Are there specific rules about where biosolids can be applied?
Before applying biosolids material to a particular site, an evaluation of the site’s soil characteristics, nearby water sources, distance to surface and groundwater, slope, types of vegetation, and individual crop needs is usually completed by the land applier. Nutrient management planning is also done to make sure that the correct amounts and types of biosolids are applied to farmland. Nutrient management technicians calculate the nutrient uptake requirements of the soil for a particular crop. After the nutrient uptake requirement is determined, a certain quality of biosolids is applied to the soil. There are also different types of biosolids that have different restrictions for their application. Class A biosolids meet the most stringent requirements, including no detectable levels of pathogens, and low levels of heavy metals. Class B biosolids are also safe, but still contain low, detectable levels of some pathogens. Several restrictions exist for Class B biosolids, including buffer
