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Everything's Coming Up Green
Author(s) -
Watson John A.,
Cynar Philip J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
opflow
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1551-8701
pISSN - 0149-8029
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8701.2002.tb01675.x
Subject(s) - revegetation , landscaping , waste management , environmental science , residue (chemistry) , topsoil , pulp and paper industry , land reclamation , chemistry , engineering , history , biochemistry , botany , archaeology , soil water , soil science , biology
This article describes how water treatment residual material (a product of the drinking water treatment process) can be a cost‐effective and environmentally sound medium for the reclamation, revegetation, regreening, and landscaping of vacant industrial sites and other venues. The article presents a case study of the Hays Mine Water Treatment Plant near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that uses belt‐filter presses for wastewater treatment because they produce a higher percentage of dried residue than most drying methods, are less labor intensive, and take up much less space than other alternatives. Nutrient analyses of the treated residue, in terms of phosphates, nitrogen, potassium, and other minerals, recommended that the residue be reclassified as dewasted, meaning that the material is no longer classified as an industrial waste. Ultimately, the dewasted residue was approved for use as topsoil and in topsoil blends.