May 14, 2024

Meeting Summary: Coosa-North Georgia Council October 22, 2024

To:        Coosa-North Georgia (CNG) Regional Water Planning Council

From:   Christine Voudy, GA EPD

             Paula Feldman, Freese and Nichols

             Andrea Druhot, Freese and Nichols

Subject: Meeting Summary: CNG Regional Water Planning Council Meeting

Date: October 22, 2024

Welcome and Introductions

Brooke Anderson, Council Chair, introduced upcoming changes to the council support. The Regional Water Councils will be supported by the Georgia Water Planning & Policy Center, beginning January 2025. Sarah Skinner will support the Coosa North Georgia Regional Water Planning Council. Mr. Anderson thanked the FNI team, Paula Feldman and Andrea Druhot. The FNI team expressed their enjoyment and appreciation for working with the council. Jennifer Welte from EPD introduced Russel Nix, who will oversee the EPD’s council support.

Council Business

  1. Council members approved the April 2024 meeting minutes.
  2. Council members approved the October meeting agenda.

Mr. Anderson introduced today’s focus topic: biosolids.

Biosolids in Georgia – Background and Overview by Tony Pevec, Freese and Nichols

Tony Pevec provided an overview of biosolids, drivers for changes, solids classification, treatment technologies, and beneficial reuse markets. Mr. Pevec shared that the GEFA Biosolids Assessment and Prepared Study is a great resource. He presented projections from the study and a comparison of Georgia and national management practices; the 2021 national average showed a higher percentage of land application as the selected management practice than in Georgia. The primary drivers for change include available landfill capacity, reduced cost, regulatory (such as new requirements on total solids percentage for landfill slope stabilization), and reduced risk. Mr. Pevec also presented a comparison of drivers in FL and TX. 

Mr. Pevec shared an overview of PFAS in biosolids, the EPA’s PFAS road map and timeline, the EPA’s max contaminant levels from April for PFAS chemicals, and the EPA Hazard Index. Mr. Pevec presented diagrams of PFAS Pathways to wastewater treatment plants and potable water. Four steps for managing PFAS were discussed: identify PFAS at the facility, stop PFAS at the source, concentrate PFAS, and destroy the C-F bond. He shared the Maine study on PFAS in fertilizers, the Michigan study on industrial pre-treatment, and several other studies. There is variability in analysis of PFAS in biosolids; the EPA has not yet approved a standard method.

Discussion from the council:

  1. The EPA’s MCL uses parts per trillion (ppt), but some of the state studies looked at parts per billion (ppb).
  2. Analysis of PFAS in biosolids often involves dilution and use of drinking water or raw water methods, but the solids can lead to variability in results from the same sample.
  3. Need for education in Georgia on the biosolids technology and disposal options 
  4. Seeing some growth in regional biosolids facilities for cost sharing

Biosolids Technology and PFAS Implications by Tony Pevec, Freese and Nichols

Mr. Pevec presented biosolids technologies and PFAS implications. The discussion included solids classifications, pollutant limits, pathogen and vector attraction reduction, and treatment technologies for stabilization by biosolid classification. Example technologies include numerous stabilization options and solar drying to reduce water volume, or technologies capable of PFAS reduction/elimination like thermal conversion (incineration) and thermal destruction (pyrolysis, gasification).

Mr. Pevec noted that incinerators can be scalable for large utilities. Additionally, pyrolysis can create two beneficial end products – biochar and bio-oil, but the pyrolysis process requires higher amounts of fuel to reach the high temperature, and thus more expensive. Mr. Pevec presented information on beneficial reuse markets. The GEFA study suggested greater demand for biosolids than supply; a cost benefit analysis may help decide which technology is the best fit.

Questions/discussion:

  1. Is there a re-use market in FL and other states?
    1. Yes, there are different product levels depending on the location.
  2. Burke County – Could you combine a solar farm with a biosolids drying facility?
    1. It may be possible. There may be a balance due to the need for translucent ceiling to dry the biosolids.
  3. Do pyrolysis and gasification eliminate PFAS contaminants?
    1. Yes, the high temperature breaks the bonds.
  4. Can electricity, perhaps obtained from solar panels, be used to reach those high temperatures for pyrolysis?
    1. Gas has been the energy source needed for those temperatures, based on   Mr. Pevec’s experience.
  5. More details on the solar drying example
    1. Class A biosolid
    2. 60 MGD WWTP influent sludge production, $13M pre-covid
    3. Land application of the product
  6. Example of WWTP solar dryer near Orlando on a belt, upstream processor to obtain Class A biosolids, creates pelletized product
    1. Another example in Washington (dry cold)
    2. Best processing in FL is in the fall and spring when it’s less humid

Agricultural Perspective – Biosolids Land Application by Glenn Dowling, Southeast Biosolids Association

Mr. Glen Dowling of Southeast Biosolids Association (SEBA) presented “An Agricultural Perspective – Biosolids Land Application”. He provided the analogy of land application as an essential cycle of farm to table, table to farm. Mr. Dowling gave an overview of SEBA’s mission, its leadership, and partnering organization. He shared a few diagrams of the water and wastewater treatment processes and clarified definitions for sludge vs. biosolids. Mr. Dowling summarized biosolids’ physical characteristics and six typical products.

He spoke on the benefits of biosolids for farmers and provided the example success story of a local copper mine whose soil was reclaimed for farmland using biosolids. Mr. Dowling presented protective measures for human health and the environment, such as pathogen reduction, monitoring and testing, application guidelines, and site restrictions. He gave an example of unintended consequences of buffer restrictions that impacted a farmer’s property. He shared land application methods, including top spreading and ground injection, and explained the cost and benefit tradeoffs for farmers. Benefits include: improve nutrient use, enhance soil structure, provide slow release nitrogen, improve soil structure, replace fertilizer, sequester carbon, and improve drought resistance. 

Mr. Dowling presented a nutrient and pH summary. He discussed societal benefits, local markets, and several statistics from successful land applications on farms. Mr. Dowling closed with a visual aid of biosolid fertilizer from the City of Milwaukee that he purchased from Home Depot.

Questions/discussion: 

  • What is the frequency of application?
    • Typically annually but depends on the nutrient management plan
    • pH can be a limiting factor
  • Is there a place to get bulk biosolids for home use? 
    • Landscaping or farm store
  • Are landscape companies candidates to buy in bulk to distribute to homes?
    • Yes, there is potential for local partnerships
  • Clarification that commercial biosolids bag could have PFAS if not treated to high enough temperature

Open Council Discussion

  1. 1 ppt = 1 drop in 20 Olympic sized swimming pools
  2. People can contribute to PFAS in wastewater treatment process

Closing Remarks

Mr. Anderson shared there will be four more focus topics before the next planning cycle. In 2027, the plan update will begin with quarterly meetings. Mr. Anderson shared that the Georgia Water Policy & Planning Center will work to get more appointments to the council in the next few years. Mr. Anderson thanked Paula Feldman and Andrea Druhot again for Council support. 

Comments from Non-Council Members, Visitors, or the General Public

No public comments.

Council Members Present (11): 

  1. Brooke Anderson, Chairman
  2. Mike Berg
  3. Eddie Cantrell
  4. Larry Chapman
  5. Robert Goff
  6. Haynes Johnson
  7. Rebecca Mason
  8. Gary McVey
  9. Tom O’Bryant
  10. Alex Sullivan
  11. Brandon Whitley

Visitors (8)

  1. Kim Goldner, City of Jasper
  2. Sarah Skinner, GWPPC
  3. Dan Loy
  4. Gretchen Lugthart, Northwest Georgia Regional Commission
  5. Glenn Dowling, Denali Water
  6. Tim Blaydes, Black and Veatch
  7. David Huff, Nutter and Associates
  8. Lane Rivenbark, Nutter and Associates

GA Environmental Protection Division

  1. Christine Voudy
  2. Jennifer Welte 
  3. Russel Nix

Freese and Nichols (Planning Contractors)

  1. Paula Feldman
  2. Andrea Druhot

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