title: Evaluation of bangkok sewage sludge for possible agricultural use.
abstract: Bangkok (Thailand) covers more than 1500 km2 and has 10 million inhabitants. The disposal of wastewater is creating huge problems of pollution. The estimated amount of sewage sludge was estimated to be around 108 tonnes dry matter (DM) per day in 2005. In order to find a lasting way of disposal for this sewage sludge, the suitability of the sludge produced from three waste-water treatment plants for use as fertilizing material was investigated. Monthly samplings and analysis of sewage sludge from each plant showed that the composition of sludge varied according to the area of collection and period of sampling, and there was no link to rainfall cycle. Plant nutrient content was high (i.e. total N from 19 to 38 g kg(-1) DM) whereas organic matter content was low. The concentrations of heavy metals varied between sludge samples, and were sometimes higher than the E.U. or U.S. regulations for sewage sludge use in agriculture. Faecal coliforms were present in the sludge from one of the plants, indicating a possible contamination by night soil. In order to decrease this potentially pathogenic population the sewage sludge should be heated by composting. As the C/N ratio of sewage sludge was low (around 6) some organic by-products with high carbon content could be added as structural material to enhance the composting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nuanjun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pasda
authors.forename: Supamard
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panichsakpatana
authors.forename: Pitayakon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Limtong
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Montange
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005285:Fermentation; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D013785:Thailand; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen