Sludge Watch ==> Ottawa - Medical Officer of Health proposes Sludge Biosolids Best Practices

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:

The Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Ottawa prepared a list of 
'best management practices for sludge spreading.

These include:

- requirments for signage where sludge has been spread
- a five year waiting period for pasturing on sludged fields
- free before and after well tests offered on  sludge site and adjacent well 
owners
- stockpiles have minimum 450 meter separation distance from homes

Here is a link to the recommendations in an easy read format.

http://ottawa.ca/city_services/waterwaste/biosolids/best_practices_en.shtml

Most of these are very good and should be widely adopted.
My question:  Is Ottawa following these 'best management practices'?

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Item Medical Officer of Health
Best Management Practices, April 2002


Site Selection Pre-Screening
Separation Distance to Population Centre Sites under consideration are a 
minimum of 450 m from any population centres.
90 m from an individual residence
Land Use Restrictions Farmer is willing to agree to crop restrictions 
following biosolids application as follows:
Vegetable crops (non-root) 1 year
Vegetable crops (root) 5 years
Land will not be used as pastureland for a period of 5 years following land 
application.
Soil Depth/Type Soil maps are reviewed to determine whether there is likely 
to be adequate and suitable (i.e. mineral) soil.
Visual inspection of the soil type may be used instead of soil maps.

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Item Medical Officer of Health
Best Management Practices, April 2002
Site Assessment and Certificate of Approval Preparation
Soil Depth Soil depth is a minimum of 1.5 m as measured by one test hole 
drilled per ten hectares evenly distributed over the property (minimum one 
location per site).
Locations of test holes are indicated on the site plan.
Where rock outcrops are visible, the location at which the soil depth 
reaches 1.5 m is indicated on the site plan.
Biosolids are not spread where the soil depth is less than 1.5 m.
Field Measurement The field and buffer areas are measured to within 5% of 
actual using differential GPS or air photos and software capable of 
calculating the area.
Once buffer areas have been identified, their area is accurately measured 
and deducted from the total field area.
Alternatively, the maximum application rate can be reduced to 7.0 dry t/ha.
Separation Distance to Population Centre See: Pre-Screening.
Landowner Consent Signed consent is obtained from the landowner indicating 
an understanding of:
Waiting periods
Crop restrictions
Specific area where biosolids will be spread (shown on site plan)
Amount of nutrients being provided by biosolids
Where the landowner is different from the farm operator, the farm operator 
will also sign to indicate understanding of the above items.
Flood Plain Location Areas will not be selected that are subject to frequent 
flooding (annual or biannual) based on visual observations or flood plain 
mapping.
Where a portion of the site is subject to flooding as defined above, it will 
be delineated on the site plan and excluded from the spreadable area.
Site Plan  An accurate site plan is produced, to scale, clearly delineating:
Site boundaries
Buffer areas
Topographical features
Location of population centres
Water wells
Surface water
Test hole locations
Staging area
Field entrance
Proposed stockpile location if applicable

Separation Distance to Wells Spreadable area is calculated based on the 
Guidelines and a 90 m separation from all wells, regardless of type or 
depth.

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Item Medical Officer of Health
Best Management Practices, April 2002
Pre-Spreading
Soil pH The soil pH measured according the provincial Guideline requirements 
(one sample per 10 ha) is verified, according to Standard Methods, no more 
than 4 months prior to spreading.
Groundwater Depth Test holes are drilled to a depth of 1 m at a minimum 
frequency of one sample per 10 ha, no more than 4 weeks prior to spreading.
Where there is less than 0.9 m of unsaturated soil, the area is delineated 
and biosolids are not spread.
Test holes are filled and tamped at 0.3 m intervals.
Resident Notification Residents within 450 m of the spreading site are 
notified no less than 2 weeks and no more than 8 weeks prior to spreading. 
Notification includes:
A copy of the site map
Estimated start and duration of operation
Contact name and number at the city
Contact name and number for the Contractor

Well Testing Well-testing shall be offered for wells that are located 
on-site and on lots that are adjacent to land application sites. All letters 
of notification shall include an offer for well testing before and after 
land application.
Samples shall be collected within 4 weeks prior to application. Well 
monitoring should be conducted on Mondays in order to obtain results by 
Thursday. Samples are taken from an indoor tap prior to water softening (if 
any).

Parameters to be tested are: E.coli, total coliform, dissolved organic 
carbon, nitrate, pH, alkalinity and conductivity.

Signs Signs shall be posted in visible locations at the site entrance and 
along the frontage of land application sites at intervals no less than 1 per 
250 metres. Signs shall be maintained in place for a period of at least 1 
year following land application of the biosolids
Pre-spreading Checklist Pre-spreading checklist is completed by the 
Contractor for each site indicating:
Buffers/setbacks have been flagged
Date/method of resident notification
Wells have been tested, unless declined by the resident
Unsaturated soil depth has been verified
Soil pH has been verified
The spreadable area
Proposed application rate
Proposed tonnage
Anticipated start date
The checklist is submitted to the City prior to spreading.

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Item Medical Officer of Health
Best Management Practices, April 2002
Spreading
Stockpiling No longer than 10 days.
Cover stockpiles with a contiguous cover of soil, hay or other approved 
material.
A 450 m minimum separation distance is provided from an individual 
residence.
A 1000 m minimum separation distance is provided from a population centre.

Application Rate The targeted application rate does not exceed 7.6 t/ha. or 
21.6 t/ha. depending upon biosolids quality and C of A limits.
Weather During Spreading  Spreading does not proceed when the wind speed is 
sufficient to disrupt the spreading pattern.
Spreading does not proceed in rain conditions heavy enough to cause runoff 
or soil saturation.

Hauling Biosolid loads are tarped during transport to the field.
The truck is inspected prior to entering public roadways to ensure biosolids 
are not present on the outside of the truck.
Any biosolids inadvertently tracked onto public roadways is removed the same 
day.

Incorporation Incorporation normally occurs within 2 hours of spreading.
In all cases, before sunset.
No more than 5 % of the biosolids remain on the surface after incorporation.


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Item Medical Officer of Health
Best Management Practices, April 2002
Post-Spreading
Site Condition Field entrance, staging area and public roadways have been 
returned to their previous state. There are no biosolids on the road.
Well Testing Wells sampled prior to delivery shall be re-tested between 10 
and 12 weeks following land application. Wells not sampled prior to 
application will not be tested post application.
If a positive e coli reading is reported, the lab shall be instructed to 
maintain the plate sample, and to conduct speciation; or to deliver the 
sample for such analysis to a lab accredited for speciation.

Post Spreading Checklist An inspection and Checklist are completed by the 
contractor for each site indicating:
A visual confirmation that all biosolids have been incorporated with no more 
than 5% remaining on the surface.
Quantity of biosolids applied? Area applied
Date started and completed
The checklist is submitted to the City within 24 hours.

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Item Medical Officer of Health
Best Management Practices, April 2002
Inspection and Monitoring
Pre-Spreading Checklist See: Pre-spreading.
Post-Spreading Checklist See: Post Spreading
Well Monitoring See Pre and Post-spreading.
Site Inspection All sites spread during one season are inspected either pre, 
post, or during spreading, by a qualified party independent of the 
contractor for conformance with the Certificate of Approval requirements and 
the City's Best Management Practices.
Independent party conformance control is paid by the City.
Verification records are maintained by the City

Biosolids Quality monitoring A grab sample of biosolids is sampled and 
analysed for the regulated parameters no less frequently than once every two 
weeks.
Results are reviewed by the City on a bi-weekly basis during spreading 
season.


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Item Medical Officer of Health
Best Management Practices, April 2002
Communications
Resident Notification See: Pre-spreading.
Complaint Response Contractor shall provide all on-site responses and 
address all on-site queries and complaints by stakeholders, excluding the 
media.
All such queries and complaints are immediately reported by GSI to the City 
by telephone. Written reports of all queries/complaints and follow-up action 
shall be submitted electronically to the City within 1 work-day.

Information Management Data from pre and post inspection reports is logged, 
including:
Dates of well testing
Resident notification
Lot and concession of site
Date of start and end of spreading
Area spread
Total volume spread
Rate of spreading
Nutrient and metals loading

Availability of Information The City shall ensure that biosolids information 
with the exception of material protected under Municipal Freedom of 
Information and Personal Privacy Act is easily available for public 
inspection.
The City's Questions & Answers sheet shall be made readily available on-site 
for stakeholders.
The City will manage all information requests that cannot be addressed by 
on-site contractor staff.


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Item Medical Officer of Health
Best Management Practices, April 2002
Incident Response
Well contamination In the event that a drinking water well sample result is 
greater than the Maximum Acceptable Concentration or Interim Maximum 
Acceptable Concentration indicated in Tables 1 and 2 of the Ontario Drinking 
Water Objectives, the following steps will be taken:
The laboratory will immediately and simultaneously notify GSI and the City's 
Health Unit (Environmental Health Analyst) by phone and e-mail 
(Martha.robinson at ottawa.ca) and fax (580-9648) the preliminary report(s).
The City's Environmental Health Analyst will immediately notify the well 
user by telephone or in person of the sample result and advise the well user 
not to consume the well water; and, the Program Manager Of Environmental 
Programs ext. 23307 sally.mcintyre at ottawa.ca .
If a positive e coli reading is reported prior to spreading, the City Health 
Unit will arrange for collection and analysis of two confirmation water 
samples from the suspect well: one within 1 work-day of being notified of 
the suspect result, and a second within 72 hours of the first verification.
If the two follow-up samples test negative, the well user will be notified 
of the result and no further action will be required.
If one or both of the follow-up samples confirm the initial result, the 
Health Unit will lead follow-up action.
If a well sample taken on-site or from an adjacent property tests positive 
to e coli prior to spreading, spreading will only proceed with the knowledge 
and agreement of the farm land owner.
If a positive e coli reading is reported post spreading, the lab shall be 
instructed to maintain the plate sample, and to conduct speciation; or to 
deliver the sample for such analysis to a lab accredited for speciation.
The date and time of all communications and actions shall be logged.

Public Health Incident When an individual or group of individuals reports 
adverse health effects from exposure to biosolids:
The Manager of Environmental Health (Department of Health and Long Term 
Care) is notified and contacts the individuals concerned.
The Biosolids Program Manager is notified.
The health-related complaint is investigated to determine the diagnosis and 
cause of illness (if possible).
An incident report is prepared including the incident chronology, biosolids 
spreading conditions, and outcome.
Other action is taken as deemed appropriate by the Medical Officer of 
Health.

Spill A spill is defined as a discharge of a pollutant into the natural 
environment that is abnormal in quantity or quality. Spills must be reported 
if they cause or are likely to cause any of the following:
Impairment to the quality of the natural environment - air, water, or land
Injury or damage to property or animal life
Adverse health effects
Safety risk
Making property, plant, or animal life unfit for use
Loss of enjoyment of normal use of property
Interference with the normal conduct of business
In the event of a spill, the following steps will be taken:
The spill area is contained to restrict public access.
The spill is contained where possible to prevent movement to surface or 
ground water.
The contractor notifies the designated City Program Manager.
The contractor notifies the Spills Action Centre.
The contractor cleans up the spill in consultation with the City.
Where there has been movement of biosolids into the natural environment, 
samples will be collected to assess the extent of contamination.
All data collected are provided to the Ministry of Environment.
Incident report and chronology is logged.

Non-conforming Biosolids / Over Application / Application in Restricted 
Zones In the event that non-conforming biosolids are applied, or biosolids 
are over applied or applied in restricted zones:? The Ministry of 
Environment is notified.
The root-cause of the non-conformance is identified.
Affected areas are sampled and analysed for the non-conforming parameters.
The data are provided to the Ministry of Environment for further action as 
necessary.


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Item Medical Officer of Health
Best Management Practices, April 2002
Training
Contractor Contractor staff are provided training so that they are 
knowledgeable of the provincial Nutrient Management Act and regulations, and 
the City's Best Management Practices.
Contractor staff, especially operational staff who work directly with 
biosolids are provided Health and Safety training on proper biosolids 
handling practices(refer to City protocol) , personal protective equipment 
and hygienic practices.


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