Pennsylvania Code
Title 25 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Part I - Department of Environmental Protection
Subpart D - Environmental Health and Safety
Article VIII - Municipal Waste
Chapter 271 - MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT-GENERAL PROVISIONS
Subchapter J - BENEFICIAL USE OF SEWAGE SLUDGE BY LAND APPLICATION
PATHOGENS AND VECTOR ATTRACTION REDUCTION
Section 271.932 - Pathogens
Universal Citation: 25 PA Code ยง 271.932
Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a) Sewage sludge other than residential septage-Class A.
(1) The requirement in paragraph (2) and the
requirements in paragraph (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) or (8) shall be met for a
sewage sludge to be classified Class A with respect to pathogens.
(2) The Class A pathogen requirements in
paragraphs (3)-(8) shall be met either prior to meeting or at the same time the
vector attraction reduction requirements in §
271.933 (relating to vector
attraction reduction), except the vector attraction reduction requirements in
§ 271.933(b)(6)-(8), are met.
(3)
Class A-Alternative 1.
(i) Either the density of fecal coliform in
the sewage sludge shall be less than 1,000 most probable number per gram of
total solids (dry weight basis), or the density of salmonella sp. bacteria in
the sewage sludge shall be less than three most probable number per 4 grams of
total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used; at the
time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other distribution,
in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at the time the
sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the
requirements in §
271.911(b)(1) or
(3) (relating to special
requirements).
(ii) The temperature
of the sewage sludge that is used shall be maintained at a specific value for a
period of time.
(A) When the percent solids of
the sewage sludge is 7% or higher, the temperature of the sewage sludge shall
be 122°F (or 50°C) or higher; the time period shall be 20 minutes or
longer; and the temperature and time period shall be determined using Equation
(2), except when small particles of sewage sludge are heated by either warmed
gases or an immiscible liquid.
Where,
D = Time in days
T = Temperatures in degrees Celsius
(B) When the percent solids of the sewage
sludge is 7% or higher and small particles of sewage sludge are heated by
either warmed gases or an immiscible liquid, the temperature of the sewage
sludge shall be 122°F (or 50°C) or higher; the time period shall be 15
seconds or longer; and the temperature and time period shall be determined
using Equation (2).
(C) When the
percent solids of the sewage sludge is less than 7% and the time period is at
least 15 seconds, but less than 30 minutes, the temperature and time period
shall be determined using Equation (2).
(D) When the percent solids of the sewage
sludge is less than 7%; the temperature of the sewage sludge is 122°F (or
50°C) or higher; and the time period is 30 minutes or longer, the
temperature and time period shall be determined using Equation (3).
Where,
D = Time in days
T = Temperatures in degrees Celsius
(4)
Class
A-Alternative 2.
(i) Either the
density of fecal coliform in the sewage sludge shall be less than 1,000 most
probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight basis), or the density of
salmonella sp. bacteria in the sewage sludge shall be less than three most
probable number per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the
sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give
away or other distribution, in a bag or other container for application to the
land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge
is prepared to meet the requirements in §
271.911(b)(1) or
(3).
(ii) pH adjustment as follows:
(A) The pH of the sewage sludge that is used
shall be raised to above 12 and shall remain above 12 for 72 hours.
(B) The temperature of the sewage sludge
shall be above 125°F (or 52°C) for 12 hours or longer during the period
that the pH of the sewage sludge is above 12.
(C) At the end of the 72-hour period during
which the pH of the sewage sludge is above 12, the sewage sludge shall be air
dried to achieve a percent solids in the sewage sludge greater than
50%.
(5)
Class A-Alternative 3.
(i)
Either the density of fecal coliform in the sewage sludge shall be less than
1,000 most probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight basis), or the
density of salmonella sp. bacteria in sewage sludge shall be less than three
most probable number per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at the time
the sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale,
give away or other distribution, in a bag or other container for application to
the land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived from sewage
sludge is prepared to meet the requirements in § 271.911(b)(1) or
(3).
(ii) Virus monitoring
requirements are as follows:
(A) The sewage
sludge shall be analyzed prior to pathogen treatment to determine whether the
sewage sludge contains enteric viruses.
(B) When the density of enteric viruses in
the sewage sludge prior to pathogen treatment is less than one plaque-forming
unit per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis), the sewage sludge is Class
A with respect to enteric viruses until the next monitoring episode for the
sewage sludge.
(C) When the density
of enteric viruses in the sewage sludge prior to pathogen treatment is equal to
or greater than one plaque-forming unit per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight
basis), the sewage sludge is Class A with respect to enteric viruses when the
density of enteric viruses in the sewage sludge after pathogen treatment is
less than one plaque-forming unit per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight
basis) and when the values or ranges of values for the operating parameters for
the pathogen treatment process that produces the sewage sludge that meets the
enteric virus density requirement are documented.
(D) After the enteric virus reduction in
clause (C) is demonstrated for the pathogen treatment process, the sewage
sludge continues to be Class A with respect to enteric viruses when the values
for the pathogen treatment process operating parameters are consistent with the
values or ranges of values documented in clause (C).
(iii) Helminth monitoring requirements are as
follows:
(A) The sewage sludge shall be
analyzed prior to pathogen treatment to determine whether the sewage sludge
contains viable helminth ova.
(B)
When the density of viable helminth ova in the sewage sludge prior to pathogen
treatment is less than 1 per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis), the
sewage sludge is Class A with respect to viable helminth ova until the next
monitoring episode for the sewage sludge.
(C) When the density of viable helminth ova
in the sewage sludge prior to pathogen treatment is equal to or greater than
one per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis), the sewage sludge is Class
A with respect to viable helminth ova when the density of viable helminth ova
in the sewage sludge after pathogen treatment is less than 1 per 4 grams of
total solids (dry weight basis) and when the values or ranges of values for the
operating parameters for the pathogen treatment process that produces the
sewage sludge that meets the viable helminth ova density requirement are
documented.
(D) After the viable
helminth ova reduction in clause (C) is demonstrated for the pathogen treatment
process, the sewage sludge continues to be Class A with respect to viable
helminth ova when the values for the pathogen treatment process operating
parameters are consistent with the values or ranges of values documented in
clause (C).
(6)
Class A-Alternative 4.
(i)
Either the density of fecal coliform in the sewage sludge shall be less than
1,000 most probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight basis), or the
density of salmonella sp. bacteria in the sewage sludge shall be less than
three most probable number per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at
the time the sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared
for sale, give away or other distribution in a bag or other container for
application to the land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived
from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the requirements in § 271.911(b)(1)
or (3).
(ii) The density of enteric
viruses in the sewage sludge shall be less than one plaque-forming unit per 4
grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used;
at the time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other
distribution, in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at
the time the sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared
to meet the requirements in §
271.911(b)(1) or
(3), unless otherwise specified by the
Department.
(iii) The density of
viable helminth ova in the sewage sludge shall be less than 1 per 4 grams of
total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used; at the
time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other distribution,
in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at the time the
sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the
requirements in §
271.911(b)(1) or
(3), unless otherwise specified by the
Department.
(7)
Class A-Alternative 5.
(i)
Either the density of fecal coliform in the sewage sludge shall be less than
1,000 most probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight basis), or the
density of salmonella, sp. bacteria in the sewage sludge shall be less than
three most probable number per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at
the time the sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared
for sale, give away or other distribution, in a bag or other container for
application to the land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived
from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the requirements in § 271.911(b)(1)
or (3).
(ii) Sewage sludge that is
used shall be treated in one of the processes to further reduce pathogens
described in Appendix A.
(8)
Class A-Alternative 6.
(i) Either the density of fecal coliform in
the sewage sludge shall be less than 1,000 most probable number per gram of
total solids (dry weight basis), or the density of salmonella, sp. bacteria in
the sewage sludge shall be less than three most probable number per 4 grams of
total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used; at the
time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other distribution,
in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at the time the
sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the
requirements in § 271.911(b)(1) or (3).
(ii) Sewage sludge that is used shall be
treated in a process that is equivalent to a process to further reduce
pathogens, as determined by the EPA.
(b) Sewage sludge other than residential septage-Class B.
(1)
Additional requirements.
(i)
The requirements in subsection (b)(2), (3) or (4) shall be met for a sewage
sludge to be classified Class B with respect to pathogens.
(ii) The site restrictions in subsection
(b)(5) shall be met when sewage sludge that meets the Class B pathogen
requirements in subsection (b)(2), (3) or (4) is applied to the land.
(2)
Class B-Alternative
1.
(i) Seven samples of the sewage
sludge shall be collected at the time the sewage sludge is used.
(ii) The geometric mean of the density of
fecal coliform in the samples collected in subparagraph (i) shall be less than
either 2 million most probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight
basis) or 2 million colony forming units per gram of total solids (dry weight
basis).
(3)
Class
B-Alternative 2. Sewage sludge that is used shall be treated in one of
the processes to significantly reduce pathogens described in Appendix
A.
(4)
Class B-Alternative
3. Sewage sludge that is used shall be treated in a process that is
equivalent to a process to significantly reduce pathogens, as determined by the
EPA.
(5)
Site
restrictions.
(i) Food crops with
harvested parts that touch the sewage sludge/soil mixture and are totally above
the land surface may not be harvested for 14 months after application of sewage
sludge.
(ii) Food crops with
harvested parts below the surface of the land may not be harvested for 20
months after application of sewage sludge when the sewage sludge remains on the
land surface for 4 months or longer prior to incorporation into the
soil.
(iii) Food crops with
harvested parts below the surface of the land may not be harvested for 38
months after application of sewage sludge when the sewage sludge remains on the
land surface for less than 4 months prior to incorporation into the
soil.
(iv) Food crops, feed crops
and fiber crops may not be harvested for 30 days after application of sewage
sludge.
(v) Animals may not be
allowed to graze on the land for 30 days after application of sewage
sludge.
(vi) Turf grown on land
where sewage sludge is applied may not be harvested for 1 year after
application of the sewage sludge when the harvested turf is placed on either
land with a high potential for public exposure or a lawn, unless otherwise
specified by the Department.
(vii)
Public access to land with a high potential for public exposure shall be
restricted for 1 year after application of sewage sludge.
(viii) Public access to land with a low
potential for public exposure shall be restricted for 30 days after application
of sewage sludge.
(c) Residential septage. Residential septage shall be stabilized to meet processes to significantly reduce pathogens or processes to further reduce pathogens prior to land application, and the site restrictions in subsection (b)(5)(i)-(iv) shall be met. For alkali stabilization, the pH of residential septage applied to agricultural land, forest or a reclamation site shall be raised to 12 or higher by alkali addition and, without the addition of more alkali, shall remain at 12 or higher for 30 minutes and the site restrictions in subsection (b)(5)(i)-(iv) shall be met.
This section cited in 25 Pa. Code §271.281 (relating to application for general permit); 25 Pa. Code § 271.911 (relating to special requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 271.916 (relating to operational standards-pathogens and vector attraction reduction); 25 Pa. Code § 271.917 (relating to frequency of monitoring); 25 Pa. Code § 271.918 (relating to recordkeeping); and 25 Pa. Code § 271.931 (relating to special definitions).
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