Federal, state and local governments play crucial roles in enforcing the Part 503 rule.  Local government is also responsible for addressing related local concerns.

The National Academy of Sciences’ National Research Council reviewed the regulations and concluded in a July 2002 report that “the use of these materials in the production of crops for human consumption, when practiced in accordance with existing federal guidelines and regulations, presents negligible risk to the consumer, to crop production, and to the environment.” 

According to the EPA, beneficial use is one of several appropriate methods for use or disposal of biosolids.

“I believe we’ve reached a point where the quality of biosolids is good enough that many environmentalists should be able to agree that beneficial use is something that should happen,” says Ned Beecher, executive director of the New England Biosolids & Residuals Association (NEBRA).  “In my view, it’s hard to make the argument that a well-managed biosolids recycling program has anything but a net environmental benefit.”

Thicker is Better

There is more to biosolids than achieving Class A or Class B status.  Effective biosolids management systems feature efficient thickening, dewatering and transportation processes to reduce moisture and convey and store the dewatered “cake.”  Without reliable thickening, dewatering and handling technologies, biosolids management would be a more difficult and expensive proposition.

Thickening.  To thicken or concentrate biosolids (in excess of 5 to 6 percent solids), Siemens Water Technologies offers a variety of systems, depending on biosolids characteristics and results desired.  Among these are gravity belt and rotary drum thickeners, centrifuges, dissolved air flotation thickeners, and gravity thickeners.  

Dewatering.  For dewatering, we provide belt presses and centrifuges, which are capable of producing biosolids cake of 25 to 35 percent solids.  Our line of filter presses can achieve solids levels as high as 45 percent.  The J-Vap® system as well as direct and indirect drying systems can dry biosolids in excess of 90 percent solids.

Biosolids Handling.  Our biosolids handling capabilities include belt conveyors, shafted and shaftless screw conveyors, and bucket elevators as well as a wide range of live bottom silos and hoppers for sludge collection and storage.  We also provide biosolids mixing and pumping equipment.

Class A & B Technologies from Siemens Water Technologies
Class A & B Biosolids
Class A Technologies
Class B Technologies