City of Springfield, MO - Sanitary Services Biosolids Program

Sanitary Services Division
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Biosolids Monitoring Data

Figure 1

pie chart, Biosolids Usage in 2001
*stored amount is eventually utilized in any of the three land application site types

Biosolids generated at the Southwest Treatment Plant meet the most stringent federal and state regulations for pollutants.

Table 1-Biosolids Pollutant Levels and Regulated Limits

Pollutant	Southwest Treatment Plant (Average mg/kg*)	US EPA and MO DNR Regulation Limits (mg/kg)*
Arsenic	13.92	41
Cadmium	3.67	39
Chromium	48.07	1200
Copper	420.67	1500
Lead	64.37	300
Mercury	1.53	17
Molybdenum	18.54	75
Nickel	28.85	420
Selenium	13.92	36
Zinc	773.25	2800
*Data for 2001, liquid digested biosolids applied to agricultural land; limits for EQ and PC biosolids, exept molybdenum ceiling limit.

Table 2-Nitrogen and Phosphorus Content of Biosolids

Nutrient	Average (%)*
Nitrite & Nitrate	0.04
TKN	9.19
Ammonia	6.07
Phosphorus	4.16
*Data for 2001, liquid digested biosolids applied to agricultural land

Nitrogen is essential for plant growth. However, excess nitrogen not utilized by plants can leach into groundwater. Nitrogen exists in different forms in the soil. Ammonia is the form most readily available for uptake by plants. In Table 2, the percentages for nitrate and nitrite, TKN (Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen), and Ammonia are used for compliance with the MO DNR regulations which require calculation of crop nitrogen needs and availability of nitrogen in biosolids applied to land. Phosphorus is also essential for plant growth, but in excess can be detrimental to the health of lakes and rivers. See the Phosphorus page for more details.

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