ABSTRACT
Land treatment of nonhazardous secondary wastewater treatment sludges is a safe method for recycling wastes high in water and macronutrients. However, all secondary wastewater treatment wastes contain significant fractions of suspended and dissolved solids which can affect the soil-pore water quality, and even ground-water resources over time. Land treatment facilities are required by federal and state regulations to monitor any changes on the upper vadose zone resulting from repeated waste applications. This case study describes the use of glass brick lysimeters and ceramic porous cups to monitor the soil-pore water quality during the initial seven years of operation of a nonhazardous land treatment facility located on the Gulf Coast. Background information will be provided on the waste quality, and management practices, as well as soil and climate conditions at this location. Information on the installation of the glass brick lysimeters, their operation and performance will be presented and discussed. Finally, soil-pore water data collected from glass brick lysimeters, ceramic porous cups and soil core samples will be presented and compared.
