When a septic tank is pumped, you probably don’t think about what happens to that stuff after it leaves the tank. But believe it or not, that stuff (also called wastewater or sewage sludge) has useful properties for agricultural applications.
The solid waste in that sludge gets treated and converted into biosolids. It might sound a little yucky, but the treatment process renders this material totally safe for sale to consumers for agricultural use.
Here is some more information on what the advantages of biosolids are and what uses they have.
What are biosolids?
Let’s begin with the obvious first question: “What are biosolids?” This is the term used to describe nutrient-rich, treated organic material that is recovered through the process of treating wastewater.
The treatment of this material minimizes disease-causing germs and odors. This process is known as digestion. It can also produce methane gas in some processes that can be converted to electricity and used to power the treatment plant.
Advantages of biosolids
There are many benefits and advantages associated with biosolids. For example, they are often used in agricultural applications as fertilizer. This not only is beneficial for the crops, but it can help the farmers by yielding increased crop productivity.
Biosolids can also be used as fuel. In fact, it has energy values similar to coal and can be used in many facilities in place of coal.
Another advantage of biosolids is that they keep the sewage sludge out of the landfill. This helps everyone in the surrounding community—not to mention the environment. The creation of biosolids from this leftover waste also creates a salable product, which helps drive the economy.
Why biosolids are better than synthetic fertilizer
When it comes to fertilizing crops, biosolids are a natural, organic solution that can be more effective and less harmful than synthetic fertilizers. This fertilizer enriches the soil with its slow release of organic matter, which is preferable to synthetic fertilizer in the long run.
Biosolids also improve the health and enhance the growth of plants by giving them all the nutrients they need. This includes nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and more. In addition to helping keep the plants healthy, biosolids improve the entire ecosystem by giving nourishment to the organisms living in the soil. Healthy soil means healthy crops, and paying attention to soil health will go a long way toward making sure crops stay healthy year after year.
Another benefit of biosolids over synthetic fertilizer is that it reduces soil erosion. This is due to the fact that soil enriched with biosolids encourages thick vegetation growth which binds water into the soil. This, in turn, limits runoff of sediment during rainstorms.
When you need your septic tank pumped to get rid of that sludge, be sure to contact the experienced professionals at Gullett Sanitation Services, Inc. to get the job done quickly and efficiently. If you have any questions about what happens to those biosolids after the sludge is treated, don’t hesitate to ask our knowledgeable staff, “What is the advantage of biosolids?”