Toward Quality Biosolids Management: A Trainer's Manual

Training Module 2:
Biosolids Quality

2.1 EPA Part 503 Requirements
2.2 Sampling and Testing Biosolids

Training Module 2.1. Biosolids Quality
EPA Part 503 Requirements

Module overview

Biosolids quality is defined by the degree of pathogen reduction prior to land application, steps taken to reduce vector attraction, and the content of inorganic pollutants. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set requirements for each of these parameters. This module discusses biosolids quality and describes the general options for meeting EPA requirements.

Training suggestions

This module requires that participants have a basic understanding of wastewater treatment and biosolids production. If your audience includes many participants who are not treatment facility personnel (e.g., application site managers), you may want to provide an introduction to wastewater treatment. Consider a tour of a treatment plant or an educational video to give participants an overview of wastewater treatment facilities and processes.

Because of time constraints during a basic training, you will be unable to include details on all the options for meeting EPA pathogen reduction and vector attraction reduction requirements. To focus your presentation, select the treatment options most likely to be used by smaller wastewater treatment facilities.

This session covers biosolids quality only as it relates to EPA regulatory requirements. Biosolids nutrient content is addressed in "Land Application: Nutrient Management." The need-to-knows for this module do not address biosolids product quality from a marketing standpoint. Biosolids characteristics that make a product more desirable for various markets could be discussed along with the EPA regulatory requirements.

To maintain clarity in presentations in this and other modules, consider adopting consistent terminology for the nine elements listed in Tables 1 and 3 of the EPA Part 503 rule. The 503 rule uses the term "pollutant" for the nine elements. Other names for the nine elements include "trace elements" and "EPA Table 3 elements."

Need-to-knows--Introduction to biosolids quality

What are biosolids?

• Define "biosolids."
• Identify what sources of wastewater are included under EPA's biosolids rule (Part 503).
• Identify other wastewater treatment plant by-products that do not meet the definition of "biosolids."
• Describe the difference between raw wastewater solids and biosolids.

What are the components of biosolids quality?

• Identify whether your state regulations for biosolids quality are the same as EPA regulations.
• Define in simple terms how the EPA terms "pathogen reduction," "vector attraction reduction," and "pollutant concentrations" relate to biosolids quality.

What are the impacts of biosolids quality on land application options?

• Identify what is required for biosolids to be marketed or distributed to the general public.
• List the options in your state for wastewater solids that don't meet EPA biosolids quality standards.

Need-to-knows--Pathogen reduction

How are pathogens reduced by biosolids stabilization processes?

• List the major classes of human pathogens found in raw solids.
• List the major processes responsible for pathogen reduction/elimination (e.g., high pH, desiccation) during wastewater solids treatment.

How is pathogen reduction addressed by EPA Part 503 rules?

• Identify the difference between Class A and B biosolids.
• Describe the relationship between PSRP processes and Class B biosolids.
• Describe the relationship between PFRP processes and Class A biosolids.

How is pathogen reduction documented?

• List the four kinds of indicator organisms that can be used to assess pathogen reduction.
• List three EPA-approved alternatives to meet Class B pathogen reduction requirements.
• List three EPA-approved alternatives to meet Class A pathogen reduction requirements.
• Identify alternatives for dealing with treatment plant process upsets (treatment process does not meet Class A or B pathogen requirements).

Need-to-knows--Vector attraction reduction requirements

What is vector attraction reduction, and why is it important?

• Define "vector attraction reduction" and how it relates to biosolids stability.
• Tell why biosolids that meet vector attraction reduction standards are more desirable for land application.
• Identify which EPA-approved vector attraction reduction options also reduce odors.

What options for vector attraction reduction are given in EPA Part 503 rules?

• List three alternatives for meeting vector attraction reduction standards applicable to small wastewater treatment facilities.
• Identify vector attraction reduction options that can be met to produce Class A biosolids.
• Identify vector attraction reduction options that can be used to produce Class B biosolids.
• Identify EPA-approved processes for pathogen reduction (PSRP or PRFP processes) that also should meet vector attraction reduction requirements.

How is vector attraction reduction documented?

• Calculate percent volatile solids reduction given data from an aerobic or anaerobic digestion process.
• Briefly describe the SOUR test and how it can be used to satisfy vector attraction reduction requirements.

Need-to-knows--Pollutant concentration (trace element) limits

What about pollutants (trace elements) in biosolids?

• Identify which trace elements are regulated in biosolids.
• List the sources of trace elements in biosolids (where do trace elements come from?).
• Identify factors that have reduced the concentrations of trace elements in most big-city biosolids over the past 20 years.
• Explain what happens to trace element concentrations in biosolids as volatile solids content is reduced.
• Identify acceptable alternatives for reducing trace element concentrations in biosolids.

How did EPA determine concentration limits and cumulative loading limits for trace elements?

• List some of the organisms protected by EPA's biosolids risk assessment for transfer of trace elements.
• List some of the risk assessment pathways included in EPA's biosolids risk assessment.

How do trace element concentrations affect land application options?

• Describe the wastewater solids management alternatives when one or more elements exceed the Ceiling Limit.
• Describe biosolids management alternatives when trace elements are below Pollutant Concentration (PC) limits.
• Describe biosolids management alternatives when one or more elements have concentrations that fall between the Ceiling limit and the Pollutant Concentration limits.

What are cumulative loading limits for trace elements, and when are they important?

• Define cumulative loading limit for trace elements.
• Identify the situations where tracking of cumulative trace element loading is required.
• Calculate cumulative loading of trace elements for a site given a biosolids analysis and a biosolids application rate.

Topics and activities for extended training

Case studies

Use the case study described in "Innovative Presentation Methods: Case Study Problem" to actively involve group participants during an extended training.

Biosolids stabilization options for small treatment facilities

You may know of some smaller treatment facilities that do an excellent job of meeting EPA requirements using a specific biosolids stabilization/processing method. You could include a tour of such a facility in extended training, or have the treatment plant operator or supervisor explain how their facility meets EPA requirements. Alternatively, a consultant specializing in design/operation of biosolids stabilization processes for small treatment plants could share examples of a variety of stabilization options.

Oregon Short School Example (Extended Workshop)

Activity description

Three lecture sessions (each session 50 minutes)
One group activity (50 minutes)
Sessions 1 and 2: Technology options to meet Part 503 requirements for pathogen reduction and vector attraction reduction. Calculating volatile solids reduction. Case studies demonstrating how small treatment plants are meeting Part 503 requirements.
Session 3: Record keeping and reporting to meet 503 requirements
Session 4: Case study. A detailed account of this case study is given in "Innovative Presentation Methods: Case Study Problem." Briefly, to conduct the case study, participants are given data on a city's effort to comply with Part 503 regulations. They are asked to evaluate the city's compliance in small groups of five to eight people. After 20 to 30 minutes to prepare an assessment, each group presents its findings to the whole group. Facilitator asks lots of questions of group spokespersons, and assists in summarizing group findings. At conclusion, facilitator discusses the items that the small groups failed to consider.

Speaker description

Sessions 1 and 2: Private consultant, wastewater treatment/biosolids processing
Session 3: Biosolids manager with prior experience at state regulatory agency
Session 4: Facilitator with background in biosolids management

Handout materials

Sessions 1 and 2: Notes developed by the consultant. The notes were identical to the slides presented in the training.
Session 3: Notes developed by the biosolids manager, relying heavily on "A plain English guide to the EPA Part 503 biosolids rule."
Session 4: Case study invented by the facilitator, incorporating a number of questionable practices for meeting Part 503 requirements. Participants are asked to critique the case study presented by the facilitator.

Presentation materials

Sessions 1 and 2: Text slides with EPA Part 503 requirements. Slides illustrating case studies of small treatment plants that are using appropriate technology to meet Part 503 requirements.
Session 3: Text slides with EPA Part 503 requirements. Slides illustrating biosolids data collection techniques at the wastewater treatment facility.
Session 4: One-page case study describing an imaginary city's biosolids quality. The handout for the case study can be found in "Innovative Presentation Methods: Case Study Problem."

Training resources

Publications

Land application of biosolids; Pathogen and vector attraction reduction requirements. Chapters 2 and 5 in: A plain English guide to the EPA Part 503 biosolids rule. EPA 832-R-93-003.

Environmental regulations and technology-Control of pathogens and vector attraction in sewage sludge. EPA-626-R-95-013.

Overview of the Part 503 regulatory requirements for land application of sewage sludge; Characteristics of sewage sludge. Chapters 3 and 4 in: Process design manual, land application of sewage sludge and domestic septage, EPA-625-R-95-001.

Biosolids quality. Chapter 3 in: Biosolids management guidelines for Washington State. Washington State Dept. of Ecology Publication 93-80. (Revised edition available in 1999.)

Compost testing requirements for pathogen regrowth; Biosolids trace pollutant forecasting; Vector attraction reduction-Volatile solids reduction. Chapters 2, 7, and 10 in: Policies for biosolids land application, Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division.

World Wide Web

Washington State Dept. of Ecology
Publications Distribution
P.O. Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
http://www.wa.gov/ecology/

Oregon Dept of Environmental Quality
811 SW Sixth Ave.
Portland, OR 97204
503-229-5696
1-800-452-4011 (toll-free in Oregon)
http://www.deq.state.or.us/

USEPA Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
http://www.epa.gov/r10earth/index.htm
Training Module 2.2. Biosolids Quality
Sampling and Testing Biosolids

Training Module 2.2. Biosolids Quality
Sampling and Testing Biosolids

Module overview

For regulatory compliance, wastewater treatment facility managers and biosolids applicators need accurate data on trace elements, pathogens, and vector attraction characteristics of biosolids. In this module, participants will be introduced to appropriate protocols for sampling and testing biosolids. This module describes the development of a biosolids sampling plan, sampling methods, laboratory analytical procedures, and how laboratory data is evaluated with respect to EPA regulations.

Training suggestions

Emphasize practical "how-to's" and general principles of sampling and testing during this training session. At the same time, explain how participants can get information applicable to their specific needs.

Make sure participants understand the basics of biosolids quality under the EPA Part 503 Rule prior to this session. See Training Module 2.1, "Biosolids Quality: EPA Part 503 Requirements."

Need-to-knows--Biosolids sampling

What are key considerations in developing a sampling plan?

• Identify the minimum number of subsamples that should make up a composite biosolids sample submitted to a laboratory.
• Given data on annual biosolids production, identify the proper frequency for monitoring pathogens, vector attraction reduction, trace elements under EPA regulations.
• List additional analyses (beyond federal requirements) required by your local permitting authority.
• Tell what chain of custody documentation is.
• Tell why it is important to describe and document the routine procedures used to collect, preserve, and transmit biosolids samples to the analytical laboratory.

For different kinds of testing, what specific materials and procedures are required for sample collection and preservation?

• Identify acceptable and unacceptable sample container materials for samples collected for pathogen and trace element analyses.
• Identify the proper location(s) for sampling biosolids in a given biosolids management system.
• Describe a sterile sample collection technique for pathogen testing for Class A biosolids.
• Identify the minimum number of samples that need to be taken at one sampling date to evaluate fecal coliform density.

Need-to-knows--Biosolids analyses

What laboratory analytical procedures should be used?

• List a person at the state or regional level who can be contacted for guidance in choosing appropriate analytical procedures.
• List publications that give detailed information on appropriate sample-holding times and approved analytical methods.
• For nutrient and trace element analyses, identify the quantity of dry biosolids the laboratory should digest.

How are laboratory results interpreted?

• Convert lab analyses determined on a wet weight or "as-is" basis to a dry weight basis.
• Identify for what sample constituents you need to calculate arithmetic or geometric means.
• Describe the procedure for calculating mean pathogen density from laboratory analytical data for fecal coliform and salmonellae.
• Evaluate compliance status with respect to EPA regulations for trace elements, using a calculated confidence interval.
• Describe alternatives for dealing with analytical data that indicates noncompliance with regulatory standards.

Topics and activities for extended training

Case study exercise

Give participants laboratory data and ask them to determine whether analyses demonstrate compliance with EPA Part 503 regulations. An example of the case study problem technique is described in "Innovative Presentation Methods: Case Study Problem."

Oregon Short School Example

Activity description:

Lecture (50 minutes)

Speaker description

Private consultant or representative of large wastewater treatment plant that specializes in biosolids sampling and testing.

Handout materials

Simplified guidance for sampling and testing (two pages)
Contacts/publications for additional information on sampling and testing of biosolids
Example of a sampling/analysis plan for a large biosolids production facility

Presentation materials

Slides/overheads illustrating sampling procedures

Training resources

Publications

Sampling and analysis. Chapter 6 in: A plain English guide to the EPA Part 503 biosolids rule. EPA Publ. 832-R-93-003.

Sampling procedures and analytical methods. Chapter 8 in: Environmental regulations and technology-Control of pathogens and vector attraction in sewage sludge, EPA, Office of Research and Development, Washington, D.C. 20460, EPA-626-R-95-013.

Biosolids quality. Chapter 3 in: Biosolids management guidelines for Washington State. Washington State Dept. of Ecology Publication 93-80. (Revised edition available in 1999.)

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