The term biosolids was coined in 1991 to replace the commonly used description "sludge." It was adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1996 to better reflect the positive effects of more than 20 years of effort to clean the nation's waters through a massive wastewater treatment program.
Biosolids are nutrient-rich organic materials, and when treated and processed according to EPA regulations, biosolids can be recycled as a fertilizer to improve and maintain soils and to stimulate plant growth. Siemens Water Technologies offers many biosolids treatment technologies and services, such as aerobic and anaerobic digestion, solids thickening, sludge dewatering, composting, drying, incineration, and other disposal methods that meet EPA regulations.
The many biosolids treatments that are available are ways that help municipalities turn the biosolids into material that can be disposed of while meeting the 40 CFR 503 standards. Those standards call for biosolids to be made into higher class substances (Class A solids) so that at the time of disposal health and safety risks are greatly reduced. The safety of sludge handling and disposal increases dramatically with biosolids treatment because pathogens, vector attraction, and sludge volume are all significantly reduced. In addition to the safety advantages that biosolids treatment provides, reduced sludge volume also means that municipalities have the financial benefit of lower disposal costs.
Some of the biosolids technology products that we offer include:
Cannibal™ Solids Reduction Process
Indirectly Heated Dryer System
Dystor® Digester Gas Holder Systems
Sludge Belt Presses
Centrifuge Systems
Sludge Thickeners
IPS Composting Systems
Fluid Bed Furnace
Siemens also provides information to help you learn more about Class A & B Biosolids and 40 CFR 503 regulations:
Understanding 40 CFR Part 503
Class A & B Biosolids