Overview
Biosolids are the highly treated, safe, nutrient-rich, organic material derived from the wastewater treatment process. Biosolids have many benefits when recycled.
CASA’s biosolids program was launched in 2003 to provide proactive biosolids management leadership in the State of California. The mission of the biosolids program is to:
- Promote environmentally sound recycling of biosolids.
- Foster cooperation among governmental agencies, regulators, private corporations, the agricultural community, and the general public in the management of biosolids.
- Develop and maintain a system of sharing up-to-date, accurate, science-based biosolids information with CASA member agencies, local, state and federal regulatory agencies, and the general public.
- Identify and support appropriate university research to add to the scientific base for regulations and to stay up to date on research to respond to questions and concerns about biosolids.
- Advocate against county biosolids recycling land application bans, and help members minimize biosolids management costs while advocating environmentally sound biosolids practices that benefit the people of California.
Fact Sheets
- Regional Biosolids Associations Information
- 2015 Fact Sheet »
- 2015 Fact Sheet – Spanish »
- Biosolids: A Natural Resource (2-sided flier) »
- Biosolids Regulatory Summary
Biosolids 101 for Agency Managers, Directors, and Staff
March 7, 2022
- Video
- PPT Presentation, G. Kester
Federal
Key Regulations & Issues
- 2023 DC EPA Meeting Summary
- Slides from EPA PFAS Problem Formulation for Risk Assessment
- Agenda for EPA PFAS Problem Formulation for Risk Assessment
- 10-23-19 Biosolids Webinar Series Slides Part 1
- EPA Assistant Administrator Mehan Rebuttal to Center for Food Safety Petition to ban Land Application of Biosolids
- Chapter 40 Code of Federal Regulations part 503 »
- Supporting documents for federal biosolids regulations: EPA website »
- November 2015 EPA Update on 14 Projects RE 2002 NAS Report »
- CASA – DC Meeting Summary with EPA 022316
- CASA-EPA Mtg Summary 022718
- CASA-EPA Mtg Summary 032017
- Use of Reclaimed Water and Sludge in Food Crop Production
- Biosolids Land Application: Advancing Standards and Practices
- 11-15-18 EPA OIG report
- 11-28-18 FAQ quick reference guide to the November 15 2018 EPA OIG report
- 11-29-18 Joint Comments to OIG (CASA, NEBRA, MABA, VBC, USCC)
- 11-29-18 Northwest Biosolids Comments to OIG
- 12-04-18 NACWA Comments to OIG
- 7-24-20 W4170 Rebuttal to OIG Report
- Message sent with Rebuttal:
Dear Inspector General Sean O’Donnell:
Please find at the link below a scientific review of your office’s report released in November 2018 on the federal regulations governing the land application of biosolids. The biosolids scientific research community took exception to much of the report, in particular numerous conclusions and broad statements about risk and available data that were not based on any scientific evidence. The researchers who prepared the attached review reexamined the findings of your office with full consideration of the extensive scientific information and data available and rebut much of the November 2018 report. We welcome the opportunity to discuss this further and respectfully request this rebuttal be posted on your website along with EPA’s response.
- Message sent with Rebuttal:
WEF Convening
State
- Guidance for POTWs when Contracting Biosolids Services
- CASA/EBMUD Presentation– Guidance for POTWs
- Map – County Biosolids Ordinances 2020
- Maine – Letter to Governor Mills Requesting Veto of LD 1911
- 3-10-22 SB 1383 Implementation Update
- CASA Biosolids 101 to State Regulators 020822
- BACWA 2021 Biosolids Survey Results
- County Ordinance Map 2020
- SB 1383 Implementation Q&A with CalRecycle
- SB 1383 CalRecycle Powerpoint 1/21/21
- SB 1383 and its Implications
- AB 901 Recycling and Disposal Reporting System (RDRS) Registration
- 10-16-18 CASA comments on draft AB 901 regs
- CASA Estimate of excess capacity for co-digestion at WWTPs
- Biosolids General Order 2004-0012-DWQ »
- Statewide Programmatic Environmental Impact Report »
- Cal Recycle compost and in-vessel digestion regulations »
- CASA SOP and Exclusion Training »
- CASA FOG-FW Receiving Station SOP Template »
- CASA SOP and Exclusion Training Decio CalRecycle »
- CASA SOP and Exclusion Training Dow CMSA »
- CASA SOP and Exclusion Training Gonzales SWRCB »
- CASA SOP and Exclusion Training McDannel LACSD »
- SB 1383 Implementation – Organics Diversion White Paper
- 5-16-18 CASA Comments SB 1383 Regs
Central Valley Salts Policy: Summary of Implications for Biosolids
April 16, 2020
Contact Greg Kester (gkester@casaweb.org) for Additional Information: 916-844-5262
National
- UC Merced Research on C Sequestration: Summary
- 45 Year Review of Biosolids Land Application in CO
- National Biosolids End Use Report 090622 (2018 data); Data link
- Comment letter to USDA Request for input to support American-made Fertilizer Production (Supporting signatory with WEF & Northwest Biosolids)
- Certified Organic Crop Program: Comments to lift the prohibition on biosolids
- Climate Action Reserve: 5-18-20 CASA Comments on CAR soil enrichment protocol
- Water Research Foundation: Biosolids Research Summit 2019
- Letter to Whole Foods opposing their prohibition of biosolids
GlobalGAP
Final proposal to allow biosolids use and Presentation to Technical Committee – Crops in Cologne, Germany 9-11-18
- 7/12/21 Comment Letter to GlobalGap
- 9-26-18 BiosolidsAlliance-ProposalToGlobalGAP-Biosolids
- 9-11-18 BIOSOLIDS LAND APPLICATION AND FOOD CROP QUALITY ASSURANCE FINAL F[1]
8-24-22 Wastewater-Solid Waste-Regulatory Sector Seventh Meeting
- SB 1383 Update – G. Kester
- Monterey One Water Microgrid Project – G. Darling
- Bay Area Biosolids Coalition Update – S. Deslauriers
- Lystek Process and Overview – J. Dunbar
5-5-22 Wastewater-Solid Waste-Regulatory Sector Sixth Meeting
- Agenda
- SB 1383 Implementation Update – G Kester
- Overview of 3 Public-Private-Partnerships – Y Scherson
2-13-19 Wastewater-Solid Waste-Regulatory Sector Fourth Meeting
- Agenda
- Attendees
- LACSD Food Waste co-digestion project: Mark McDannel, LACSD
- LACSD Solid Waste Wastewater: Chris Seney, Republic Services
- Waste Management PPT: Kevin Mattson, Waste Management
- Organics management – A political and legislative perspective: Chuck Helget, Republic Services
10-15-18 Wastewater and Solid Waste Sector Meeting
7-12-18 Wastewater and Solid Waste Sectors Presentations
- CPUC Website
- Agenda SW-WW sector July 11 meeting 071018
- Attendee’s SW-WW Sector Mtg 071218
- Alexiades_CARB_110718_CASA
- Anaergia presentation to CASA – July 11 2018
- RIN Issue SW-WW Sector Mtg 071118
- Scott Walker Presentation 07-11-18
- WW and Solid Waste Mtg_SWRCBProjectUpdate_071118_Rev
- LACSD_July 2018 SW_Wastewater Mtg
Reclamation Projects
Fire-ravaged Land Reclamation
- 9-11-24 Biosolids Fire Reclamation – Demonstration Project at LVMWD
- Restoring fire-ravaged land with biosolids »
- Biosolids application affecting runoff water quality following forest fire »
- Plant and soil responses to biosolids application following forest fire »
- Biosolids after Buffalo Creek fire, Colorado »
- Compost as post-fire erosion control and effect on run-off water quality »
- TCR Fire Ravaged Biosolids Scope
- January 12, 2017 WE&RF Webinar Presentation
Superfund and other Mine Sites
- Reclamation of Palmerton Zinc Superfund Site »
- Ecosystem function in alluvial tailings after biosolids and lime addition »
- In situ soil treatments to reduce the phyto and bio availability of lead, zinc and cadmium »
- Using municipal biosolids in combination with other residuals to restore metal-contaminated mining areas »
- Field test of in situ soil amendments at the Tar Creek National Priorities List superfund site »
- EPA Guidance – The use of soil amendments for remediation, revitalization, and reuse »
Wetlands
- Biosolids use in constructed wetlands for landfill leachate treatment »
- Biosolids use in restoring degraded foreshore habitat »
- Biosolids use in wetland creation »
- Wetland Restoration Bunker Hill, Idaho »
Comment Letters
- 10-18-19 CASA Comments SB 1383 Draft Regs
- 2.28.19 CASA Comments SB 1383 Regs
- 9-24-18 CASA Draft Comments on Compost White Paper
- 7-5-18 CASA Comments on LCFS Proposed changes
- 5-31-18 CASA comments on draft AB 901 regs 053118
- 5-16-18 CASA Comments SB 1383 Regs
- Comments on Draft SB 1383 Regulatory Language – November 15, 2017
- Comments on SB 1383 draft concepts – July 21, 2017
- Comments on CalRecycle Waste Characterization Study – July 7, 2017
- Comments on AB 901 Draft Regulations – February 28, 2017
- Comments on negative declaration on Cal Recycle compost and in-vessel digestion regulations
- Final comments on proposed revisions to compost and in-vessel digestion regulations
- Comments to CDFA on app rates – February 17, 2016
- Global GAP letter_Final
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