If the levels of metals in the sludge are not less than the ceiling concentrations in the first column, then the sludge must be disposed of at an approved disposal facility or further processed prior to land application.
Applications of biosolids to agricultural land will rarely exceed 5 dry tons per acre per year. For this reason, it would be unusual for concentrations of heavy metals to be at levels which pose a threat to plant or animal health. However, the availability of micronutrients can be greatly affected by relatively small amounts of metals. It is recommended that farmers grazing livestock or harvesting forages for livestock consumption forage test or analyze plant tissue regularly to ensure major and microminerals exist in the correct proportions. For more information on testing contact your local Extension office. When sludge is less than 15 percent solids, the following wet rates apply: surface 10,000 gal/A/day, injected or immediate incorporation 25,000 gal/A/day. For specific concentrations of pollutants and limits on biosolid applications, refer to Ohio EPA, "Land Application of Sludge Manual."
Utilize the worksheet on pages 14-20 to determine the amount of nutrients being applied based on your sludge analysis, or utilize our computer spread sheet to calculate the application rate.
| Table 8. Class B site restrictions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollutant |
Ceiling Concentrations Limits for all Biosolids Applied to Land (ppm)a |
Annual Pollutant Loading Rate lb/Acre |
Cumulative Pollutant Loading Rate (CPLR) (lb/Acre)a |
| Arsenic |
75
|
1.8
|
36
|
| Cadmium |
85
|
1.7
|
34
|
| Chromium |
3000
|
131.7
|
2634
|
| Copper |
4300
|
65.9
|
1300
|
| Lead |
840
|
13.2
|
260
|
| Mercury |
57
|
0.75
|
15
|
| Molybdenumb |
75
|
---
|
not available
|
| Nickel |
420
|
8.4
|
370
|
| Selenium |
100
|
4.4
|
89
|
| Zinc |
7500
|
122.9
|
2400
|
| a Dry-weigh basis b Limits for molybdenum were deleted from the EPA Part 503 rule |
|||
| Source: Ohio EPA 40CFR 503.13 | |||