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Sustainability of Domestic Sewage Sludge Disposal

Author

Listed:
  • Claudia Bruna Rizzardini

    (Chemistry Physics Environment Department, University of Udine, via del Cotonificio 108, 33100 Udine, Italy)

  • Daniele Goi

    (Chemistry Physics Environment Department, University of Udine, via del Cotonificio 108, 33100 Udine, Italy)

Abstract

Activated sludge is now one of the most widely used biological processes for the treatment of wastewaters from medium to large populations. It produces high amounts of sewage sludge that can be managed and perceived in two main ways: as a waste it is discharged in landfill, as a fertilizer it is disposed in agriculture with direct application to soil or subjected to anaerobic digestion and composting. Other solutions, such as incineration or production of concrete, bricks and asphalt play a secondary role in terms of their degree of diffusion. The agronomical value of domestic sewage sludge is a proved question, which may be hidden by the presence of several pollutants such as heavy metals, organic compounds and pathogens. In this way, the sustainability of sewage sludge agricultural disposal requires a value judgment based on knowledge and evaluation of the level of pollution of both sewage sludge and soil. The article analyzed a typical Italian case study, a water management system of small communities, applying the criteria of evaluation of the last official document of European Union about sewage sludge land application, the “Working Document on Sludge (3rd draft, 2000)”. The report brought out good sewage sludge from small wastewater treatment plants and soils quality suggesting a sustainable application.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia Bruna Rizzardini & Daniele Goi, 2014. "Sustainability of Domestic Sewage Sludge Disposal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(5), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:6:y:2014:i:5:p:2424-2434:d:35522
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Abdel daiem, Mahmoud M. & Hatata, Ahmed & Galal, Osama H. & Said, Noha & Ahmed, Dalia, 2021. "Prediction of biogas production from anaerobic co-digestion of waste activated sludge and wheat straw using two-dimensional mathematical models and an artificial neural network," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 226-240.
    2. Xuan Zhang & Xian-qing Wang & Dong-fang Wang, 2017. "Immobilization of Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge during Land Application Process in China: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Mohammad Ghorbani & Petr Konvalina & Anna Walkiewicz & Reinhard W. Neugschwandtner & Marek Kopecký & Kazem Zamanian & Wei-Hsin Chen & Daniel Bucur, 2022. "Feasibility of Biochar Derived from Sewage Sludge to Promote Sustainable Agriculture and Mitigate GHG Emissions—A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-23, October.
    4. Diana Mariana Cocârţă & Mihaela Alexandra Stoian & Aykan Karademir, 2017. "Crude Oil Contaminated Sites: Evaluation by Using Risk Assessment Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-16, August.
    5. Qiqi Chen & Junbiao Zhang & Lu Zhang, 2015. "Risk Assessment, Partition and Economic Loss Estimation of Rice Production in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-21, January.
    6. Malwina Tytła, 2019. "Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution and Potential Ecological Risk in Sewage Sludge from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Located in the Most Industrialized Region in Poland—Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-16, July.

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