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Current and Emerging Trends in Bi lid M t Lynne H Moss, BCEE Associate July 28, 2011 Biosolids Management
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Current and Emerging Trends in Bi lid M t

Lynne H Moss, BCEE

Associate

July 28, 2011

Biosolids Management

Presentation Basis: New WEF/NBP Report

Current Trends ReportReport

Biosolids Experts Meeting

Future Trends and Action Plan

Framework for Discussion

Regulation and Policy

Technology

Operations andManagementg

Communication and TrainingTraining

ResearchResearch

New EPA Regulations (March 2011)

• Classification of sewage sludge as solid wastesolid waste– Could impact combustion in 

cement  kilns and other resource recovery approachesrecovery approaches

– At issue: legitimacy criteria

• New emissions requirements for qsewage sludge incinerators– Moved from CA 112 to CA 129

NACWA fil d titi f– NACWA filed petition for reconsideration and stay of rule with EPA, and legal review of rule 

hwith DC Circuit Court 

State Regulatory Changes

• State Revisions of “503 Rule”– Elimination of some Class A 

alternatives 

– Differentiation between Class A cake and value‐Class A cake and valueadded products

– Class B restrictions

– New pollutant limits (Mo)

– Phosphorus‐based mgt

• County and Local• County and Local Restrictions

• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Regulations

Concerns Regarding the 503 Rule

• Essentially complete• 14 Projects, including TNSSS

EPA Response to NAS Report j , gNAS Report

• Arsenic• DioxinNew Risk Factors

• Emerging Pathogens• Variety of Pathogens

Validity of Indicator Organisms

l d d • Stability• Odor and Health Impacts

Biosolids Odor and Emissions

• Variations in state regulationsPhosphorus‐based • Biosolids P‐availability 

pMgt

• Trace Organics • Emerging Pathogens...and more

Research and Emerging Issues Emerging Pathogens...and moreEmerging Issues

Emerging Issues and Research

• Trace OrganicsSudden Increase 

Research

Eff t f

Odor Research Compounds associated 

with longer‐term  New culturing 

– Fate, transport

– Bioassays

• Regrowth Odors

Effect of Processes

godorants

Mechanisms for production

Reducing methanogeninhibition

gmethod

Time‐temperature curve

Mechanism of reactivation

Land application, storage, dewatering, digestion, upstream • Regrowth, Odors 

and Sudden Increase (ROSI)

Inhibitionof Indicator 

Reducing Substrate 

Benchmark lowodor product

Targeted control

collection and treatment, amendments

• Emerging Pathogens Regrowth Research

GrowthAvailability

Factors impacting indicator regrowth

Public Perception: “Persistent Uncertainties” Remain

• Survey of regulators found  More stringent rules 

that it is greatest pressure on biosolids programs (NEBRA, 2007)

National impacts on local events( , )

• Survey showed only 14% of public  know what “bi lid ” (NEBRA

Shift to Class A processes

PUBLIC PERCEPTION“biosolids” means (NEBRA, 

2004)

processes

Focus on quality d h

PERCEPTION

and outreach

Research

Biosolids and Climate Change: Opportunities and ChallengesChallenges

GHGIMPACTS PHOTOSYNTHETIC

CARBONFROM BIOSOLIDS

FUGITIVE EMISSIONSCHEMICALS

FUELELECTRICITY

GHGOFFSETS

SEQUESTRATION OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC 

NUTRIENTS RECYCLED

NET GAS PRODUCED

• Need biosolids‐specific standard protocols to quantify carbon

OFFSETSCARBON

• Need biosolids‐specific, standard protocols to quantify carbon footprints

• Incentives for renewable energy

Pressures Driving Diverse Biosolids Products and OutletsOutlets

• Increased interest in Class A, value‐added products– Compost

– Heat‐driedHeat dried

• Looking beyond agricultural land application– Landscaping/Horticulture

– Cement kilns

Fuel for synthetic gas– Fuel for synthetic gas• Gasification

Our Changing View of Beneficial Use

“1991:

“B fi i l UProposed 2007:

“Beneficial Use means any application of sludge on land specifically designed 

“Putting a particular biosolids product to its best and highest use byg

to take advantage of the nutrient and other 

characteristics of this

best and highest use by maximizing the utilization 

of nutrients, organic /characteristics of this 

material to improve soil fertility  or structure and th b f th

matter, moisture, and/or other qualities – including extracting the maximum thereby further some 

natural resource management objective.”

gamount of energy

possible.”

Source: NEBRA, 2007

Our Changing View of Solids Management

BioenergyResource

Sludge Disposal Biosolids Beneficial Use Resource

Recovery

1970 19931970 1993 2000 2005 20102000 2005 20101970 19931970 1993 2000 2005 20102000 2005 2010

Biogas: Looking Beyond Boilers and I.C Engines

Boilers

I C EnginesI.C. Engines

Blowers

BiogasFuel Cells

Heat Dryers

Micro-Turbines

Natural Gas

Vehicle Fuel

Anaerobic Digestion: Focus on Optimization

• Enhanced mixing

• High temperature• High temperature

• Separate phases

• Increased solids retention

• Hydrolysis

Co‐Digestion: Going Beyond the Fence Line to Optimize Biofuel ProductionOptimize Biofuel Production

Biodiesel

FOG (fats, oils, grease)

Biogas

Food WasteFood Waste

Other Technology Trends• Dewatering – simplicity, enclosed units, enhanced

performancep• Nutrient harvesting• Odor minimization• Energy optimization• Solids minimization

Operation and Management Drivers and Trends

Partner-

• Private Enterprise• ESCOs• Other municipalships • Other municipal

departments

Beyond Compli-

• Outreach• NBP, ABC

Certification

EconomicsRisk

ance Certification• Best PracticesExpertise

Diversity • Outlets

Professional and Training Tools• Drivers

– Changing regulations, technologiesFocus on outreach– Focus on outreach

– Limited time for travel– Aging and diminishing work force– Changing delivery approaches (web)

• ToolsConferences and seminars– Conferences and seminars

– Web-based delivery– Certification programs– Design/practice manuals– Fact sheets/Technical Practice Updates– “Biosolids Libraries”

Charting the Future of Biosolids

• WEF/NBP hosted meeting in Alexandria, VA– Dec 1 and 2, 2010

• 40 + biosolids practitioners representing all areas of practice:Owners operators regulators academics consultants– Owners, operators, regulators, academics, consultants

• Charge:– Predict future trends

– Identify action plan to position WWTPs to:• Leverage opportunities

O h ll• Overcome challenges

Regulation and Policy

Support federal recognition of bi lid bl

• Educate legislators and others on the benefits f lid bl

Need or Issue Action

biosolids as a renewable resource of solids as a renewable resource

Plan for an increased role communicating with the public and governmental agencies on regulatory issues

• Promote a multi‐agency regulatory strategy emphasizing maximum environmental benefit in regulatory development

• Provide guidance to regulators on emerging issues g g g gproducts and issues

Recognize an increasingly fragmented regulatory framework for solids management

• Increase educational efforts for both  solids managers and regulators, aimed at developing more consistent, less fragmented regulatory approachespp

Support efforts to improve biosolids quality and reduce odor

• Consider modifications to existing vector attraction reduction (VAR) requirements

• Consider “peer pressure” to encourage utilities to produce appropriate quality productsproducts

Consider product stewardship and bioassays to address microconstituents in the near to mid‐tern

• Develop/participate in voluntary pollution prevention programs and product stewardship initiatives

• Continue bioassay research

Technology

Need or Issue Action

Better quantify carbon footprint impacts from biosolids operations as a basis to gauge sustainability goals and achievements 

• Develop unified and standard protocol for green house gas (GHG) emission estimates

• Incorporate improved carbon sequestration understanding into the protocol

Focus on integrated solutions• Coordinate with other municipal departments and private entities to co‐manage organic residuals and waste heat

Provide research /incentives to move• Promote research to better understand new processesProvide research /incentives to move 

innovative technologies forwardprocesses

• Develop incentive programs to adopt innovative processes

Consider regionalized operations, where practical

• Look to regionalization – and economy of scale – to offset risk of and cost for new state‐f h f ili iwhere practical of‐the art facilities

Be aware of—and prepared for—external technology influences

• Monitor impact of wastewater infrastructure replacement/rehabilitation and wastewater treatment requirements on solids quality/quantityquality/quantity

Operations and Management

Recognize that the core business mission of a WWTP is moving beyond wastewater and solids treatment

• Seek to maximize resources extracted from solids throughout the biosolids value chain

• Promote co management of organic residuals

Need or Issue Action

wastewater and solids treatment • Promote co‐management of organic residuals

Enhance programs and tools that support a continued trend toward “going beyond” compliance

• Focus on EMS• Adopt “triple‐bottom line” analyses for solids management

Continue to expand vision beyondContinue to expand vision beyond plant boundaries to improve biosolids quality

• Focus on product stewardship and pollution prevention approaches

Consider leveraging public‐private partnerships

• Explore partnerships to assist with funding for new management technology deployment, to co manage organic residuals and to utilizepartnerships co‐manage organic residuals and to utilize biosolids‐derived biogas

In a complex operating environment, program flexibility and diversity will be increasingly important

• Consider phasing of large scale program changes

• Diversify management options/product outletsg y p outlets

Focus on knowledge management and re‐staffing

• Develop focused outreach to support new staff entrants through scholarships, internships, outreach to university professional societies and other mechanisms

Communications and Training

Develop an easily accessible “clearing house” for solids information 

• Identify mechanisms to develop, fund and maintain information such that the clearing house remains relevant.

Need or Issue Action

Leverage the internet and social network as communication tools

• Continue to use web‐based education tools• Optimize search engine functions to ensure that educational materials are readily available

• Expand use of social networking tools

Consider “peer –to‐peer” mentoring• Develop peer relationships between both organizations and utilities for enhanced information exchange

C id bi lid b d • Assign a person or persons, preferably anConsider a biosolids ambassador position

Assign a person or persons, preferably an academic, to travel across the country as an educator on biosolids subjects

Better disseminate research

• Ensure that both historic and new research findings are accessible both in convenience and format

• Support “state –of‐the‐science” meetings to present new research

Fund communication and outreach initiatives

• Use “soybean checkoff” model as a springboard for discussions to develop a suitable model for the biosolids sectorthe biosolids sector

Research

l h h • Continue to develop targeted collaborative

Need or Issue Action

Develop new research approaches to address need for integrated solutions, swift response times, and funding constraints

• Continue to develop targeted collaborative research 

• Consider development and enhancement of research centers

• Where appropriate, look to integrated research

• Topics– Odor

– Emerging Pollutants

– Stability

Ph h Li it– Phosphorus Limits

– Energy Management

The Path Forward

• Who will implement the Action Plan (individually or )collaboratively)

– WEF

– NBPNBP

– Regional Biosolids Associations (NEBRA, MABA, NWBA)

– Utilities

– Universities/Research Centers

YOU?– YOU?

FOR MORE INFORMATION:FOR MORE INFORMATION: Join us at the WEAT Biosolids, Odor and Corrosion Conference,

Aug 3 & 4, San Marcoswww.weat.org/http://www.weat.org/events/2011BiosolidsandOdora

dC i b h dfndCorrosionbrochure.pdf

Thank you!y

Lynne [email protected]


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