Most people don’t think about where their wastewater goes after they flush or send their dishwater down the drain. Prior to the 1950s, sewage and wastewater were dumped into rivers and streams—but as America’s population increased, our natural resources were overwhelmed and water quality declined. Today, wastewater treatment facilities have developed ways to handle the sewage sludge while preserving our natural resources. Read on to find out how to properly dispose of sewage sludge in Bethel, OH.

What is sewage sludge?

Sewage sludge comes from municipal wastewater—everything that your home or business produces from washing, bathing and flushing toilets. Some municipal sewage also includes wastewater from industrial sources.

A wastewater treatment plant separates the wastewater components and filters out the water so that it can be treated and recycled. This includes separating biological waste from chemicals as well as fats and oils. Then a series of biological and chemical processes is used to break down the solid waste.

The solids—or sewage sludge—are treated in order to reduce their volume and make them easier to dispose of. This begins with water reduction and can end in incineration, drying (for compost purposes) or thermophilic digestion. The specific processes include the primary treatment, which usually involves thickening and dewatering, followed by a secondary “digestion” treatment in which bacteria are allowed to consume the sludge’s organic matter. This can be done anaerobically (without exposure to oxygen) or aerobically (with exposure to oxygen).

While wastewater treatment has advanced significantly since the 1950s, there’s still no way to treat water without producing some kind of waste material. Unless properly treated, sewage sludge can harbor a lot of harmful bacteria and other substances. That’s why it’s so important to dispose of sewage sludge properly.

So, what’s the difference between sewage sludge and biosolids? “Biosolids” is the industry term referring to material that is suitable for land application, such as composting and fertilizer. “Sewage sludge” is a general term for all sewage wastewater byproducts.

How to dispose of sewage sludge

When you have a septic system, it’s important to stay on top of its maintenance by calling in the professionals regularly. Gullett Sanitation Services Inc. provides sewage sludge disposal services in Bethel, OH, which are designed to remove the sludge from your holding tank, lagoon, digester or thickener and render it suitable for disposal. From food processing to wastewater treatment facilities, we dredge and treat your sewage sludge so that your septic system runs smoothly and disposal is a snap.

Sewage sludge disposal in Bethel, OH

Gullett Sanitation Services Inc. has been providing septic system services to Ohio customers for over 75 years. From sewage sludge disposal to service and repairs, we can handle septic system projects of any size and scope. Our sludge disposal services produce a dry sludge that is suitable for composting, landfill, incineration and land application. Let us dredge and dewater your holding tank or septic system with our efficient and cost-effective technology. Reach out to us today to get started.