Dominic Brose, PhD Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago MWAA 2016 Winter Expo January 29, 2016

Beneficial Uses of Biosolids Soil amendment or conditioner to improve structure and fertility Substitute for chemical fertilizers as topdressing for golf courses, parks, athletic fields Amendment to topsoil in construction of recreational facilities and reclamation and re-vegetation of brownfields Sustainable soil amendment for residential lawns and gardens Benefits of biosolids reuse Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Benefits of biosolids reuse Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Federal/State Regulations Federal – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 40 CFR 503 (Part 503) passed in 1993 Established regulatory limits for 8 trace metals Exceptional Quality criteria State - IL Environmental Protection Agency For non-Exceptional Quality Title 35 Subtitle C Chapter II Part 391 Limits on application, setbacks, and storage Benefits of biosolids reuse Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Regulatory Metal Limits For Land Application Trace Metal Part 503 Allowable Exceptional Quality MWRD Biosolids Phosphate Fertilizer ------------------------------------------------ mg/kg ---------------------------------------------- Arsenic 75 41 5 11 Cadmium 85 39 3 65 Copper† 4,300 1,500 380 57 Mercury 17 1 NA Molybdenum † --- 10 Nickel † 420 40 28 Lead 840 300 100 12 Selenium † Zinc † 7,500 2,800 725 240 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago † Essential plant nutrient

Public Act 099-0067 HB1455 passed in July 2015 Sec. 22.56a. Land application of Exceptional Quality biosolids. (a) The General Assembly finds that: (1) technological advances in wastewater treatment have allowed for the production of Exceptional Quality biosolids that can be used on land as a beneficial recyclable material that improves soil tilth, fertility, and stability and their use enhances the growth of agricultural, silvicultural, and horticultural crops; (2) Exceptional Quality biosolids are a resource to be recovered; and (3) the beneficial use of Exceptional Quality biosolids and their recycling to the land as a soil amendment is encouraged. (b) To encourage and promote the use of Exceptional Quality biosolids in productive and beneficial applications, to the extent allowed by federal law, Exceptional Quality biosolids shall not be subject to regulation as a sludge or other waste if all of the following requirements are met…. Benefits of biosolids reuse Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Science Behind Biosolids Reuse Pathogens removed Metals below levels of concern and further immobilized in soil Many metals are actually plant nutrients Organic contaminants generally not present or at very low levels Benefits of biosolids reuse Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

MWRD Committed to Producing “Clean” Biosolids Strict industrial discharge pretreatment limits – authority to enforce under Clean Water Act Pollution Control Officers to ensure compliance Certified analytical laboratories monitor biosolids quality Certified Biosolids Environmental Management System Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Composted Biosolids Have the Look and Feel of Topsoil

Nutrient Concentration in Biosolids mg/kg Potassium 3,300 – 4,000 Zinc 760 – 900 Sulfur 400 – 500 Nickel 35 – 50 Organic Carbon 15 – 25 % Organic Nitrogen 1.5 – 2.5 % NO3+NH3-N 0.1 – 0.3 % Total Phosphorus Calcium 3.7 – 4.1 % Magnesium 1.6 – 1.9 % Iron 1.6 – 1.8 %

Plant and Soil Health Major Nutrients Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K) Minor Nutrients Calcium (Ca) Magnesium (Mg) Sulfur (S) Micro Nutrients Iron (Fe) Manganese (Mn) Boron (B) Chlorine (Cl) Molybdenum (Mo) Zinc (Zn) Copper (Cu) Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Urban Soils Urban soils are generally: Unproductive Compacted Lack organic matter and plant available nutrients Urban soils can be contaminated DePaul University analyzed soil from four vacant lots in Chicago’s Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood Reported total soil Pb from 46 – 3,023 mg/kg Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Urban Soils Biosolids immobilize heavy metals in soils due to complexation with Fe and Al oxides* Uptake of lead and arsenic by carrots, lettuce, and tomatoes from biosolids amended soils was reduced by 50-71% for lead and 46-80% for arsenic** *Brown, et al. 2003. J. Environ. Qual. 32(1): 100-108. *Chaney, R.L. 1994. American Soc. Agronomy, Crop Sci. Soc. America, and Soil Sci. Soc. America. Madison, WI. pp 27-31. **Defoe, et al. 2014. J. Environ. Qual. 43(6): 2064-2078. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

C Horizon: Parent material A Typical Soil Profile A Horizon: Organic carbon, root zone, plant nutrients, moisture B Horizon: Clay accumulation, metal oxides, water table fluctuations C Horizon: Parent material Bedrock

Restoring Soils Leads to Restored Habitat 75% Soil + Remnant Parameter Unit 25% Biosolids Prairie Soil pH 7.1 6.2 Organic C % 6.2 4.6 Organic N mg/kg 4,780 4,150 Inorg.-N mg/kg 48.4 6.9 Avail. P mg/kg 245 21

Dominic Brose, PhD brosed@mwrd.org Memorial Park, Midlothian, IL Questions? Dominic Brose, PhD brosed@mwrd.org Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago