Waste Water Effluent and Biosolids Cleantech Investment Strategy - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Potential Uses for Waste Water Effluent and Biosolids

Cleantech Investment Strategy Water Workshop March 31, 2015

Katerina S. Jordan University of Guelph

Water Use in Canada

Source: Environment Canada

Water Use in Ontario

Source: Environment Canada

Water use by sector in Ontario

Water Use/Sector Water Consumption m3/day Percent Municipal 681,526 37.7 Industrial Manufacturing 511,699 28.3 Agriculture 364,849 20.2 Golf Courses 70,137 3.9 Industrial Mining 61,466 3.4 Industrial Thermal Power 60,466 3.3 Rural Residential 57,240 3.2 Total 1,807,383 100

Adapted from de Loe et al., 2001

Water Use for Sod Production in ON

 Annual irrigation/water need on sod farms averages

6,084,624 litres per ha

 As of 2006, 13,034 ha of sod in Ontario

 44% of Canada sod production

Use of reclaimed water for sod production

Advantages

 Reduced need for municipal or well water  Added benefit of nutrients  Reduced dumping of treated wastewater into waterways  Natural filtration of pollutants and nutrients through soil and

turf system Potential disadvantages

 Leaching of nutrients or toxins  Salt damage to plants

Study at the University of Guelph

Objectives :

1.

Determine if reclaimed wastewater from various sources could be used to grow Kentucky bluegrass.

2.

Determine any potential leaching hazards to the ground water.

3.

Observe any changes in soil chemistry resulting from repeated irrigation with reclaimed water

4.

Study the changes in soil microbial community through molecular biology techniques.

Methods

 Examined four different sources of reclaimed water.

 Municipal tertiary treated  Municipal secondary treated  Industrial waste water (pig farm)  Collected road run-off (golf course)

 Conducted both greenhouse and field trials

Greenhouse Study

 Constructed soil columns that acted as lysimeters

Methodology

 Examined four reclaimed water sources on four

Kentucky bluegrass turf varieties/blends

 Collected leachate every other week  Followed turfgrass growth from seeding through

establishment (101 days)

 Collected data on clipping weight, turfgrass quality,

NO3

• content of leachate

Reclaimed water properties

Growth of Turf 80 DAS

Control WW Sec WW Ter Industrial Run-off

Effect on Turfgrass Quality

Potential Risks to Groundwater

Conclusions

 None of the reclaimed water sources had sufficient

nutrients to support Kentucky bluegrass development  Would likely work as irrigation source with supplemental

fertilizer.

 The levels of nitrate leaching through the soil differed

depending on the type of reclaimed water used.

 There was an accumulation of salts in the soil that

negatively impacted the development of Kentucky bluegrass.

Use of Reclaimed Wastewater in California (2009)

Primary Turfgrass Sectors and Ontario Turfgrass Acreage

 Home lawns  Municipal and

recreational fields

 Golf courses  Sod farms

Primary Turfgrass Sectors and Ontario Turfgrass Acreage

 Home lawns  Municipal and

recreational fields

 Golf courses  Sod farms

Potential for use of reclaimed water on turfgrass systems

Sod farms

 Most like agricultural

crops

 No clientele during

establishment

 Most likely candidate for

wastewater irrigation Golf courses

 Highly irrigated  Could help with rough

areas

 Greens likely too critical

and delicate

*Soil type important for both areas*

What about the solids?

Municipal Biosolids:  Recovered from the sewage treatment process  Manufactured in an effort to recycle waste  Valuable source of organic matter and nutrients for soil and crops  Nitrogen and phosphorus contained have a cash value of $250 per

hectare

MBs Types

Raw sludge Liquid Dewatered Lyste k

A) Schematic of field lysimeter as described in by Roy et al. (2001), with a soil profile consisting of a 35cm A horizon, (sandy loam), a 25cm B horizon (loamy sand) and a 25 cm C horizon (sand); B) Photo of field site at Guelph Turfgrass Institute in Guelph, ON, Canada prior to soil amendment July 4 2011.

Field Set-up

Amendment Application

Soil and leachate collection and storage

Conclusions: Nutrient and Metal Analysis

 Some of the MB products were sufficient to sustain turfgrass growth  Land application of MBs can lead to drainage and surface water

contamination based on an increased concentration of nitrate-N and total phosphorus.



Management practices that aim to reduce leaching of nutrients would be beneficial

 Fertilizer rate calculations should focus not only on nitrogen need, but

phosphorus need and availability.

 Metals accumulation and transfer through soil and surface water

leachate were negligible or non-existent following land application of MBs, therefore are not considered a risk to ground- or surface waters.

Summary

 High potential for use of reclaimed wastewater on turfgrass

systems  Non-edible  Sod farms especially have limited exposure to people  Soil type and alternate irrigation are important  Golf courses can be a sink for reclaimed water as well

 More research needed

 Potential for use of municipal water prior to final treatment

 Energy reduction

 Turfgrass systems act as natural filters of pollutants and

nutrients

 Solids may be used as alternative source of fertilizer

Acknowledgements:

Graduate students:

Patrick Schwieder Crystal McCall

Collaborators:

• Dr. Kari Dunfield
• Dr. Eric Lyons

Technical assistance:

Alex Porter

• Dr. Ken Carey