Where did the term “biosolids” come from?
Modern sewage-treatment plants are technologically advanced facilities that require a great deal of knowledge and skill to operate. While many people think only of the effluent that is discharged back to a river or bay, the biosolids portion is an important second product. Up to forty percent of a sewage treatment plant’s construction and operating costs can be attributed to the systems that produce and treat the biosolids. Treatment plant operators wanted a term that better characterized the time, expertise and expense that goes into the product. The term was adopted after a nationwide challenge to select a better name. Washington was the first state to adopt and recognize the term in law (1992).
