certain element, by a plant is calculated,by multiplying the dryweight by

0,. he concentratici of the element'. t, °,

.9.G.S. datum -- Elevetion relative to mean sea leVel established by the United

,States Geological Survey. United States Geodetic Survey.

ftcqum flitation -- Separation of substances by use of a filtering system with

e'the sid,of a vacuum. 1'

0* Vol lization - vaporization -- The conversion of a liquid or solid into vapors. ;A O'l

W11124 -- Western Regional Committee of the State Agricultural Experiment Stati9n4

and-Cooperative State Research Service titled "Soil as a Waste-Treatment

0System."

water table -- The upper surface of groundwater or that level below.which the soil

is saturated with water; locUs of points in soil water at which the hydraulic

zt pressure is equal to the atmospheric pressure. 'k:

Wastewater loadings -- The amount of wastewater applied per acre-per unit of time.

Watershed -- The total.runoff from a region which supplies the water 2f a river or

lake; a catchment area or drainage basin.

Yield goals -- The highest anticipated or expected yield a field shoUld produce.

13.8

Doubt g Infi 1 ti ter :Method for Measu

., 1965 .Rate of Water inta e..: in the Field: ...In Methods of

Pratt li'IMOnagr,,aptil. No .9, eri can' SpCiety of AgrOnOmy,. Madi-

Appendix .A

1'-: Meta/ cylinders,; o preferably ',fiVe. oyi1nders for Use ii .a ;Single'

-".. e . 0i:4 II

test, :using ' smoo ,ssteel :.or galvani zed'e stee.lk of. thickness, not to .

,mceed).'.9...08,. inc 1444' gai.'w):.01.0 s.s.l. a sharpened .Cut tirig.; edge.l i.,; -:Pro7.

id4d.. Make the 1 0'. inches and: prtefe,r0f.y.' 12 !to..',1,4;.; inches-. ...:Make,.:.

inside diaMe oheS 4fiaif.preferably.' .gtOre,iMaki4 the diameters:. ;

that t4e,r,cy riside eaeh,other9;f,,deSired; :,".,,tutst.,:Weldlthe.

inclind,,I :sea t?"..a- reliOna.bly smo. Oth fipis",h.,., ..:1:f: a' S..iit.:. 0.f....::...

u.CYlinders o, 0.,..

r. ..400.8f :an.eartilieh,;...d,4m ..to: liproVide a buffer :,ico,mu'

t, make t e; crli 1, 'mafine,,,clescrlibeti. above ; ..1311t: iii.e 10 }gauge .,;.....

y,j..er metal ", .gst.,:a .14.. '4.hits ;.':''...4ie:. a aaiiieteaia.t least..48.'sinChe.,#:-.

,Sr *the' .lpeas#itig,,ey :, ...,.,:We0:1,:a.;.1'.ein"pf" rc,ing girip.'-aTound thO,. top ... ..

s. ;- 4,,..... 1'4, ...s.,.':.., :. :. -..: ;.:..,.. ',.. it. ...- ..Y

',Plate:: :. 41sio..'a4picice241t.',Steil.1.4,2 e4at14a4t. 1:/2,,,,. inch. .,t,h4.-cc and !porn 2

..:2' ,..' 1 ches.. larger than:.,0e,--,Sthuill6tiV,If:::;,tkg)l.argep.t Inttasuring ,cylindor.::.::::Weld

iiiiiii;?ta ..IttLe... lOwqr':.face,,i6';-;,046,:tA ....,'ilite .app;oxini6te-1:19* centered. on :the."..dyiin- . .

.,....derIV..-. 1 t' 'de s i roa....., for". grciate.4..eake. in carrying' the;:lxf ate , weld.: 'a handle of

Steel 'rod I/ 2-. ifiai in. diatieter ,'td one edge:4

, 4.

'' :0;:%,41'. =' '

three

Driving h '.:.kt 0-lb . 'sledie,hammer, usedi,With', a tamping blow .rather than ,

. a "Win' g;-:,blow ;Its! ade4uate foir' - man soils ,Hake a heavier and bettor ham .

.me a .haridle 'to ,one:` &tie of a steel Ock*Weighing about -30 lb.. (this

w lett is proVided,;iii. :a hf481c;;liAvft, dime oiii'about 8 by 2 inches) .A-Iter-

..:na$1Vely,: attach aqV1/4 iffitti. by 63 .in ti, ed.;`,Inalleabfe iron reduter";to a

4,':'4f.00t length of stajNard 1.=1/4:. itich"tal,'Van od ':piPe , and ;fill the reducer. and

WPipe with 15.0 20 lb Of l'oad.'. .4 .,. ,,.....

r,vater 4,tipiply:; Use 50-gdalon .st*.,.1. ;;Irupg,:,10rga milk cans,- or Other suit-

. able," dintainers: for transporting iir6;tez: tO...the.sit'e 2f the measurements .Use.

''..,',iiiine.orOore Icets of 410 ti1.4.12.-4,06.t.t capaCity:. to cony;ey. water to the Cylinder.

EsIploy.,:water sui; e,, .

'Pudd.iipg protect on de0i IJ a piece -of folded burlap,: cloth, heavy. paper, ,

or .loOsely ;;fitting b'..'irisider the central cylinOryto. protect the

soil, surfat0, wilt40t. -WAttdikelis £ ied.;

Timing de

less . timepiece Which can be eiicl,:to

llook gauge: Grin:4 a.416 f welding rod to a fine point at one end,

and bend this enciehrolig form` a hook. in which, the pointed end is paral-

lel with the long axis o,the..r4. Solder a flavapiece of brass .about 3/4 by

14.1,

Y". ;'.'42,...,?., t;.' 40A

r/4, by 1/14 inch 4 .welding

to the aboUt 3:1,inclieS:fipal. the prid oppo

site' the hook,'plae the long. dimension f the bra piece j!.6rperilituldr to

.. I,,..

the axiS,, of'.:...the ..We.kil mg, rod.' Use this ,\asSembly,.j,n.conneOt'j,On '.10.til .'a `triangii-

'far enkinekr!s scale .tO %measure the distance ,of.ther::J10,0r-,$)..irfa.,Ce ,,in ithe cyl -

inder elow a reference point Alternatively; .:11,s6'..7f4,1.;flarieniet*ii,dee'fribed

^belon'$ 'qr...the Constant-head ..device in ''9: '1

::,,' .; .,.S,:';rL ,..: ,' 1

..MandMeter: '',;AS an ailternatiVe to the hook gauge fOr.,meig'ui::ii:ig4,.' level of

,water?inside..,:thes:,c6tral cylinder, Prepare O. in4nOnieter:44.0ter lowing manner.

Irlt, ..Sectii0, a gradUated\piPeite..of perhaps 30 cm:::length and *Oral lilliMeters in-

.,k...

eide..d3,atneter; and 'cut off the ?.Wer, restricted ? end :..con, pri,.; u pipce of '2 by

12-1ndhbOard iii the, Shape of a 'right triangle with one ang e o out 300 and,

awl with the of a , length slightly 'greater tharq at 'Of ihe graduated

=it! - pipette,...,,..Fasten the pipette to the,edge of the ttiangle,:sY 0:10,0Ps the hypot:-

e''''''' eritise, ' andk.'fasten the side which fth .,s .the other 1.0c4,4',Iiiip,s0 .angle to atri

,'I' angular ,piece of 1/4 -inch steel- plateN.which is set on itiiie'e...!ieveling Pins and

ii4.place,d. outside the infiltrom, er. ;4efore eachi,,USttar ulAy level the plat-

,.liti form. ,Befon:g 'Adding water to st t theo4ntiltratiOn'k ttdch one end of a

.. ,1$p ie e. Q, of, fleAli'le tubing to-,t tom .o1 the ,pipett :..bnct4 eild the other end

461.. tr .

.overr the ,top Off` tw cyliriders eck the`11Otiton! .' .e. ,innef cylinder .Imme di "

4.s. at ly foillotVing,dditio of: water to4)the inliieri..cyri 61.4,;S10,Ak On the top of the

.,.

ARipdIttae ,to causb' pater to fi 1 1: t he flfscib ie. tube ithendpead the posit ion of

,'''" te merii us on'. t",pipette sdale, and.nOltipti::- the valliesi;>by the appropriate

.A.

t. . . P,actor t ob 'ain 're4,tfigs of..:.Vertical .11i6V;ementA of ti$ ,water surface in inches

.or-...c en t iiiiet% s as de sl ted,,.. eThe o on versaOrto. ffil4`1Fit.iw remain; the same as ,; 1 ong .,

c as elat okit.,..#31 ar.ciiitiel3r leyeleoli.. 4,,...'..... ',.., ',...

.. N' ''. `ks ,..1.. ,.....ika^. :y.. ..... "I ,,. !, ;

'' P 9.. co stant-he "cl deviceOt 1±1,4 toAtant,head is4106 maintained in the cylinder,

.-: 1 : cn40.t 'the. inailV!Iwater:.44spy; tank toi;a.. ,,..floa .1/5 ;aitached to the side of the/

:;0 mea4u ng441inder '.: (or 1-6,,e veake if tlie).-fUrrow il. h'4 in method is used) .Use

rrsip, tube 0 sufficient Siie (usualky..,412iricrhhliameter) to make. the connec-

...

it...ed $...; ',..-

...

Sele . a nerd ,atea that is tepretentative fo:the purpose, of the measurement.

..Examiop 46.ilciessribe., the' stiit,*1 profil;t,cOriditijons If 'rexture, structure, water con-

tentTand adsbriled sodilim, with :partitul4r reference to to the first foot. Secute sam-

files4lor meas rneth#'.adsorbed sodith 4riteiii: *ere sodium may be a problem) and

101::' Record the kind o op and, the stage of growth,. and describe

ter- o'i.. liftil'ch. and.,sthe con ition .of .the soil sUrface -.- freshly culti-

the,,,,at

p.i.orptti

vated,%cio dy,',cru*ted;,tra.Cke...dretc. M,akefote of any other 'Condition observed

:.whichx-miglit4have al? influence on rate-of wa et .intake:

yit

Ta. ov,?...de for Vcurrent meas ments on, three or :more sites, select the' exact...

sites for the asUreinents .withinf, a mite@ aret normally 1/2 acre.'or less.: UnleSS

be affectO b unusual?! Sur ce disturboCe; animal burrows, stones which might dam-

the :obj'e..ottive to make m ements of-. special conditions, avoid areas which may

`age: the cylinder, -anima. Apyaf ic, or inachine traffic.

Set a cYlnaervi lace and presi' it firmly into the soil. For cylinders less

thafi .24 incheS in diameter, 4se:the. driving plate on the cylin,de!, stand on the

plate, and drive the aylind into: the ion by tamping the plate with the driving

hamper. Drive- the.!cylindeli in 'vertically, using a carpenter's level as needed. Do

not drive: the cylinder.; into.the soil irregularly sp that-first one side and then the

other goes down. ThiS procedure produces a poor pliond betWeen the cylinder wall and

.-.. GJ

(0 14.2

the soil, ,and it disturbs the. soil core within th'e'cylinder. If the cylinder should

enter the soil at an angle, remove it and reset Win another joCatiOth- Drive the' r.

';'OrAinder'into the. soil to a depth of approximately:4 inches. c.

Arbund theHmeasUring Cylinder,, place a buffer -cylinder having a diabeter at

,least 8, inches greater. Drive this cylinder'int6.the soil to a: depth of 2 to 4

inCheS by tamping it around the:circumfeence with the dTiving-hammer; Strictly

JNiertiCal movement of this cylinder into th.soil is not particularlyimportant. As

an.alternative to the buffer Cylinder; construct a buffer Pond ,by thrOwinaUp-a loW'

0'..tO 6 inches) dike around the cylinder, avoiding disturbance Of-the soil inside

the dike, and keeping theinside-t6eOf the dike. at least 6 inches from the cylOder.

;Place burlap or other puddling protection deviCe On. the' soil within thecentral

cylinder. Then fill the buffer pond on the outside with water to-a depth OfAbouti,

2 inches, and maintain approximately the same depth throughout the period of obser-,

vation. (The depth of water in the buffer pond is not critical as long as a::suPply,

of water is always available for infiltration into the Soil.) :Immediately after

.adding water to the buffer pond,fill'the centkaYcylinder with water to the desired

depth (usually 1.tc0 inches), remove the puddling protection device, and.make a

.measurement of the water surface. elevation by a hook gauge' (or manometer if desired).

Use the cylinder edge for the reference level, and mark the cylinder so that all sub -.

sequent measurements can bemade at..the same oint on the cylinder. Alternatively,:

if the'basin or furrow method is used, e oa stake to provide a reference level.'

Record the hook gauge reading and the time at which the observation was made. Carry

out these operations quickly, so that errors from intake during the operations will

be pall.

Make additional hook gauge measurements at intervals, andirecord the water level

and the time, For Most soils, observations atjathe end of 1, 3, 5; 10, .20, 30, ,45,

60, 90, and 120 Minutes,,, and hourly thereafter,' will provide adequate information.

Make obsemations:more frequently as needed onsoilS having a high rate of intake.

As'a general rule,the intake between measurements should not exceed 1 inch.' Con-

tinue measurements until the rate of:intake is almost constant. 1

When the water level has dropped 1or 2:1.nchesfinthe cylinder, add sufficient

'water to return the water surface approximately to its initial elevation. :Record

the level and time just before filling and.the'level.:after filling. Keep:the:in-

terval between these two readings as shOrt as possible to avoid errors caused by

intake during the refilling period: (In analyzing the results, the asSumption is

made that the refilling is instantaneous.)

If a. constant water leVel in the.cylinderor basin is maintained by a float

valve, measure,the rat, of depletion-of-water in the supply tank by a hook gauge,

manometer, or automatic water-stage recorden:

Robert Taft Sanitary. Engineering. Center Percolation 'Test

Ref.; A S. Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare. 1967. Manual of Septic-Tank

'Practice. Public Health Service Publication No. 526, pp. 4-8.

Pr9edure: or, 4

AO?

'1411Number and ocation of tests: Six or more tests shall be made in separate test

7Fhokespaced uniformly overfthe proposed absorption field site.,

11111

Type of test hole: Dig or bore a hole, with horizontal dimensions of.4 to 12

.,inches and vertical sides to the desioOepth. To save time, labor, and vol-

ume of water required per test, the-holeitan be bored with a 4-inch auger.

3. Preparation of test hole: Carefully ,scratch the bottom and sideS of the hole

with a knife blade or sharp-pointed instrument, to remove any pMeared soil sur-,

faces an0 to provide a natural soil-interface into which watet may percolate.

Remove al'l loose material from the hole. Add 2 inches of coarse sand or fine

gravel to.4protect the bottom from souring and sediment. ,7)

.....

.Satnration and swelling of the soil: It is important to' dis nguish between

saturation and swelling.' Saturation means that/the void spat s between soil

particles are full of water. This can be accomplished in a ort'period of

time Swelling is caused by intrusion of water into the-in idual soil, par-

ticles. This is a slow process, especially in clay-type soil, and is the rea-

son for requiring a prolonged-soaking period.:

In the conduCt of the test, carefully fill the hole with clear water tot'.amini-

mum depth of 12 inches over the.gravel. In most soils, it is necessait:to re-

fill the hole by supplying a surplus reservoir of water, possibly by means, of.

an automatic syphon, to keep water in the hole for at least 4 hours and"pref-

gerably overnight. Determine the percolation rate 24 hours after water is first

added to the hole. This procedure is to insure, that thesoil is given ample

oppqrtunity to swell and to approach the condition it will be in during the

wettest-season of the year Thus, the test will give comparable *sults in..;

the same soil, whether made in a dry or a wet season. In sandy soils contain-

ing little or na clay, the swelling procedure is not essential,,,artd the test

May die made as described under 5C, after the water from one filling of the/hole

hAs'completely seeped away. ,

11, *

5. Percol on rate measurement : - With the exception of sandy soils, percolation

rei me surements,should be 'made on,the day following the procedure described

t 4,. above.

1 4 0 f water mains in the t st hole after the overnight swelling peribd,.adjust-

the depth to approximately 6 inches over the graVel. From a-4i* reference

point, measure the drop in water level over a 30-minute perick-this drop is

used: to calculate the percolation

B. If no water remains .in the hole after the overnipt swelling period, add

,clear water to bring the depth.of water in the hole to approximatlaly 6inches

over the gravel. FroM a fixedreference point, measure the drop in water level

at approximately 30-minute intervals for 4 hours, refilling 6 inches. over the

gravel as necessary. Thedrop which occurs during the final 30-minute per'od

is used to calculate the percolatidn rate. The,drops during prior periods

Vide information for possible mOdifl.cation of thAygtocedure to .suit local cir-

cumstanceS. ..

0;11.;'

C. In sandy soils (or other soils in which ..ote first 6 inches of water seeps

away in less than .30 minutes, after the overnight, swelling period), the time:

interval between measurements should be taken as '10'minutes and the test run

for 1 hour. 'The drop. which, -occurs during the final 10 minutes is used to cal -

culate 't,he, percolation rate.

Appendix B

ample Calculations .td Determine Sludge' ApPlication Rates

on Agritultural Land (Section'3)

Slud9e: Z% NH4-N, 0% NO3 -N, 5% total N, 2% 13, 0.2% K

Zn, 10,000 PI mil; Cu, 1,000 PPin; Ni, 50 ppm; Pb, 5 ocio -ppm; Cd, 10 ppm

Silt loam, CEC = 20 Imeq/100 g; °fertilizer recommendations from soil- tests

are 25 lb. of 'I) per acre and 100 lb. of K per acre.

Previous applications: 10 tons/acre for 2 previous years

From Table13.4: 180 bu. corn - 240 lb. N,.441P, 199 lb.

Calculate annual rate based on N and Cd

1. Available N in sludge,

NH4 -N

Incorporated sludge application

Lb: available N/ton sludge = 20 x 2% +

= 40 + 12

52 lb. availablg N /ton sludge

2. Residual N

rrom Table 3.5 for-3% orgabic N

)' el .

dge added 1 year earlier

10 tons/acre_x 1.4 lb. N/ton = 14 lb: N

b) Sludge added 2 years earlier

10 tons/acre x 1.4 lb. N/ton = 14 lb. 1)

c) Residual N = 28 lb.

37.idge application Rate'Y

°a) 240 lb. needed - 28 lb. residual = 212 lb. from sludge

dil 212 87 tons/acre

N/ton sludge

12 b. N -

Calculate application rate for 2 lb. Cd/ cre

2 lb. Cd/acre tons/acre'. 100

10 ppm Cd x .002 14.6

s/acre

41%

.4. The lower amount is applied = 8.7 tons sludge/acre

Calculate total sludge amount which may be applied

Based on Table 3.3, maximum amounts are calculated as follows:

Conc.

Maximum in Tons of

Metal Amount Sludge Sludge/Acre Cal cul ati on

lb./acre ppm

2000 1 b. Pb/acre

1b2000 ,5000 2'00 5000 ppm Pb x .002

1 000 lb. 'Zn/acre

10,000 ppm Zn x..,002

500 lb. Cu/acre

1 000 ppm Cu x -.002

1 OW 10,000 60

500 1,0k 250

500,

500 I b. Ni/acre

5000 50 ppm Ni x .1102

The lowest amount is from equation

limited by Zn, at 50 tons/acre.

.Calculate fertilizer needed

1. 'P ferti 1 izer

1 000 20 lb. . Cd/acre

10 ppm Od x .002

.Thus, sluAge application is

'8.7 tons/acre .x 2% P xF 20 0'58 lb. P/acre

Fertilizer recommendation is,25 tb. P/acre

No fertilizer P needed.

K fertilizeek

8.7 tons/acre x 0.2% Kx 2O' ae 34.8,1b. K/acre.

Ferti 1 izer recommendatti on' .fs,,,fl 00 1 b. K 'acre

Fertilizer K needed = 65

acre-:inch of of.ligtid = 4:gallons = 3,630 ft.. 102,787

2. 1, cm..hectare of liquid46 100,000 titers = 100 m.3'

metric ton = 1,000 2,205 lb.

Cubic feet per econd, x 5.39 x mg. /ter'. = lb./day

°Ripion gallons per day x =lb. /day

1 acre = 40844 yards 2= 43,60 feet2meters2

Acre-inches'.x 0.226 x ing./liter = lb./acre

ha-cm x 0.1 x mg./liter = kg./hectare

English-metric conversions

a. acre-inch x 102.8 = meter

b. .quart x 0.946 = liter

English Um x.0.907 metric ton

d., English tonic /acre x 2.242 = metric tons/hectare

e. lb./acre..x 1.121 = kg.-/hectare

1 ft.3 = 7.48 galloonsi.=,, 28.3 niers

7-- 0.4047 geCtare

.1 lb. T0.454 kg.'

'Appendix D

PuBLiCATWNS PERTIOENT TO

Application of Sewage Sludge, and Wastewater. to Agricultural ,latrid.

Proceedings of Conferences and SymPos a."

.Recycling Treated:Muni.'cipal WaStewater and Srudg(OhroUgh Forest atid-qop Land..

Edited by E:Sopper,and L. T. Kardos. Symposium. eld August i2,1724,

me Pennsylvania State University Riess,tiniVersity Park, .13a.- :

Recycling Municipal Sludges and kffluents dnij.ana:)Joint conference held ;July

9-13 ,.. 1973,-. Champaign, I11 .National Association of State .bnitersities.-od

Land-Grant College*, Washington, D.C.. .

Ultimate Dispose.]: of 'Wastewaters and Their Residuals... SymPosluin..heleApril

26 -27, 1973, Durham, N.C: Nort,h 'Carolina-. Water ResoUrces...Ikese,iith ittite

'Raleigh, N.C. '

Land for WaSte Management. Conferense:lheldOct

zi .; The Agricultural Institute of Canada.'Oitawa, Ont..

. ."

5. Land Disposal of Municipal Effluents andSludgeS'.' ConferAkce fleid.MarCh.

1973 at Rutgers Univ. , liew Brunswick N.J. EPA,902/9-73*;001.

-P ,-'i

,....... ,

6.1 WaStewater, Use; the Production of Food and Fiber--Progeedtngs4 Conference' lrel4

March 5-7 1974, at Oklahoma CitY, Okla. EPA-.66.0/2-74Ari4.June 1974

Municipal Sludge Mana.geFent.,' Conference held June. 11. 43) ,,1974, 'in Pittsburgh,

Pa. Information Transfer; Inc.? Washingtoli, D:t.

Municipal:` Sludge ManageMent and DiAposal. `.Conference .1414 August 18-20, '1975

iri Anaheim, Calif ' Lnformation /Transfer, Inc..,..R0019,Tille.. Md ',:: 1* .

.4,,..1

Virus Survival in' Water and Wastewater Systems.. Edited; by ttlk ---'- Manna, Jr.

and B. P. Sagik., Symposium held in April '1974' at the Univez,sity of, TexaS-

AUStin.. Center 'fax:,..Research in Water' Resources, University'af Te)(a.is kistic

Teicas, ., ,.

EPA. Reports -- Sewage..Wastehiaters and Sludge.

Survey of Facilities Using, Land. Application of Wastewater,

.N1'. M. Cohn,'S. S. Baxter: -.EPA-001..9-73.406, July 1973.

-7 2.;.:'41.4,, :.. j",

WaSfewat r Treatment a.nd Reuse bY':1,4nd Application'V.Valumt.1 -

C. E. PQU d and; t.. W. Crites., EPA460/2-731006a., Augtist r97t.

WaStewater Treatmenf ,andReuse by tend 'Application - Volume. II, by

and R. W-. Crites: .,EPA/660-2. 3-006b, .August 1973. .

Renovation of SeCoridaryEffluent 'for ReUse as` .a Water -Resource, .by. KardOs,

W. E. Sapper, E. A. Myers., R. Pa.rizek,. and P., EPAQ''660/2174-016,

Feb. 1974.

5. Feasibility,of Overland.Flowlbr.TTeatment of Raw Domestic

Thomas, K. Jaason; and L. Penrod: .EPA-660/2-74,087, Dec,

Wastekater-, by

1974..

Evaluation of'Land Application Systems, C: to Pound,,R. W. Crites, D. A.

EPA-430/9-75-001, March'.1975.

....

A Guide to the Selection of cOst-Effactive Wastewater Treatment Systems, by

R. H. Van .Note, P. Hebert, R. 14.^Patel,.C- Chupek, and L. FeldMan. EPA-430/

9-75-0021 July 1975.

S. Costs of Wastewater treatment by Land Application; by C. E. ound, R. W, Crites,.

andD. A. Griffes..' EPA-430/9-75-003, June 1975.

9. Land'Applicption of SewagelEffluents and Sludges: SeAected Abstracts, by Water

Quality Control Branch, Robert S, Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory, Ada;

Okla. EPA-660/2-74-042, June 1974:.

- -

10: Fate' attd tffec 4f Trace Elementg'in Sewage Sludge when ,Applied

Land, ie. EPA-670/2.-74-005, Jane 1974.

-I'

to.. Agritultural

Process aesign'Manuaffor,Sludge Treatment and Disposalffide of Technology

'Transfer, USEPA. EPA-625/1A-p06, Oct: 1974. -

12. Review of Landapreading of Lig d Municipal'

L: 'Masse,' J. M. Genc, and .Ifeadi.

13. Trench' Incorporation .of Sewage Slt in Mar

Walker, W.,D. Burge,,IL L. Chaney, E.

75 -034, Sept.

'EPA' Reports ood Processing. Wastes

1: Proceedings Fifth National' Symposium on rood Processing,Wastes, held April 17:19,

:1974, ;in Monterey, Calif. EPA-660/2.-74-058, Jude 1974.

Wastewater Characterization for the Specialty Food Industry,-by,C. J.

J. Farquhar' and E; V.'ClAilents; III. EPA1-660/2-74-075, Dec: 1974.

Sewage SlUdge,.byl% E. Oditaff,

Ep-670/2-7Y-049,'June 1975.

ginal Agricultural Land, byj. M.

n, and J., Menzies. -EPA-,600/2

chmidt,,

"Proceedings Third Symposium:on Tood Processing Wastes, held March 28-30,

A.972, in New Orleans,'La., A-R2-72-018, Nov. 1972.* ,

4. Waste Contrc4 and Abatement in the Processing of Sweet Potatoes, by C. Small-

wood, 'Jr., R: S....Whitaker,cana N. V. Coyston. EPA-66042-73-021, Dec: 1974.-

.1-.

.ot.

5. Egg. Breaking and. Processing Waste Control and JreaimentkY W. J. Jewell, H. R.

Davis, D. .F...Johndrew, Jr:, R. C.' LoehT, 141.- Sidvewicz,,,and R. R. tall EPA-

660/2.-75-019, June 1975. '

6. Aerated ,Lagoon Treatment of Food Processing Wastes, by K. A. Costal. Water'

Pollution Cian,rol Reiearch Series 12060--03/68, Mach-1968. t i -

1.'

y. Upgrading LagOons; 'EPA Technology Transfer, Seminar Publication, August 1975

*Somepapers in thePrOceedings of,FirstSecond,' Fourth, and following National

,Symposia. may be perOnent, to land. applications

14.10

.1 ,

Wastereatment, Upgrading Meat PacIiing,Factrities to Redude Pollution. EPA

Technology Transfer Seminar PUblication, Oct. 1973. s..

...:

,,.. '.

.Waste Treatment, Upgrading Poultry-grocessing Facilitieshto Reduce Pollution.

EPA Techl5logy Transfer Seminar Publication, duly 1973:

'10. Meatpacking. Wastewater Treatment b Spray Runoff Irrigation; by J. L. Witherow

and M. E. Rowe; PNERL Working Paper NR. 151 May 1975, Pacific Northwest Envi-

ronmental-Research Laboratory, EPA,.Co+vallis, Ore. .'

Effluent'Variability.imthe Meat-Phtking anOlotritry. ProcessinOndustxies,:

J. F.:Scaief.:'PgERL.Working.Paper No 16, June 1975,0acifiC..Northwest.EnVi-.:

ronmental Research Laboratory.; EPA COrVallis, Ore..

1.2.. ,AffOlivenessof Spray Iriigation as a Method for the Disposal=of Dairy Plant'

Wast'es; by G. W. .Lawton, 1. E. Eitgelbert;ilt. A. Rohlich; ana'N.-;Parges. Agri.'

Exp. Sta'. Res. Report,No. 6, Univ. of Wiqonsin, Madison,° Wis.

1...

13. The Development; Dialuation and Content oia Pilot Programin Dairy UtliliP-ti

Dairy'Weste Disposal and Whey Processing, lyy:W.,S., PAbuckle and L..R. Blanto

Coop. Ext. Serv..'and Dept. of Dairy Sci,., Univ.,of MarylandCollege Patk, bid;

.,/

14. An,Evalliation of Cannery Waste bis osal by direrland Flow Spray IrrigationZ-

C. W. Thornthwaite AssociatesPublicatieds inClimatolOgy Vol; 22-, No Sept-.

1969," Laboratory, bf ClimfologylEAler,.N. J.

U. S.,ArMy Corps of Engineers/Reporis

I. Assesfiment of the Effectiveness and Effects of .Land Risposal. Methodologies of

°Wastewater Management, by C. H. Driver; B. F, Hrutfiord, D. E. Spyiqdakis; p.

<1..,/ Welch; and D. D. Wooldridge. WastewateY Management Report 72-1, Jan. 1972:

Wa.stewatet.Management by Disposal on the. Land, S. C. Reed;'CoordinatOr. Co

Regions.Researh and Engi4ering Laboratory, Spec. Report 174 May 1972, Ha

Reactions of Heavy Metals with Soils;with Special,Regard to. Their Appli

Sewage Whstes, by G. W. Leeper, Nov. 19272.

Selected Chemical Characteristics of Soils, Forages, and Drainage Wa

Sewage Farm Serving Mell;ourne, Australia, by R. D. J9hnson, R. I.,J

pinesly, and D. 17.,David, 'Jan. 1974. .'

Wastewater Treatmtnf on Soils of Low Permeabilitjr, by R.

anef. B. Delaney, Jr. Misc. Paper Y-74-2, July.1974.

..Uoepp?

Land Application of astewate: 'Die Fate of Viruses, cteria,and avy.Metals

at a Rapid Infiltration' Site', by S. JA. Schaub, E. P. .Neier, Kolmer, and

C. A. SO4pr. Report TR 7504, MaY 1975-,-1-4.S, Army Medical lioentineering

ResOrch'and Development Laboratory, Fort. Detrick,Frederick, Ma. ,

EValuation of Land TreatMent of Municipal'Wastewater and PhySical Siding of

Facility hwtallations, by W. J. Hartman, Jr.,May 16, 1975. '4,,

. , .

,Miscellaneous 4

.7., .1

.. .

Fc*org.InvolVed,In.liand ,Application of Agricultural and Municipal

Agri. Res..-SerV.,.USe Dept: of Agriculture,' Beltsville; Md.,:July

.....

Wates:'

1974:

Treatment and 'Disposal of.Wastewater*Sludges,.by-P: A. Vesilind. Ann Arbor 4

Sonce Publishers', Ann Arbor, Mich:, 1974./ ".

'3. Land Trdatment and DiSposal'of Municipal and Industrial Wagtewatei; edited by-

R. L. Sailk4 and T. ASano.. .Ann A bor Science Pub4shers,Ann Arbor, MiCh.,

Soil Limitations for Digposal of Muhicipal Wastewaters-, by I. F. Schneider and

.E. Erickson.-Research%RePoF 195, Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences, MSU.

5, .Land Treatment of Wastewater in Southeastern Michigah, by B. G,-Ellisp.A. E.

Erickson; B. D. Knezek, R. J. unze, I. F. Schneider, E. P. Whiteside,. A. R.

Wolcott, and,R. L.Cook, June 1573,' Dept, of Crop and'Soil Sciences, MSU-

Impact of-Waste ter on Soils

and A.-R. WOlco fnst. of

of Water Res, MSU.. ,

Sampling and Analy

o Standardizationan

Agri, Exp, Sta., M

by B. Q. Ellis, E: Erickson, B.

ater Res; Tech. Report No. 30, Oct.

Knezek,

1972, Inst.

sis'ofSoils, Plants, Wastewaters, and Sludge ..-Suggested

d Methodology.- North Central Regional Pub.'236

SU.'..

:Publications to be Available Within 6-12 Months.

Soils for Management and Utilization of Organic Wastes and-Wastewaters. Pro-,

ceedings of SympOsium held March 11-13; 1975, at Tennessee Valley Authority;,

Muscle Shoals', Ala. Published by Soil Science Society of'America, Madison, Wis.

..' Land Application Of Waste Materials,: Proceedings of National Conference eld

',March-15-18,-1976, Des Moines, Iowa. Published bythe Soil.Conservatior Society4

of America, 'Ankeny,.Iowa.

.'.'Land as a. Waste Management Alternative. Eighth Annual Cornell University Waste.

Management -Conference held april 28-30, 1976, Rochester, N. Y. published by

Cornell University,,Ithaca, N. Y.

Virus Aspects of Applying Municipal Wastes to. Land-. Sylposium,held June 28-29,.

1976, at University'-Of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

..Utilizing Municipal Sewage 'Effluents and.Sludges on Land-for Agricultural pro-

duction. Edited 7by L. 'W. Jacobs, 1976. To be publighed as A. North oCentr41

Regional Extension Bulletin.

..Utilizing Sewage Sludges, on AgriCultUral Soils; I. General Description and

Considerations;.II. FaCtOrs for Determining Mates of Application, by L. W.

JacobS PI 1976. To be published as.a two bulletin:serieS; Coop. Ext. Serv.,

'Mich. State Uleiv:

* U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTtNG OFFICE. 1928 - 777-066/1121 Reg. 8

MCD735 ED161750

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