I’ll admit that I have thought about what happens to our waste. We go about our business, flush the toilet, then where does our fecal matter go?! Does it just sit in pipes and sewage systems? But look at how many people there are in this world…if everyone goes just once a day, that’s quite a build-up! Actually, wastewater is treated to create biosolids.
Biosolids are nutrient –rich organic materials that result from the treatment of human waste from sewages. Biosolids can be applied as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth. They are used in the forestry industry to promote the growth of trees and used by farmers and gardeners to quicken the growth of agricultural crops, fertilize gardens, and reclaim mining sites. Biosolids can be highly valuable resources, because they are made of natural components suitable for replacing chemical fertilizers. They can be composted and are even sold and distributed to be spread over lawns in some places.
Biosolids are created in the process of treating wastewater and are the residuals when the water is purified to make the water safe to drink, for recreational purposes, and to improve marine water quality for recreation and seafood harvesting. When wastewater reaches the sewage treatment plant, industrial facilities pre-treat the wastewater to remove hazardous contaminants before it is sent to treatment. The sewage goes through physical, chemical and biological processes to separate water from the waste. The solids are treated to the right pH level and odours are eliminated. The process also sanitizes the wastewater to kill disease-causing bacteria, viruses and parasites.
The topic suggests that biosolids are only used as sustainable agricultural fertilizer in other parts of the world, but this practice is actually used in Canada, as well as the United States. Municipalities are required to treat wastewater in Canada. Their options include recycling the biosolids as fertilizer, to incinerate it, or to bury it in a landfill.
In the Ottawa-Carleton region, biosolids are disinfected at the Pickard Centre, where the initial part of the process is to separate water from sludge. The water is brought back to the Ottawa River, while the sludge goes through a process to eliminate moisture and bacteria. A polymer solution is added to the sludge to create biosolids. They are regularly checked for contamination, as there are strict rules on the use of biosolids from the Ministry of Environment. Biosolids are not allowed to be used for home gardening and plants due to regulations. They contain high contents of nitrogen, phosphorus and metals that are good for growing crops. Biosolids are used as fertilizers for hay, corn, pasture, commercial sod, cereal, ornamental crops, and trees. In Quebec City, biosolids are dried into pellets to power the municipal incinerator. Other cities in the country, including Toronto, turn sludge into synthetic crude oil and coal. Burning biosolids create ash that can be used to make concrete and planting soil. Farming communities in Ontario actually ask for biosolids to be used on their land and are pleased with the results.
Some environmentalists have expressed concerns, such as biosolids putting toxins in the soil. Others say that sewage treatment should be researched further before applying it to our lands. However, many health experts support the land application of biosolids. If you really think about it, it kind of makes sense. We use horse and cow manure to plant things, so is human waste that different? The Water Environment Assosication of Ontario compiled a report in 2001 that stated the use of biosolids are safe in Ontario. Citizens have been worried with how biosolids would smell, but it depends on how they have been treated. Some smells are due to their composition of sulphur and ammonia, important nutrients for plants.
Works Cited
Canadian Water and Wastewater Association. (2003-2010). FAQ- Biosolids. Retrieved April 5, 2010, from CWWA: http://www.cwwa.ca/faqbiosolids_e.asp
Mills, D. (2001, February). Is Human Waste Safe as Fertilizer? Retrieved April 5, 2010, from Peace and Environment News: http://www.perc.ca/PEN/2001-02/s-mills2.html
Nierenberg, D. (2007, October 11). Real organic agriculture: Using human waste as fertilizer. Retrieved April 5, 2010, from Worldwatch Institute: http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5394
van der Zee, B. (2008, January 17). Crazy idea, but it just might work. Retrieved April 5, 2010, from guardian.co.uk: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jan/17/waste.renewableenergy
7 Left a Message:
In my blog, I wrote about how anaerobic digestion of fecal matter creates bio-gas. People in underdeveloped countries are taught how to create bio-gas because well, they all create waste, so it's something they have that can create energy. Instead of using electricity or fossil fuels to run their trains in Sweden, they run it on bio-gas from dead carcasses. If methane is produced from biogas, then fossil fuel or not, they are still contributing to global warming! I guess it's the picking of the lesser evil.
The only difference between our blogs is that my blog also discussed how farming and agriculture are emitting alot of gases into the atmosphere and are accounting for 20% of all emmisions.
I also found your blog to be interesting to read. For example the pictures that you had incorporated into your blog had made it more pleasurable to read and understand. Your blog was also a good lenght so that means you didn't rush through. Good job in completeing your final blog.
We are all finally done these ANNOYING blogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Christina!
I'm SO annoyed ! I wrote this comment about your blog twice now, and both times my laptop went weird and did not send my comment.
Oh noooooo;(
Okay well, to start off I must congratulate you on finishing all your blogs! Good Job!
In completing bioblogs, it takes a thorough research process and as well as creative writing kills. Clearly, you demonstrate both.
I thought that you organized your ideas fairly well. You included an introduction and clearly defined what a biosolid was. I did like how your blog made connection with communities in Ontario, as this exemplifies that you were looking for connections. Many of us forget to make connection as we are researching various topics for school. We forget that we are only learning so that we can use this knowledge to our everyday life. What's the use of all this knowledge without making certain connection?!
I did enjoy your information on how biosolids are used in countries such as Ghana and China. I did not come across this information through my research process so I personally thought this was very interesting.
Overall, your blog is very organized and well thought out. Good Job! I give you a 10/10!
Hey Christina!
First of all, congratulations on finishing ALL your blogs. I am going to start writing mine soon...but anyways, let's talk about your post. I loved the blog although it took me a while to read... :D It was really well put. You organized your information very well and also provided examples as well as your opinion to the certain points that you made. The introduction was well done and it gave me a sense as to what you were going to talk about in your blog.
In the paragraph where you said, "In the Ottawa-Carleton region, biosolids are disinfected at the Pickard Centre...", it really deepened my understanding of how bio solids are created and the process of each step. You expanded your information by also explaining how environmentalists feel about this situation. Every part of your blog was informative OR interesting to read. I can say that this was a PERFECT BLOG!
I also wanted to comment on that last statement of yours, "Who knew an answer to going green would be right in our toilet bowls?" I found it really funny and it was an excellent way to end such an excellent blog! Good Job Christina! :)
Trying not to sound like a broken record:
First of all,congratulations on finishing ALL your blogs. I think everyone knows how much of a pain they can be, but I think we're also getting some valuable discussions in that allow us to learn a lot. That being said, time to comment on the blog itself.
First of all, the idea of biosolids as a blog topic was absolute genius; you're right about the fact that no one actually thinks about where their business goes when they've done it. As a generation credited with the task of saving the earth by coloring it green, it's really important that we begin to consider how the world around us is working.
I am in complete agreement with your statement that the pros of usage greatly outnumber the cons of biosolids. However we also need to evaluate the usage of biosolids completely before we decide it's the greatest thing since sliced bread:
Firstly, if the waste is not treated properly, it becomes potentially hazardous to organisms that ingest products with bacteria such as e.Coli and result in death.
Secondly, when you start using them, you can reverse the effects they have on the environment whether they be positive or negative.
Next is the fact that if all cities decided to send their waste to treatment plants to be converted to biosolids, there'd be an accumulation of waste that could result in the contamination of food or animals.
The complete composition of biosolids are also unknown to the public, so yes there is a slight chance that they could contain hazardous chemicals that are transferrable to crops.
The last thing is that the stench of biosolids would not be something easy to ignore. It would be strong enough to have a negative impact on the lives of people living as well as depreciate property values.
Overall a great bioblog, I loved reading it. I just think that there are more things that need to be taken into consideration. And yeah...a little fecophobia never hurt anyone! Great job Christina XP
Hey Christina,
I was impressed by your bio blog you covered all the areas of the in which biosolids can be used, such as when it comes to fertilizer,treatment and most importantly energy. Bio gas is something we both researched in common although I didn't you could power vehicles with them and its use in developing countries like Uganda. The sad but interesting part i found was the fact that roadkill could be used to make bio gas, that is amazing.
I am also glad to hear that you have included Ontario's involvement in bio solids
I think your blog was amazing great job. This may be the your last bio blog of the year but there is always gr 12 bio :) .
Christina Chong,
I love your blogs. Have you noticed how I always come back for more? All your blogs are like amazingly informative and just so interesting! Oh by the way, Congratulations on finishing the bio course and also done with these bio blogs. Finally, it's over! :) Well, moving on, I was never aware that biosolids were used for so many different things like energy other than just fertilizing. See, I always learn something new when I read your blogs and the comments, they're so educational!
I really liked how you included ontario's involvement in biosolids. But my opinions on this topic is just that, even if bio solids are so beneficial and such, it still contains the many health concerns that are probably asked daily. And I'm definitely one of those who ask alot of questions.
Just wanted to end this off with "Who knew an answer to going green would be right in our toilet bowls?" I LOVE YOUR BLOGS, they're so amusing yet educational to read! ....that's a first. Congrats again on grade 11 bio :) let's hope that Flavian's wrong and that there are no more bio blogs for next year ;)
hi chong!
I'm pretty sure I've commented on two or three of your blogs alredy. I always come back to them ebcause they're so well written! So much information that isn't available through my own research, plus you put your own opinions in which is important.
your information about how bio solids are used in other countries was very interesting. I can't imagine using human urine as a regular fertilizer in Canada. It's really out of custom, but it's an idea we should consider because of its benefits to the environment. We should try to get past our idea of what's gross or whatever and do what's right for the environment!
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