The Butler County Conservation District has signed an agreement for Delegation of Administrative Responsibilities in the beneficial use of sewage sludge by land application program. The agreement was made between the Bureau of Water Quality Protection, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Conservation District.

Biosolids are nutrient-rich organic materials derived from wastewater solids that have been stabilized, meet specific processing and quality criteria and are suitable for land application.

We are all responsible for the generation of biosolids. Pennsylvanians produce an estimated 2.2 million tons of wastewater solids each year, almost a quarter of a ton per household.

Biosolids are produced primarily from the treatment of wastewater at municipal treatment plants and individual septic tanks. Wastewater consists of wastes from household activities - from the kitchen, dishwater, laundry, and bath. Industrial discharges may also be a part of wastewater treated at a municipal facility; however, regulations severely restrict the amount of industrial pollutants discharged to a municipal plant by requiring industries to pretreat their wastewater before discharge.

Only those biosolids that meet strict quality standards for pollutants, pathogens and vector attraction may be land applied for beneficial use.

All other biosolids must be disposed in a landfill or incinerated.

This material has proven to be a valuable resource, when controlled and safely applied, as a fertilizer to rejuvenate farmland, forests and minelands.

The application of biosolids reduces the need for commercial fertilizers.

Recycling biosolids, instead of disposing of them, saves landfill space and can save communities money. The organic matter in biosolids improves soil tilth-suitability for crop growth and water-holding capacity.

Biosolids are regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection.

This permit requires the generator to demonstrate that the biosolids produced at the facility meet all the quality standards for pollutants and for reduction of pathogens vector attraction.

This is a reminder to pick up your tree seedlings between 9 a.m. and noon Saturday at the Sunnyview Nursing Home barn or at the Farm Show Grounds entrance gate along Route 68.