Q. What are biosolids reuses?
A. Biosolids are a safe and beneficial resource composed of essential plant nutrient and organic matter that is recovered from the treatment of domestic sewage in a wastewater treatment facility. Biosolids can be reused and applied as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and to stimulate plant growth. Farmers and gardeners have been reusing biosolids for ages. Biosolids are also used to fertilize gardens and parks and to reclaim mining sites. They are carefully monitored and must be used in accordance with regulatory requirements.
Q. What are biosolids? Where do they come from?
A. Biosolids are the nutrient-rich organic product of treating wastewater from homes, businesses and industries. The solid, organic portion of wastewater is separated and sent to digesters at the treatment plant, where beneficial bacteria consume the raw material. When this biological conversion process is complete, excess water is removed, leaving a soil-like product full of essential nutrients and organic matter.
Q. Where does wastewater come from?
A. Wastewater flows to treatment plants from homes, businesses, and industries.
Q.Are biosolids the same as "sewage sludge" or "raw sewage"?
A. No - not any more than bread dough is the "same" as bread. Biosolids are what you get after you subject the solids to additional treatment processes, including anaerobic digestion at warm temperatures. The process of digestion converts a large portion of the organic solids into gases, such as methane, which is captured at our wastewater treatment plants and used as a source of energy for the operation of the facilities. The solids only becomes "biosolids" after it has been digested. The digestion process also kills nearly all the pathogenic organisms commonly found in wastewater, and helps speed the degradation of contaminants sometimes present in wastewater. The final step in treating biosolids involves removing excess water, in a process known as dewatering.
Q. What do biosolids look like?
A. Dewatered cake -- the kind of biosolids product KBCSI produces -- is 29 to 32% solid matter. It looks like grey-black damp mud, somewhat crumbly but also packable and sometimes "shiny" in places (due to struvite, a mineral). When dried, biosolids look like fine-textured dark soil.
Q. How much compost do I need?
A. The amount of organic matter differs depending on the type of compost and the intended use. Yard waste compost will typically contain the least amount of organic matter, while TechnaGro Plus™ Compost will contain the most. In general, natural soil in northern Ohio will benefit the most if amended to include 25% TechnaGro Plus™ Compost. That means if you're amending the top 4" of soil, you'll need to spread 1" TechnaGro Plus™ Compost over the area and till it in.
Q. Can I use compost as mulch?
A.Absolutely! In fact, what has come to be known as hardwood mulch could be considered a type of compost. In addition to holding in moisture and deterring weed growth, TechnaGro Plus™ Compost also provides important macro and micro nutrients to help plants grow healthy and strong.