City of Portland Biosolids Benefits & The Future

Citizen Advisory Committee

January 27, 2010

Biosolids Criteria

•Pathogen Reduction

•Vector Attraction Reduction

•Pollutants

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

EPA Max PDX

Class B Pathogen

Compliance Demonstration

Fecal Coliform

Measurement 59,580

Pathogen Reduction

15 days @ 95°F

Vector Attraction Reduction

Volatile Solids Reduction: 63% vs 38%

Odor Monitor

Land Application Program Class B Biosolids Trace Inorganics

1

10

100

1000

10000

As Cd Cu Pb Hg Mo Ni Se Zn

EPA PC Limit

Portland Biosolids

mg

/kg

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

Lead

Con

centration

(mg/k

g)

Year

PC Limit: 300 mg/kg

Ceiling Limit: 840 mg/kg

Biosolids Dewatering

~21% Cake

2,013 loads - 2009

36,392 loads – Since 1992

Madison Farms – Land ApplicationDEQ Authorized Acreage

554 ac 232 ac4,578 ac

1992-Present1,256,171 wet tons

(252,760 dry tons)

Biosolids Benefits on Semi-Arid Central Oregon Agriculture

Mark Ronayne & Greg Charr (City of Portland)

Dan Sullivan & Don Horneck (Oregon State University) Kent Madison (Madison Farms)

Biosolids Benefits To Forage and Soil

• Increased grass yield (530%) • Increased grass quality

– More shoots/leaves– More digestible (lower fiber, higher protein)– Increased nutrient concentrations

• Soil Benefits – Increased organic matter and nutrient

concentrations– No accumulation of salts

Beef Production Benefits

Carbon Footprint

• Fuel for Transport = 500 tons CO2/yr

• Fuel for Land Application = 35 tons CO2/yr

• Carbon sequestered in forage/soil = -4,050 tons CO2/yr

• Net Carbon = -3,515 tons CO2/yr

• Oxygen Release = 8,800 tons O2/yr

200,000 gal/yr

Canola

Aim of Biosolids RFP

• Strengthen, diversify, and enhance existing land application program.

• Explore opportunities for cost savings.• Reduce diesel fuel consumption.• Potential 5-year contract with extensions up to

five additional years.• Up to 25,500 wet tons/year

Biosolids Use Options

• Land application (agricultural & silvicultural)

• Soil amendment or compost mix

• Renewable energy source

Evaluation Criteria Weighting

30%30%

10%10%

15%5%

Costs and Revenues

Biosolids Use Option

Qualification and KeyPersonnelExperience/PastPerformanceCommunity Impacts

Diversity

Diversification/Haul Savings

2000 Wheat Trial All-Weather Site – Madison Farms

New Land Application Sites Sherman County

$0

$10

$20

$30

$40

Madison Sherman

$/Wet ton

$34

$22.97

~$280,000 annual cost savings