TY - BOOK
T1 - Applying drinking water treatment residuals to land
T2 - opportunities and implications
AU - Gilmour, Daniel
AU - Jorat, Ehsan
AU - Minto, Andrew
AU - Tierney, Irene
AU - Aitkenhead, Matt
AU - Coull, Malcolm
AU - Hough, Rupert
N1 - Copyright information: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, modified or stored in a retrieval system without the prior written permission of CREW management. While every effort is made to ensure that the information given here is accurate, no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors, omissions or misleading statements. All statements, views and opinions expressed in this paper are attributable to the author(s) who contribute to the activities of CREW and do not necessarily represent those of the host institutions or funders.
PY - 2022/3/15
Y1 - 2022/3/15
N2 - In 2018/19, Scottish Water’s treatment processes generated c.29,000 tDS2) of Water Treatment Residuals (WTR). WTR, also termed drinking water treatment sludges or bioresource, are produced due to the addition of chemical coagulants to water. The Scottish Water Bioresource Strategy has identified the need to transition the outlet for WTR from purely land restoration to agricultural land due to the likely significant increase in tonnage of WTR over the next 25 years, increasing landfill charges, reduced lifespan of restoration sites and environmental sustainability. This study is designed to support this transition to agricultural land by understanding the implications of applying WTR to land by addressing key knowledge gaps including: what are the benefits and disbenefits of applying drinking water treatment sludges to land? How does this fit in the context of the circular economy in Scotland? What is best practice in terms of assessment of the suitability for application to land? Which measures could help to mitigate the disbenefits? Key findings of the study are that the application of WTR to land has predominately resulted in the improvement in soil physical properties such as water retention, porosity, hydraulic conductivity and P storage capacity without negative impacts on groundwater. However, no significant change in plant yield was reported. Application of WTR to lands with pH<5.5 should be avoided, given the potential for the Al in the WTR to become soluble. Sole application of WTR is deemed to be suitable for land restoration. However, if separate applications of fertilisers such as compost, manure or Wastewater Treatment Residuals (WWTR) are made, WTR application could enhance soil and plant properties in agricultural land and forestry. A user-friendly, decision support tool for guiding the application of WTR to land in Scotland has been developed for end users.
AB - In 2018/19, Scottish Water’s treatment processes generated c.29,000 tDS2) of Water Treatment Residuals (WTR). WTR, also termed drinking water treatment sludges or bioresource, are produced due to the addition of chemical coagulants to water. The Scottish Water Bioresource Strategy has identified the need to transition the outlet for WTR from purely land restoration to agricultural land due to the likely significant increase in tonnage of WTR over the next 25 years, increasing landfill charges, reduced lifespan of restoration sites and environmental sustainability. This study is designed to support this transition to agricultural land by understanding the implications of applying WTR to land by addressing key knowledge gaps including: what are the benefits and disbenefits of applying drinking water treatment sludges to land? How does this fit in the context of the circular economy in Scotland? What is best practice in terms of assessment of the suitability for application to land? Which measures could help to mitigate the disbenefits? Key findings of the study are that the application of WTR to land has predominately resulted in the improvement in soil physical properties such as water retention, porosity, hydraulic conductivity and P storage capacity without negative impacts on groundwater. However, no significant change in plant yield was reported. Application of WTR to lands with pH<5.5 should be avoided, given the potential for the Al in the WTR to become soluble. Sole application of WTR is deemed to be suitable for land restoration. However, if separate applications of fertilisers such as compost, manure or Wastewater Treatment Residuals (WWTR) are made, WTR application could enhance soil and plant properties in agricultural land and forestry. A user-friendly, decision support tool for guiding the application of WTR to land in Scotland has been developed for end users.
M3 - Commissioned report
SN - 9780902701052
BT - Applying drinking water treatment residuals to land
PB - Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW)
CY - Aberdeen
ER -