An assessment of the risks associated with PCDDs and PCDFs following the application of sewage sludge to agricultural land in the UK

Chemosphere ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 2523-2543 ◽  
Author(s):  
AP Jackson ◽  
GH Eduljee
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
The Uk

Use of Sewage Sludge on Land in the United Kingdom

1987 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Water Pollution ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Disposal Option ◽  
Public Nuisance ◽  
Treatment And Disposal ◽  
The Uk

In the UK 30 million wet tonnes (1.2 × 106 tonnes dry solids (tds)) of sewage sludge are produced annually and its treatment and disposal costs ₤200 million per annum. Utilisation on agricultural land is the most economic disposal option for inland sewage treatment works and this route accounts for about 40% of sludge. Guidelines for sludge utilisation on land in the UK are designed to prevent contamination problems by metals, disease transmission, public nuisance and water pollution. The Council of the European Communities has introduced a Directive to be implemented in 1989 which will provide the statutory baseline for domestic guidelines in the countries of the European Community. UK guidelines and the CEC Directive are discussed in the context of potential contamination problems and the value of sludge to farmers.

The Revival of Incineration in the UK

1991 ◽  
Vol 23 (10-12) ◽  
pp. 1803-1810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Lowe ◽  
Georg Groeger
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Integrated Design ◽  
Operating Costs ◽  
Environmental Pressures ◽  
Integrated Design Approach ◽  
Incineration Process ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Viable Method ◽  
Very High

Incineration of sewage sludge was regarded In the UK In the 1970s as a viable method for the disposal of sludge. Towards the end of the 70s the operating costs, compared with those of other routes, were very high and all but 4 plants were closed down. In 1986 a contract was let to Lurgi (UK) by Yorkshire Water to construct the first new incinerator in almost a decade. The integrated design approach has resulted in competitive operating costs. This, together with environmental pressures to control or reduce other disposal routes such as recycling to agricultural land, landfill, and sea, has led to a renewed interest in the incineration process. As a result one further plant will be commissioned in January 1990 and other plants are now under active consideration.

scholarly journals Optimal Solutions for the Use of Sewage Sludge on Agricultural Lands

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 585
Author(s):  
Catalina Iticescu ◽  
Puiu-Lucian Georgescu ◽  
Maxim Arseni ◽  
Adrian Rosu ◽  
Mihaela Timofti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Chemical Characteristics ◽  
Optimal Solutions ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Agricultural Areas ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Made In

The use of sewage sludge in agriculture decreases the pressure on landfills. In Romania, massive investments have been made in wastewater treatment stations, which have resulted in the accumulation of important quantities of sewage sludge. The presence of these sewage sludges coincides with large areas of degraded agricultural land. The aim of the present article is to identify the best technological combinations meant to solve these problems simultaneously. Adapting the quality and parameters of the sludge to the specificity of the land solves the possible compatibility problems, thus reducing the impact on the environment. The physico-chemical characteristics of the fermented sludge were monitored and optimal solutions for their treatment were suggested so as to allow that the sludge could be used in agriculture according to the characteristics of the soils. The content of heavy metals in the sewage sludge was closely monitored because the use of sewage sludge as a fertilizer does not allow for any increases in the concentrations of these in soils. The article identifies those agricultural areas which are suitable for the use of sludge, as well as ways of correcting some parameters (e.g., pH), which allow the improvement of soil quality and obtained higher agricultural production.

scholarly journals Bioavailability of heavy metals in soils amended with sewage sludge

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
M T Morera ◽  
J. Echeverría ◽  
J. Garrido
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Alkaline Soils ◽  
Toxic Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metals Bioavailability ◽  
Heavy Metals In Soils

The recycling of sewage sludge to agricultural land results in the slow accumulation of potentially toxic heavy metals in soils. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the bioavailability of Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn applied to soils in urban anaerobically stabilized sewage sludge. The soils were Lithic Haplumbrept (Lh), Calcixerollic Xerochrept (Cx1 and Cx2) and Paralithic Xerorthent (Px). Sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L) were grown in the soils following amendment with the sludge. The addition of sewage sludge markedly increased the average dry weight of the plants in the soils that had lower yields without sludge addition (Lh, Cx2, and Px). The acid pH of the Lh soil favoured the bioavailability of Zn from sewage sludge. The bioavailability of Cu was greater in the alkaline soils than in the acidic soil (Lh), which can be attributed to the high organic matter content of the Lh soil which complexes Cu and impairs its uptake by the plants. The concentration of metals in the plants increased with the sewage sludge dose. The effect of the soil type on the metal concentration in plants was greater that the effect of the dose. Key words: Soils, sewage sludge, heavy metals, bioavailability, sunflower

The Ruhrverband sewage sludge disposal concept in the conflict between European and German standards and regulations

2005 ◽  
Vol 52 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 247-253
Author(s):  
P. Evers ◽  
F. Schmitt ◽  
D.R. Albrecht ◽  
N. Jardin
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Sludge Incineration ◽  
Sludge Disposal ◽  
The Face ◽  
Water Association

The Ruhrverband, acting as a water association responsible for integrated water resources management within the entire natural river basin of the Ruhr, operates a network of 83 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and connected sludge disposal facilities. According to German regulations, the disposal of sewage sludge containing more than 5% of organic dry solids will be prohibited as of 1 June 2005. In Germany, the only future alternative to incineration will be the agricultural utilization of sludge. However, this way of sludge disposal is presently the subject of critical discussions in Germany because of the organic and inorganic toxic substances, which may be contained in sewage sludge, despite the fact that very stringent standards are to be met by agricultural uses. On the other hand, application of sewage sludge to agricultural land is explicitly supported by the European Sewage Sludge Directive 86/278/EEC. In the face of this controversial situation the Ruhrverband has initiated, in 2000, the development of a comprehensive and sustainable sludge and waste disposal concept for all wastewater facilities it operates in the entire Ruhr River Basin. The concept includes de-central sludge digestion and dewatering and subsequent transport to two central sludge incineration plants. It is expected that in future not more than 5% of all sludges produced in Ruhrverband's WWTPs will be used in agriculture. That means, the major part of 95% will have to be incinerated.

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