MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OFWASTEWATER SLUDGE

Abstract

Large amounts of wastewater sludge, a secondary pollutant of wastewater treatment plants, commonly containing over 90% water and pathogens, organic pollutants and heavy metals, are produced daily worldwide.  Main treatment routes of wastewater sludge are: landfill, anaerobic digestion, land application and incineration. Anaerobic sludge digestion is a technology employed worldwide to reduce solids, stabilize organic matter, and destroy pathogens and to produce biogas as a source of energy.Compositing is applied for sludge treatment and conversion of complex biowaste into a stabilized product that can be used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. In this paper we present the main practices employed in the management of wastewater sludge, in order to reduce its volume, to capitalize it and to protect the environment.