Will biosolids affect groundwater?
Due to strict regulations and good farming practices, the use of biosolids poses little or no potential risk to groundwater. The biggest concern for groundwater is the potential of nitrate contamination, which may be caused by the over application of biosolids. Biosolids are safer in most cases than commercial fertilizers because about 95% of the nitrogen in biosolids exists in an organic form that has a slow release time, which makes them less likely to cause groundwater pollution by means of nitrogen contamination. Also, regulations exist that prohibit the use of biosolids near water sources that are used for human consumption, or in areas in which the water table is fairly close to the soil surface.
