Biosolid Land Application Requirements

biosolids1EPA Part 503rule lists four options for meeting pollutant, pathogen, and vector limits in biosolids that are applied to land:

  • Exceptional Quality (EQ)
  • Pollutant Concentration (PC)
  • Cumulative Pollutant Loading rate (CPLR)
  • Annual Pollutant Loading Rate (APLR)

Each option is equally protective of the public health and the environment, so EQ, PC, CPLR, and APLR biosolids used in accordance with the Part 503 rule are all equally safe. For a detailed discussion on these four options, the best bet is to refer to the EPA, but the table below gives a brief primer on each.

Option*

Pollutant Limits

Pathogen Requirements

Vector Attraction Reduction Requirements

Exceptional Quality (EQ) Biosolids

Bulk or bagged biosolids meet pollutant concentration limits

Any one of the Class A requirements listed here

Any one of options 1–8 listed here.

Pollutant Concentration (PC) Biosolids

Bulk biosolids meet pollutant concentration limits

Any one of the Class B requirements listed here

Any one of the ten options listed here.

Any one of the Class A requirements listed here” target=”_self”>here

Option 9 or 10 listed here.

Cumulative Pollutant Loading rate (CPLR) Biosolids

Bulk biosolids applied subject to cumulative pollutant loading rate limits listed here

Any one of the Class A or Class B requirements listed here” target=”_self”>here

Any one of the ten options listed here.

Annual Pollutant Loading Rate (APLR) Biosolids

Bagged biosolids applied subject to annual pollutant loading rate limits

Any one of the Class A requirements listed here” target=”_self”>here

Any one of options 1–8 listed here.

* Each of these options requires that the biosolids meet ceiling concentrations for pollutants, monitoring requirements, and recordkeeping and reporting requirements. See the EPA’s Part 503 Rule, Chapter 2 [PDF] for more information.

Schwing Bioset’s advanced processing technology can help you understand and meet these requirements. To learn more, contact Schwing Bioset.