What Is Sewage Sludge, and What Can Be Done with It?

Unlike today, most American cities and citizens weren’t too concerned about the environment in previous decades. One proof of that is how towns dealt with wastewater by simply dumping it into the nearest stream, river or lake. Contaminants in this wastewater hurt local ecosystems by killing plants and diseasing wildlife. Something had to change!

Thankfully, communities began constructing water treatment facilities in the mid-1900s. These plants were designed to remove contaminants from the water and recycle it for future use. While these treatment processes cleaned up the water, they created a new kind of problem: sewage sludge.

This sludge refers to anything left behind after treatment, including both organic and inorganic materials. Everything from nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to large objects like bottles and paper can be found in sewage sludge.

We can’t just leave sewage sludge sitting around in the open. After all, sludge often contains dangerous pathogens. That’s where sewage sludge cleanup in Bethel, OH comes into play. Here’s how professionals can deal with that leftover sludge.

Disposal

Hauling leftover sludge to the local landfill is the easiest way to deal with it. As long as the landfill is properly constructed, the sludge will decompose over time without leaking into the groundwater, meaning it’s a relatively harmless disposal method. The downsides of landfill disposal are the release of methane gas and unpleasant odors.

Incineration

If your sludge disposal company doesn’t bring sludge to the landfill, they may opt to incinerate it. Burning the sludge completely destroys pathogens and decomposes most organic chemicals in the sludge. Once the incineration is complete, we’re left with 10 to 20 percent of the original sludge volume.

Unfortunately, we’re unable to reap any potential benefits of organic sludge matter after it is turned into ash.

Land application

Many environmentalists advocate for land application after sludge removal in Bethel, OH. Spreading treated organic sludge material on soil can foster crop growth without the use of commercial fertilizers. This eco-friendly method is the ultimate way to recycle sludge and can save farmers a ton of money each year.

It’s important to note that this method typically can’t be used for sludge hauled from industrial facilities or other businesses that produce pathogen-filled sewage sludge.

Call our team to handle your sludge

Sludge removal in Bethel, OH clearly isn’t a DIY job, but you also can’t hire just anyone to haul sludge away from your home or business. At Gullett Sanitation Services Inc., we’re committed to providing safe and efficient sludge removal at a fair price for our customers.

On top of our more than 75 years of experience, we have machinery that’s capable of hauling sludge for both large and small jobs from all sorts of different industries. We can even analyze your sludge to ensure it meets environmental standards.

Be sure to hire Gullett Sanitation Services Inc. anytime you need sewage sludge cleanup in Bethel, OH. Get in touch with us today to get a quote for our services or to learn more about our offerings.