Abstract

APPLICATION OF SEWAGE WASTE WATER SLUDGE IN THE FIELD OF

AGRICULTURE, LAND RECLAMATION AND HOUSEHOLD

Pruthvi, T.P.M and B.K, Narayana Swamy

P.G. Student Professor and Head
Dept. of Agricultural Extension
UAS, GKVK, Bangalore-65
E-mail:- pruthvi_manju@yahoo.com
Wastewater generated in homes, businesses, industries and other venues, produces two
end products after biological treatment, namely; effluent and sewage sludge. “Sludge can be
defined as the residual streams that are generated in water and wastewater treatment that are high
in solids content”. Sludge is not produced for any consumer but due to a legal requirement. This
means that in any case there must be a reliable disposal method for the operator of the treatment
plant. As a consequence it has to be considered that the beneficial use of the sludge in agriculture
or for any other purpose has to be discussed taking into account both aspects: risk management
regarding the use of the sludge (sustainability); risk management regarding of the disposal of the
sludge (reliability). If the sludge is applied in agriculture at least the inorganic fraction will
remain little affected by the biological processes in the soil while the organic fraction will be
degraded to a large extent. Certain risks are associated with the use of sludge due to its
contamination with: Heavy metals (such as cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury); Disease-
causing organisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites); Toxic organics (such as Polychlorinated
Biphenyls (PCB.s) and pesticides). Most commonly, domestic wastewater sludge is biologically
stabilized as a liquid in anaerobic digesters from which methane gas is a byproduct. Liquid
sludge can also be biologically stabilized in aerobic digesters to which oxy-gen (or air) must be
added. Composting is a process that biologically stabilizes dewatered sludge. Composting is
ordinarily an aerobic process, and an amendment such as wood chips or sawdust must be added
to improve friability in order to promote aeration. Composting takes place at thermophilic
temperatures (often, about 55oC) because of heat released by biochemical transformations.
Aerobic digesters can be made to operate thermophilically using heat from the same source.
Anaerobic digesters can operate at thermophilic temperatures by burning methane produced from
the process, but they typically operate at mesophilic temperatures (at about 35oC) in the United
States. There are four chief options for land utilization of municipal sludge: 1) Applying sludge
directly to croplands; 2) To forests; 3) To disturbed lands as a means of land reclamation, and 4)
Providing composted sludge for landscaping and gardening. Further, it has got the benefits such
as Sludge can provide all nitrogen (N) and/or phosphorus (P) for plant growth, potassium (K)
supplements may be needed; several micronutrients, such as zinc, copper and iron are also
available in most sludge; the added organic matter enhances soil quality, making clay soils more
permeable to water and air and increasing the water and nutrient-holding capacity of sandy or
gravelly soils; the texture of the soil (tilth) is greatly improved. Agricultural recycling is possible
for raw, limed, composted or dried biosolids (treated sludge.) It can be supplied in the form of 1)
Fertilizer (raw biosolids) and lime (limed biosolids); 2) Carbon-based materials (green wastes)
which produce humus (composted biosolids); 3) Concentrated fertilizer, possibly supplemented
with commercial fertilizers (dried biosolids). This Code has been developed to ensure that the
use of sludge in agriculture will: Be compatible with good agricultural practice; not pose a risk to
human, animal or plant health; maintain the integrity of the soil ecosystem; avoid water
pollution; avoid air pollution; minimize public inconvenience.