Project Overview

Full Title
Evaluation of the Impact of Biosolids Application Fields on Surface-Water Loads and Groundwater Quality in the Jordan Lake Watershed, North Carolina

Location
  Orange County

Cooperating Agencies
North Carolina Non-point Source 319 Grant Program

Project Chief
Chad Wagner

Period of Project
2011 - 2014

Team Members
Sean Egen
Kristen McSwain
Ryan Rasmussen
Steve Harden

Science Topic
Agriculture and Water Quality
Support of Federal and State Programs

USGS IN YOUR STATE

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

Effects of land-applied biosolids on water quality in the Jordan Lake Watershed

Reports

All data collected and analyzed by the USGS will be archived in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) database and available via the internet. The USGS will publish an online USGS Scientific Investigations Report, documenting the data collection and approach used to characterize the biosolids source material and soils of the application fields and characterize the effects of land applied biosolids on groundwater and surface water. The report will be posted to the USGS website in the summer of 2014. USGS reports receive intensive technical and editorial reviews prior to approval for publication by the Director, USGS. An oral presentation on the results of the study will also be provided to the 319 Grant Program and other NC DENR staff as requested.

Related References

Kinney, C.A., Furlong, E.T., Zaugg, S.D., Burkhardt, M.R., Werner, S.L., Cahill, J.D., and Jorgensen, G.R., 2006, Survey of organic wastewater contaminants in biosolids destined for land application: Environ. Sci. Technol. 40: 7207-7215.

National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, 2002, Biosolids Applied to Land, National Academies Press, Washington, DC.

Rudo, K., 2005, Human Health Risk Evaluation of the Land Application of Sewage Sludge/Biosolids, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, 22 p.

Showers, W.J., 2007, Evaluation and remediation of nitrate flux from biosolids application fields to surface waters in the Neuse River Basin, Final report for Section 319 Non-Point Source Pollution Control Grant EW07015, 23p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009, Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey Report, EPA Report 822-R-08-014, available online at http://earth1.epa.gov/waterscience/biosolids/tnsss-overview.html#results.