Perception of technical personnel on research and education needs for land application of sewage sludge

Abstract

A questionnaire was developed and sent to individuals involved in waste management to get their perspective on problem areas associated with land application of sewage sludge that need additional research. From their responses, a list of research priorities was formulated to give direction to future research in land application of sewage sludge. All the questions received a mean response that was greater than 2.9 out of a possible 5.0, indicating that all the topics listed were considered to be important and should be evaluated further. Two topics: (1) educating the public, and (2) accumulation of heavy metals in soils, had the highest mean response. Entrance of heavy metals into the food chain, methods of determining heavy metals in sludge or in sludge-amended soils, protection of the water through a monitoring system and methods of applying sewage sludge to agricultural lands were other topics which had high mean response values. In general, the surveyed population targeted the health aspects of land application, public acceptance, and protection of the environment, both soil and water, as the key issues for additional emphasis and research.