1.3 Decision Framework for Sludge Management

Guiding the establishment of treatment objectives is the Sanitation Quality Standards for Emergencies, offering rationale to define the treatment objectives based on local disposal options and specific end-use or disposal goals. The video below gives a brief overview of the rationale for ensuring the safe handling of biosolids.

The aforementioned rationale framework is illustrated below.

Based on the analysis of the rationale provided above, we have identified three potential alternatives for biosolid management: safe reuse, burying, and burning of treated sludge.

In the upcoming lessons, we will discuss the requirements that must be met to implement these options safely for biosolids as well as the pre-treatment and treatment steps that result in pre-treated or treated solid fractions.