Online Services | Commonwealth Sites | Help | Governor

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's logo



Sewage Sludge and Biosolids

What is sewage sludge and when does it become “biosolids”?

Sewage sludge is the name for the solid, semisolid, or liquid materials removed during the treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment facility. Sewage sludge includes, but is not limited to, solids removed during primary, secondary, or advanced wastewater treatment, scum, domestic septage, portable toilet pumpings, Type III marine sanitation device pumpings, and sewage sludge products. When properly treated and processed, sewage sludge becomes "biosolids" which can be safely recycled and applied as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth.

Changes in Virginia Biosolids Regulation

Beginning January 1, 2008 the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will assume regulatory oversight of all land application of treated sewage sludge, commonly referred to as biosolids.  This action, which moves oversight of the Biosolids Use Regulations from the Virginia Department of Health to DEQ, was at the direction of the 2007 General Assembly, which voted to consolidate the regulatory programs so that all persons land applying biosolids would be subject to uniform requirements, and to take advantage of the existing compliance and enforcement structure at DEQ.  DEQ has established an Office of Land Application Programs within the Water Quality Division to manage the biosolids program, as well as land application of industrial sludges, septage, livestock and poultry waste, and water reclamation and reuse.  The Virginia Department of Health will continue to consult with DEQ and advise the public on health issues related to biosolids applications.

In addition to directing that DEQ manage the biosolids program, the General Assembly added requirements to protect human health and the environment.  Among these changes are the requirement for having and following nutrient management plans for all fields receiving biosolids, unannounced inspections of the land application sites, certification of persons land applying biosolids, and payment of a $7.50 fee per dry ton of biosolids land applied.  The fee will be paid by the generator of the biosolids, and will help fund the biosolids regulatory functions of DEQ and the Department of Conservation and Recreation, as well as local government monitoring programs.  DEQ has plans to hire approximately 20 new employees to perform the inspection and permitting functions, provide training to land appliers and local monitors, and provide administrative oversight of the program.  The Virginia Department of Health will initiate the first training of land appliers before the end of 2007.

Click on the following links to view the text of the Virginia House and Senate Bills that direct these changes:

At its September 25, 2007 meeting, the State Water Control Board will consider these basic changes as a “final exempt” regulatory action to transfer the existing Biosolids Use Regulations to the Virginia Pollution Abatement, Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Sewage Collection and Treatment, and Fee regulations currently administered by this board.  As the changes being made are solely a result of legislative changes, they are exempt from public comment.  Following this action, DEQ plans to go through a full regulatory process to consider additional changes to the regulations affecting biosolids, including establishment of a Technical Advisory Committee and full public comment.

To complement the regulatory changes, the Secretary of Natural Resources and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources will convene a panel of experts to further study the impact of land application of biosolids on human health and the environment.

Related links

 

 

Templ:PROD-DEQTemplate_one | Editable:false | StartFldr:/vpa/ | CurrentFilename:sewage.html;