Beneficial Re-use of Biosolids
Service: Operational service for managing beneficial reuse of 37,000t/year of biosolids, including transport logistics, crop nutrition, data management and regulatory compliance
Client: UnityWater
Location: Sunshine Coast and Burnett-Mary, Queensland
Start: 2023
Completion: 2028
Biosolids are rich source of nutrients and carbon that can be used as an alternative fertiliser and soil amendment in agriculture, but requirement handling of large material volumes relative to mineral fertilizer and are odorous when fresh. Critically, the agricultural demand for nutrients is seasonal, whereas biosolids production is continuous.
Unitywater required a tailored service for the beneficial reuse of up to 80,000t of biosolids per year as a by-product of waste-water treatment.
Solution: For over a decade, Verterra has worked with Unitywater assisting them in gaining a better understand of the nutrient potential of their biosolids, while investigating various beneficial biosolids use options in agriculture and forestry, including direct land application and composting, among others. Verterra combined its expertise in soils, agronomy, and wastewater treatment to assemble an integrated end-user focused approach to beneficial reuse in agriculture that also improves reliability for Unitywater.
Project description: Unitywater owns and manages 17 Treatment Plants in the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay Regions, with the goal of 100% beneficial reuse of biosolids, provision of safe, reliable, 24/7 water and sewerage services to their communities, and cost-effectiveness, keeping prices affordable. Verterra combined its knowledge of soils, crop nutrition and agricultural management, with its extensive landowner network and intimate understanding of wastewater management, to provide Unitywater with an operational service for managing beneficial reuse of 37,000t/year of biosolids, including transport logistics, crop nutrition, data management and regulatory compliance.
