Biosolids are the soil-like residue of materials removed from sewage during the treatment process. During treatment, bacteria and other tiny organisms break sewage down into simple, harmless organic matter. The organic matter, combined with bacterial cell masses, settles out to form biosolids.
In their liquid form, biosolids look like muddy water and contain 1 to 10% solids. Biosolids may be dewatered in a second step of the treatment process, which turns it into a "cake" with the texture of a wet sponge. In this stage, it contains 11 to 40% solids.
For More Information
Please call the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Northern Regional Office at 800-592-5482 for more information or if you have a complaint regarding biosolids.