| dc.description.abstract | Abstract: Improper methods of treatment,
disposal and management of sludge generated
by wastewater treatment plants has become a
major environmental issue at present. This
research focuses on identifying the
environmental impact cause by the methods
used when disposing and reusing the produced
sludge as fertilizer, by the Biyagama CWWTP,
Ratmalana/ Moratuwa WWTP, Ja-Ela/ Ekala
WWTP and Raddolugama sewerage treatment
plant. The sludge samples collected from the
dumpsites were tested for heavy metals,
nutrients, and organic compounds present in it.
After analyzing the constituents present in the
sludge, the issues in respective treatment plants
and its procedures were identified. Moreover,
the possibility of using the sludge as
construction material, fertilizer and whether it
satisfy the requirements to use as a fertilizer for
crops cultivated for human consumption were
discussed. In addition, a model limitation scale
for the sludge standards was introduced
through this study after observing various
limitations maintained in other international
standards. As per the results, only sludge from
Raddolugama Plant was assured as safe for land
application and sludge in Biyagama plant was
found to be the most suitable for fertilization
among the others although other minor hitches
were found. Conclusively, ecofriendly and
sustainable solutions were suggested to
improve the sludge qualities and overcome the
issues found and proposed how sludge could be
utilized for greater uses than wasting a valuable
asset. | en_US |
