STV’s John Bannen, water/wastewater senior engineering operations manager, explores how utilities can navigate growing uncertainty around biosolids management while preserving the benefits of land application in a new article published by Wastewater Digest.
In “Preserving Biosolids Value While Planning for Change,” Bannen examines the balance between the documented agricultural and soil-health benefits of beneficial reuse and emerging concerns surrounding PFAS, evolving regulations and increasingly constrained disposal options.
“The future of biosolids management should not be framed as a choice between defending the status quo and eliminating land application entirely. Utilities need a practical framework that weighs the documented value of beneficial reuse against local risks.”
The article highlights how source characterization, monitoring and site-specific risk assessments can help utilities make informed decisions about land application as the regulatory landscape around PFAS continues to evolve. Bannen also emphasizes looking beyond the immediate destination for biosolids to consider the full lifecycle implications of alternatives, including infrastructure needs, hauling, energy use, operating costs and long-term reliability.
Rather than planning around a single disposal or reuse pathway, Bannen encourages utilities to build flexibility into their treatment systems. Strategies such as digestion, enhanced dewatering, drying, storage and regional partnerships can help preserve multiple options as regulations, markets and operating conditions change.
Ultimately, Bannen advocates for an evidence-based portfolio approach that allows utilities to preserve beneficial reuse where appropriate while preparing for future regulatory, operational and market changes. Read the full Wastewater Digest article: “Preserving Biosolids Value While Planning for Change.”
