6/28/17
A Postcard from W 3170
including photos, below, of the amazing Hyperion Environmental Learning Center

A quick trip to L.A., a blur, for 2 days, with top U. S. scientists focused on "beneficial reuse of residuals and reclaimed water: impacts on soil ecosystems and human health" - the W 3170 group, a cooperative agreement under U. S. Dept. of Agriculture.  CASA hosted the meeting at the Hyperion WWTF (photo).  Brain power abounded.

Highlights:  

George O'Connor, Univ. of FL, looks closing at sorption and release of ciprofloxacin in soils.

Drew McAvoy investigates food waste diversion from landfills for beneficial uses.

Rebecca Ryalls, Univ. of HI, envisioning closed nutrient cycles.

  • Harry Allen (U. S. EPA, San Francisco) outlining the enormity of dispersed microplastics in the environment & our limited knowledge of what it means...
  • Greg Evanylo (VA Tech) demonstration of Class A biosolids products used on degraded urban soils, resulting in minimal N leaching and significant improvements in plant yields...
  • Kang Xia (VA Tech) showing runoff of trace chemicals of concern from manure can be reduced by incorporation and application at least 3 days before rain.
  • Rooney Kim (Purdue) talking about current evaluations of plant uptake when using heat-dried pelleted biosolids and future work to install agriculture high tunnels near WRRFs to use low-grade "waste" heat and treated wastewater to grow crops year-round...
  • Peter Green (UC Davis) working on detailed lab analysis techniques to allow viewing of the whole universe of trace chemicals in biosolids & residuals...
  • Ian Pepper (U. Arizona) clearly showing why antibiotic resistance in soil from biosolids application is not a signficant concern; "the place to worry about antibiotic resistance is in the hospital..."
  • Jim Ippolito: (CO State) using water treatment residuals (WTR) to adsorbphosphorus (P) for up to 3 decades in stormwater treatment systems...
  • Rebecca Ryalls (U. Hawaii) work on carbon sequestration using composts and human faecal matter in California and Haiti - critical recycling of nutrients and carbon from "human organics..."
  • The U. of CA consortium focused on improving agricultural systems in the face of drought, beginning to investigate the benefits of adding biosolids and other organic amendments to soils...
  • Ganga Hettiarachchi (W 3170 Chair, KS State) use of biosolids and other soil amendments to stabilize contaminated military sites and grow biofuel crops for economic benefit.

It was a feast of eye-opening innovations & ideas suitable for any biosolids officianado. Contact NEBRA for further details.