United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Municipal Environmental Research
Laboratory
Cincinnati OH 45268
EPA-600/2-78-120
August 1976
Research and Development
Reclamation
of a Landfill
with Digested
Sewage Sludge
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RESEARCH REPORTING SERIES
Research reports of the Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, have been grouped into nine series. These nine broad cate-
gories were established to facilitate further development and application of en-
vironmental technology. Elimination of traditional grouping was consciously
planned to foster technology transfer and a maximum interface in related fields.
The nine series are:
1. Environmental Health Effects Research
2. Environmental Protection Technology
3. Ecological Research
4. Environmental Monitoring
5. Socioeconomic Environmental Studies
6. Scientific and Technical Assessment Reports (STAR)
7. Interagency Energy-Environment Research and Development
8. "Special" Reports
9 Miscellaneous Reports
This report has been assigned to the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TECH-
NOLOGY series. This series describes research performed to develop and dem-
onstrate instrumentation, equipment, and methodology to repair or prevent en-
vironmental degradation from point and non-point sources of pollution. This work
provides the new or improved technology required for the control and treatment
of pollution sources to meet environmental quality standards
This document is available to the public through the National Technical Informa-
tion Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161.
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EPA-600/2-78-120
August 1978
RECLAMATION OF A LANDFILL
WITH DIGESTED SEWAGE SLUDGE
by
Raymond R. Rimkus
Robert 0. Carlson
Donald B. Wunderlich
Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Grant No. 11010DPW
Project Officer
G. Kenneth Dotson
Wastewater Research Division
Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
MUNICIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45268
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DISCLAIMER
This report has been reviewed by the Municipal Environmental Research
Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and approved for publication.
Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and
policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade
names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
11
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FOREWORD
The Environmental Protection Agency was created because of increasing
public and government concern about the dangers of pollution to the health
and welfare of the American people. Noxious air, foul water, and spoiled
land are tragic testimonies to the deterioration of our natural environment.
The complexity of that environment and the interplay between its components
require a concentrated and integrated attack on the problem.
Research and development is that necessary first step in problem
solution, and it involves defining the problem, measuring its impact, and
searching for solutions. The Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory
develops new and improved technology and systems for preventing, treating,
and managing wastewater and solid and hazardous waste pollutant discharges
from municipal and community sources, for preserving and treating public
drinking water supplies, and for minimizing the adverse economic, social,
health, and aesthetic effects of pollution. This publication is one of
the products of that research—a most vital communications link between
the researcher and the user community.
This report describes an approach for using sludges from biological
wastewater treatment plants and indicates the potential beneficial effect
of the sludge on unproductive land at a burned landfill site.
Francis T. Mayo
Director
Municipal Environmental Research
Laboratory
111
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ABSTRACT
The Calumet land reclamation project developed design criteria for
applying liquid fertilizer (sludge) to land and demonstrated the beneficial
and economic use of it in raising crops.
The scope of the project included developing a pipeline system to trans-
port liquid fertilizer to the application site, determining yields, analyzing
plant tissue of the crops grown, observing the soil changes effected by the
liquid fertilizer application, and monitoring the ground and surface water
of the application site.
The pipeline was built and transported liquid fertilizer from the
lagoons to the application site. The application of liquid fertilizer
increased the yields of wheat and corn, increased the concentration of
plant nutrients in the plant tissue, and effected organic improvements in
the soil. Analysis of the leachate from the piezometers showed that ground-
water constituents fluctuated, partly because surface water seeped through
the perforations in the piezometers at the soil surface. This pollution
did not reach the groundwater aquifer sampled from a deep well constructed
of solid wall pipe.
This report was submitted in fulfillment of Grant No. 11010 DPW by
the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago under the partial
sponsorship of the Environmental Protection Agency. The report covers the
period June 1, 1969 to December 31, 1972, and work was completed as of
December 31, 1972.
IV
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CONTENTS
Foreword. . . • iii
Abstract iv
Figures vi
Tables vii
Metric Conversion Factors viii
1. Introduction 1
2. Summary and Conclusions 2
3. Site Description 5
4. Transportation, Distribution, and Application Methods . . 10
5. Liquid Fertilizer Application . 17
6. Crop Production 23
7. Farm Equipment Used on the Calumet Project 28
8. Soil, Plant, and Water Responses 39
References 50
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FIGURES
Number Page
1 Aerial view of the Calumet land reclamation site 6
2 Plot diagram 1969, 1970, and 1971 7
3 Locations of borings that determined the depth and
composition of the fill 8
4 Thirty-horsepower submersible pump 11
5 Raft and submersible pump 12
6 Mechanical agitator 12
7 Action of the air lance 13
8 Air compressor for air lance 14
9 Fifty-horsepower booster pump 14
10 Aluminum pipe connected to conveyance system under
the railroad tracks 15
11 Aluminum pipe and vinyl hose 16
12 Plot diagram, August 1971 22
13 Harvesting wheat for yeild determination 23
14 Corn fertilized with liquid fertilizer 24
15 Corn not fertilized with liquid fertilizer 25
16 Wheat fertilized with liquid fertilizer 26
17 Soil surface, Calumet land reclamation 27
18 Tractor used on the Calumet land reclamation project 28
19 Landscape rake 29
20 Moldboard plow 30
21 Lister 31
22 Four-row corn planter 32
23 Sprayer 32
24 Twelve-foot disk harrow 33
25 Heavy duty disk harrow 34
26 Berm disk 34
27 Ditcher 35
28 Grain drill 36
29 Sickle bar mower 36
30 Rotary mower 37
31 Monitoring well, Calumet Farm 48
32 Schematic drawing of monitoring well, Calumet Farm 49
VI
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TABLES
Number
1 Data from 27 borings on the Calumet land
reclamation site 9
2 Liquid fertilizer applied to land at the Calumet
treatment plant during 1969 17
3 Liquid fertilizer applications for 1970 18
4 Liquid fertilizer applications for 1971 19
5 Liquid fertilizer applied to land at the Calumet
Farm during 1969, 1970, and 1971 20
6 Liquid fertilizer applications for 1972 21
7 Analysis of liquid fertilizer applied at Calumet
Farm from 1969 to 1972 40
8 Summary of soil characteristics (0-6" depth) of Plot
A, Calumet Farm, before and three dates after the
application of liquid fertilizer 41
9 Chemical content of winter wheat tissue from a
liquid-fertilizer-treated landfill at the Calumet
Farm 42
10 Calumet land reclamation site mean chemical con-
centrations (ppm) for leachate collected monthly
from three piezometers during May through December,
1969 43
11 Calumet sanitary landfill site mean chemical con-
centrations for leachate collected weekly from three
piezometers from September through December 1970 44
12 Calumet sanitary landfill site mean chemical con-
centration for leachate collected weekly from three
piezometers for the year 1971 45
13 Calumet sanitary landfill site mean chemical con-
centrations for leachate collected monthly from
January 25, 1971 to June 23, 1972, from three
piezometers and a monitoring well 46
14 Calumet sanitary landfill site annual mean chemical
concentrations for leachate from 1969 to 1971 47
VII
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METRIC CONVERSION FACTORS
Length:
1 inch = 25.4 millimeter (mm)
= 2.54 centimeter (cm)
1 foot = 30.48 centimeter (cm)
= 0.3048 meter (m)
Area:
1 acre = 0.405 hectare (ha)
Volume:
1 gallon = 3.785 liter (1)
Pressure:
1 pound per square inch = 0.07031 kilogram per square centimeter (kg/cm2)
Rate:
1000 gallons/acre = 3.785 kiloliter (kl)/acre
1 ton/acre = 2.240 ton (metric)/hectare (ha)
1 pound/acre =1.12 kilogram (kg)/hectare (ha)
Mass:
1 ton (English) = 0.9072 ton (metric)
1 pound = 0.454 kilogram (kg)
viii
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SECTION 1
INTRODUCTION
The Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago has adopted a
policy of applying liquid sludge, the product of the wastewater treatment
process, to land. This product is called liquid fertilizer in this report.
The District employed Harza Engineering, a consulting firm, to seek land
for liquid fertilizer application and investigate methods for liquid ferti-
lizer transportation and application. These feasibility studies by Harza
represent the first phase of what became known as the "solids-on-land"
program. The solids-on-land program has resulted in the District's adoption
of several self-imposed stipulations; that it be economical; that it use
the organic matter produced in the wastewater treatment process for a
beneficial purpose; and that it solve the problem into perpetuity.
The objectives of the project were: (1) to develop design criteria
for applying sludge to land, and (2) to demonstrate the beneficial and
economical use of liquid fertilizer to raise crops.
During 1968, liquid fertilizer production by the Calumet wastewater
treatment plant necessitated more storage capacity or the removal of
liquid fertilizer from the existing lagoons. Pursuing the land reclama-
tion concept, the District purchased and started preparation of an
adjacent landfill site for liquid site preparation and started construc-
tion of a fertilizer conveyance system from the plant and from the lagoons
to the application site. By mid 1970, the District completed the liquid
fertilizer conveyance system.
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SECTION 2
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
The information obtained from the Calumet project proved invaluable for
the Fulton County Land Reclamation Project.
Here is what the Sanitary District learned and how it applied this
knowledge in Fulton County.
1. To determine whether liquid fertilizer spread on soil will pollute the
water, it is essential to measure water quality before and during -liquid
fertilizer application. At Calumet, liquid fertilizer applications and
water quality determinations were started about the same time. In
Fulton County water quality determinations were started 18 months before
application.
2. The three piezometers that extend from the soil surface to the depth of
fill are made of perforated pipe. The Calumet experience showed that
solid wall pipe must be used for piezometers and monitoring wells.
During liquid fertilizer applicaton and rainfall water containing solids
can enter a perforated pipe and pollute the well. The well at the
Calumet farm and the 17 monitoring wells on the Fulton County Project
are constructed of solid wall pipe to within 10 feet of the bottom of
the well.
3. At Calumet, a small concrete cap poured on the soil surface surrounding
the piezometer inhibited, but did not eliminate surface runoff into the
piezometers. To reduce surface runoff effects at Fulton County, a
concrete base four feet by four feet surrounds the monitoring wells.
4. The berms constructed of fly ash and debris failed to contain liquid
fertilizer because they degraded from the effects of rain, freezing and
thawing and liquid fertilizer application. Mending the berms with clay
showed that they would contain the liquid fertilizer, hence clay berms
were constructed in Fulton County.
5. Rock and trash removal from the soil is essential. Rocks interfered
with the use of many farm machines, notably listers and plows. In
Fulton County on land intended for crop production, rock removal
follows chisel plowing but precedes crop planting.
6. The Calumet farm experience indicates that herbicides will control weeds
when liquid fertilizer is applied. Water, either as rain or irrigation,
activates most herbicides, but too much water leaches the herbicide
below the root zone making it ineffective.
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7. The project demonstrated that the application of liquid fertilizer to
unproductive land, like incinerated fly ash, will allow the growing of
crops. Other contemporary demonstration projects showed that the appli-
cation of liquid fertilizer permitted crop growth on strip mine spoils,
alkaline glass factory wastes, and unproductive clay soils. Hence,
growing crops on this incinerated fly ash showed the efficacy of applying
liquid fertilizer to almost any soil material to enhance crop production.
8. Attempting to distribute liquid fertilizer by the ridge and furrow
method showed that land must have a smooth surface and slope to prevent
ponding. The land also must be free of rocks and debris in order to
form ridges and furrows with a lister. Because of these difficulties,
spray irrigation will be used in Fulton County.
9. The Calumet project showed that a completely closed drainage system on
an agricultural field is possible. The drainage system on the Calumet
project recycled all runoff to the lagoons while the drainage system on
the Fulton County project impounds the water for monitoring before it
is released to the stream or recycled onto the field.
10. The project demonstrated the limitations of submersible pumps for
removing the liquid fertilizer from lagoons. Twenty-horse-power pumps
had too little power and repeatedly plugged and burned out. The
maximum solids concentration that could be pumped was about 2.5%.
A 30-horsepower pump removed up to 175,000 gallons of liquid
fertilizer containing 6% solids per 8-hour day. However, when the
fertilizer contained more than 6% solids, the pump overheated, causing
the thermal switch to stop the pump. With these experiences and con-
sidering the volume to be pumped, a dredge was purchased for the Fulton
County project.
11. At Calumet, the liquid fertilizer required agitation to keep it flowing
into the pump inlet. Mechanical agitation and agitation by air lances
fluidized the fertilizer for pumping. Without agitation, the pump
overheated and burned out or shut off". The District provided a dredge
for the Fulton County project to remove liquid fertilizer from the
holding basins. This dredge had a rotating head, positioned immediately
in front of the pump inlet, to fluidize the fertilizer.
12. Agronomic improvements in the landfill from 3 years of liquid fertilizer
application are:
a. A threefold increase in the cation exchange capacity
b. A twofold increase in the concentration of available P, but a
reduction in the concentration of total P.
c. An increase in the concentrations of Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, S and Zn.
d. A decrease in the concentrations of Al, Cr, Na, Ni.
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13. The data also show that 3 years of liquid fertilizer application increased
the Pb concentration of the landfill, but the electrical conductivity
fluctuated.
14. Application of liquid fertilizer increased the plant nutrient content of
the leaf tissue of winter wheat. The Zn content was higher than required
for maximum crop production, but was not at a toxic level.
15. Analysis of the leachate from the three piezometers for 4 years shows that:
a. the concentrations of all forms of N fluctuated,
b. the concentrations of Cd, Cr, Mg and Mn fluctuated,
c. the concentration of Fe increased,
d. the concentrations of Ca, Cu, Hg, K, Na, Ni decreased,
e. conductivity decreased, and
f. the fecal coliform count fluctuated.
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SECTION 3
SITE DESCRIPTION
Figure 1 shows an aerial view of the Calumet Land Reclamation site.
This site is west of and adjacent to the Calumet Expressway. It extends from
130th Street north to the bend in the Calumet Expressway. The railroad tracks
are the west border. The lagoons and the Calumet plant are west of the
application site and west of the railroad. This site is located in the south
part of Chicago about four miles west of the Indiana border.
Figure 2 shows the plot design of the entire site. Six plots, A thru F,
comprised the south end while plots numbered 1 thru 20 comprised the north
end. The area between plots A thru F and plots 1 thru 20 consists of hills
and trees and is unsuitable for liquid fertilizer application.
Plots A, B, C, D, E, and F contain 5.0, 4.93, 6.19, 1.20, 0.90, and 1.22
acres, respectively. Plots 1 thru 9 contain 1.55 acres each, plots 11 thru
15 contain 1.1 acres each, plots 16 thru 20 contain 1.54 acres each with the
exception of plots 17 and 18 which contain 1.2 acres and 1.4 acres, re-
spectively. Plot 10 contained the stones used for field roads. The triangu-
lar plot south of plot 20 is a check plot. Berms, about 12" high, formed
the borders of the plots.
A contract completed during 1969 prepared the Calumet farm. The con-
tractor removed debris, leveled the site, and created a slope of 0.25% from
west to east which permitted the application of liquid fertilizer by ridge
and furrow. The liquid fertilizer was discharged into furrows on the west
side of the field and slowly flowed to the' east side of the field.
The ditches that surrounded the entire site collected and recycled run-
off to the treatment plant. Thus the entire application site was self-
contained.
The matrix at the surface of this former dump site is fly ash, an
incinerated material incapable of growing crops. Table 1 shows the depth of
the fin as indicated by 27 borings, while Figure 3 shows the location of
these borings used to determine the depth and composition of the fill.
Completion of these borings preceded site preparation.
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.
Figure 1. Aerial view of the Calumet land reclamation site.
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^CC«^ MOT
Figure 2. Plot diagram 1969, 1970 and 1971
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00
Figure 3. Locations of borings that determined the depth and
composition of the fill.
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TABLE 1. DATA FROM 27 BORINGS ON THE CALUMET LAND RECLAMATION SITE
Boring
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Depth
of Fill
(Feet)
11.0*
9.5
9.0
3.5
3.5
4.0
9.5
9.0
9.5
17.0
16.5
17.0
13.0
13.0
3.5
3.5
9.5
9.0
5.0*
8.5*
9.0*
8.0*
8.0*
8.0
7.5*
7.5*
4.0*
Total Depth
of Boring
(Feet)
17.0
17.0
17.0
12.0
12.0
12.0
17.0
17.0
17.0
22.0
22.0
22.0
17. Ot
17. Ot
12.0
12.0
12.0
17.0
16.0*
15.0
15.0
15.0
15.0
15.0
15.0
15.0
10.0
Water
While
Sampling
(Feet)
16.0
9.0
9.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
15.0
14.0
4.8
6.5
7.0
5.0
Level Readings
After
Boring
(Feet)
dry hole
dry hole
dry hole
dry hole
dry hole
dry hole
dry hole
dry hole
dry hole
dry hole
dry hole
dry hole
15.0
9.0
9.0
3.0
3.0
2.0
5.5
6.5
8.0
13.0
14.0
3.0
dry
6.5
4.5
* Indicates the fill is basically a clay material; all other fills are made
up of cinders, wood, and glass.
t Indicates the soil from the base of the fill to the bottom of the boring is
a sandy silt; all others are silty clay.
* Indicates a 3-foot layer of topsoil and black organic clay underneath the
fill.
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SECTION 4
TRANSPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION, AND APPLICATION METHODS
USED TO CONVEY AND APPLY LIQUID FERTILIZER
Two 75-hp pumps moved the liquid fertilizer from the digesters to the
lagoons, or to the south end of the farm for land application, or to a 50-hp
booster pump for land application at the north end of the farm. The 75-hp
pump capacity ranged from 1,400 to 1,800 gpm (one operating and one standby).
At the lagoons, a 20-hp pump removed the liquid fertilizer from the lagoon
to the booster pump for conveyance and application to the field. This pump
was inadequate for continuous pumping. It did effectively pump liquid ferti-
lizer from the lagoon when the solids concentration was less than 2.5 percent,
but as the solids content increased pump reliability decreased. During 1971,
this pump was replaced because the motor burned out. The new 20-hp submersible
pump also required dilution water and constant agitation near the pump inlet
to maintain solids content below 2.5 percent. During the Spring of 1972, a new
30-hp submersible pump replaced the 20-hp submersible pump. This 30-hp sub-
mersible pump was capable of pumping 175,000 gallons per day of liquid ferti-
lizer containing six percent solids. However, higher solids concentrations
caused the thermal switch to stop the motor. Two hours of cooling were re-
quired before the motor could be restarted. Figure 4 shows the pump.
The raft shown in Figure 5, designed and built especially for this
project, supported the submersible pump. A winch was used to raise and
lower the pump. Air lances and mechanical agitators were used to break up
the large solids (rags and stringy materials) at the pump inlet. The raft
consisted of a steel grate mounted on pontoons to permit floating in the
lagoon. A catwalk provided access from shore to this raft. The submersible
pump was raised or lowered through a hole in the center of the steel grate.
Two methods of agitation enabled the submersible pump to remove liquid
fertilizer from the lagoons. Figure 6 shows a mechanical agitator which was
a 3-blade, 12-inch propeller on the end of a 3-foot shaft connected to an
electric motor. It operates in the vertical position at the same depth as
the submersible pump. Mounting this agitator on hinges allowed raising it to
the horizontal position for cleaning.
The other agitation system used was the air lance. Figure 7 shows the
bubbling caused by injecting air into the liquid fertilizer on either side of
the raft. The air lance was simply a 1-inch pipe, 9 feet long, connected to
an air source. The open end of the pipe was submerged to the same depth as
the inlet of the submersible pump and fluidized the liquid fertilizer for
pumping. The air lance was the more effective method of agitation mainly
because of its mobility.
10
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Figure 4. Thirty-horsepower submersible pump.
Figure 8 shows the air compressor which delivered the 15 pounds of
pressure to the two air lances.
Figure 9 shows the 50-hp booster pump. This pump, mounted on a concrete
base, transported the fertilizer from the discharge pipe of the digesters to
the north end of the farm. It also transported the liquid fertilizer from
ible pump in the lagoon to either end of the farm. The per-
formance of this pump was more than adequate.
11
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Figure 5. Raft and submersible pump.
Figure 6. Mechanical agitator.
12
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'
Figure 7. Action of the air lance.
The conveyance system moved the liquid fertilizer from the digesters,
or the lagoons, to the point of land application. The submersible pump
below the raft, or the pumps at the digesters, moved the liquid fertilizer
through a 6-inch pipe to the booster pump which then pumped it through a 6-
inch pipe beneath the railroad tracks to. the farm. A 6-inch aluminum pipe
used with a 4-inch soft vinyl hose at the discharge end delivered the liquid
fertilizer for land application. Figure 10 shows aluminum pipe connected to
the pipe under the railroad tracks. Figure 11 shows the aluminum pipe and
vinyl hose that delivered the liquid fertilizer for land application.
The liquid fertilizer application methods tried were ridge and furrow,
rain guns, and flooding. The ridge and furrow failed for two reasons. First,
the land surface was not uniformly level but had relief that caused ponding
in the furrows. Second, the lister forming the ridges and furrows could not
function because of the debris. Rain guns proved impractical because they
were stationary. Frequent movement of the rain gun and the pipes was im-
practical. The District could not use moveable rain guns because the broken
glass, rods, etc., in the debris would cut or puncture the hose that must
follow the rain guns. Finally, the pumps available created only 46 pounds
of nozzle pressure while 80 pounds is the absolute minimum for satisfactory
operation.
13
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Figure 8. Air compressor for air lances.
Figure 9. Fifty-horsepower booster pump,
14
-V
-------
'
Figure 10. Aluminum pipe connected to conveyance system
under the railroad tracks.
While flooding with the gated irrigation pipe caused considerable
ponding, the big disadvantage was thc.t the gated pipe required frequent re-
location to achieve uniform application. ' Because of the uneven terrain the
liquid fertilizer often covered the gated pipe. This pipe was difficult to
retrieve, empty, and clean before moving.
Flooding with a flexible hose proved the most practical method of appli-
cation. While the liquid fertilizer still ponded because of the uneven
terrain, placing the single discharge point on a high spot allowed the
fertilizer to flow to lower portions of the terrain. Also, the flexible hose
was easy to empty, clean and move. Repeating the process of applying two
inches to three inches of liquid fertilizer, allowing it to dry, and disking
to incorporate it into the soil, proved the most practical application method
for this project.
15
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Figure 11. Aluminum pipe and vinyl hose.
16
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SECTION 5
LIQUID FERTILIZER APPLICATION
During 1969, the liquid fertilizer application commenced on plots A
thru E. Because the conveyance system from the Calumet plant and from the
lagoons was not complete, trucks conveyed and applied the liquid fertilizer
to the fields. Table 2 shows the plot designation, gallons applied, percent
solids in the liquid fertilizer, total tons of dry solids applied and tons
of solids applied per acre during 1969.
Table 2. LIQUID FERTILIZER APPLIED TO LAND AT THE CALUMET
TREATMENT PLANT DUIRNG 1969
Gallons % Total dry tons Plot size Dry tons
Plot applied x 1Q3 Solids applied (acres) per acre
A 2694 3.06 344 5.0 68.8
B 276 3.48 40 4.93 8.1
C 1229 4.63 237 6.19 38.3
D 282 2.98 35 1.2 29.2
E 60 3.20 8 .90 8.9
4541 664 TO2~ 367? T/A
(avg.)
The total acreage was 18.22. The total gallons applied was 4,541,000.
The average gallons per acre applied was 249,232. The total dry tons
applied was 664. The average dry tons per acre applied was 36.4 The solids
percent ranged from 2.98 to 4.63.
Difficulty in devising a system for removing fertilizer from the lagoon,
and a trucking strike that delayed delivery of the irrigation pipe to the
application site, delayed liquid fertilizer application to the plots on the
north end (plots 1 through 20) of the farm until August 1 of 1970. 1970 was
the first year that the fertilizer conveyance system was used from the
digesters and the lagoons to convey liquid fertilizer to both the south and
north ends of the application site. During June and July, the conveyance
system did transport liquid fertilizer to the south end of the site. Table
3 shows the fertilizer applications for 1970.
17
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TABLE 3. LIQUID FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS FOR 1970
Plot
A
B
C
D
E
F
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Gallons
applied x 103
1441
3954
1050
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
153
252
0
400
225
4
0
30
0
10
10
10
0
0
0
54
7593
%
Solids
4.38
3.30
3.24
6.27
4.38
4.38
4.37
3.73
1.18
4.00
1.2
1.44
1.68
2.22
Total dry tons
applied
257
544
142
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
40
46
0
73
35
2
0
5
0
5
6
7
0
0
0
5
1167.0
Plot size
(acres)
5.0
4.93
6.19
1.20
.90
1.22
1.55
1.55
1.55
1.55
1.55
1.55
1.55
1.55
1.55
.75
1.10
1.10
1.10
1.10
1.10
1.54
1.20
1.40
1.54
1.54
46.86
Dry tons
per acre
51.5
110.5
22.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
25.8
29.6
0.0
47.0
22.6
2.7
0.0
4.6
0.0
4.6
5.5
4.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
3.2
39.6 T/A
(avg.)
The total acreage was 46.86. However the acreage used for fertilizer
application was 29.45. The total gallons applied was 7,593,000, for an
average gallons per acre of 257,826. The total dry tons applied was 1167
and the average dry tons per acre applied was 39.6 The solids percent
ranged from 1.18 to 6.27.
Table 4 shows this information for 1971.
18
-------
TABLE 4. LIQUID FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS FOR 1971
Plot
A
A
C
D
E
F
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Gallons
applied x 10^
2650
866
2588
443
302
333
0
653
0
213
435
1020
1082
687
339
0
112
0
0
263
0
539
226
945
390
97
14183
%
Solids
2.71
3.78
2.59
2.36
2.31
2.43
2.79
2.50
4.75
4.44
3.85
3.62
3.94
4.54
2.50
3.07
2.98
2.68
2.36
2.23
Total dry tons
applied
299.0
136.5
287.6
43.4
29.0
33.7
0.0
75.9
0.0
22.2
86.0
188.3
173.3
103.8
55.6
0.0
18.9
0.0
0.0
27.4
0.0
69.0
28.1
105.7
38.4
9.0
1830.8
Plot size
(acres)
5.0
4.93
6.19
1.20
.90
1.22
1.55
1.55
1.55
1.55
1.55
1.55
1.55
1.55
1.55
.75
1.10
1.10
1.10
1.10
1.10
1.54
1.20
1.40
1.54
1.54
46.86
Dry tons
per acre
59.8
27.7
45.0
36.2
32.2
27.6
0.0
48.9
0.0
14.3
55.4
121.5
112.0
66.9
35.8
0.0
17.2
0.0
0.0
24.9
0.0
44.8
23.4
75.5
24.9
5.9
46.2 T/A
(avg.)
The total acreage was 46.86. However, the total acreage used for
liquid fertilizer application was 39.61. The total gallons applied was
14,173,000. The average gallons per acre applied was 357,814. The total
dry tons applied was 1830.8 while the average dry tons per acre applied was
46.2. The solids percent ranged from 2.23 to 4.75.
Table 5 summarizes the liquid fertilizer applications for 1969, 1970 and
1971.
19
-------
TABLE 5. LIQUID FERTILIZER APPLIED TO LAND AT THE CALUMET FARM DURING
1969, 1970, and 1971 (Dry tons)
Year applied
Plot
A
B
C
D
E
F
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Total
1969 1970
344 257
40 544
237 142
35 0
8 0
0
0
0
0
0
40
46
0
73
35
2
0
5
0
5
6
7
0
0
0
5
664 1167.0
1971
299.0
136.5
287.6
43.4
29.0
33.7
0.0
75.9
0.0
22.2
86.0
188.2
173.3
103.8
55.6
0.0
18.9
0.0
0.0
27.4
0.0
69.0
28.1
105.7
38.4
9.0
1830.8
Total
900.0
720.5
666.6
78.4
37.0
33.7
0.0
75.9
0.0
22.2
126.0
234.2
173.3
176.8
90.6
2.0
18.9
5.0
0.0
32.4
6.0
76.0
28.1
105.7
38.4
14.0
3661.8
Dry Tons/Acre
Applied . 36.4 59.6 46.2 83.2
The total dry tons applied was 3,661.8; the total dry tons per acre
applied was 83.2
During August of 1971, removal of all interior berms created just 5
plots, 3 on the north end and 2 on the south end. These plots and their
approximate acreages are Nl, 19; N2, 18; N3, 2; SI. 3; and S2, 20. Figure
4 shows this plot arrangement. The overall total was 62 acres, and was 15
acres more than used from 1969 thru 1971. The additional acres were the
result of using plot N3, the triangular plot south of, but across the road
from the check plot, and the roadways between plots A, B, and C. Plots 1-4
and 11 - 14 comprised Nl, while plots 5 - 10 and 15 - 20 comprised N2. Plots
D, E, and F comprised SI, while plots A, B, and C comprised S2.
20
-------
The original intent for the 10 plots on the north end and 6 plots on the
south end was to apply various loadings of liquid fertilizer on the plots and
grow crops. However, the fly ash, which was the main constituent for the
berms failed to retain the liquid fertilizer within each plot. To create
berms capable of holding fertilizer would have required trucking in clay to
provide material stable enough for berm construction. Reducing the number
of plots from 26 to 5 eliminated 9212 feet of berms. Only the berms on the
periphery of the 5 plots were repaired with clay. These berms are about 18
inches high.
Table 6 shows the fertilizer application for 1972.
TABLE 6. LIQUID FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS FOR 1972
Plot
Nl
N2
N3
SI
S2
Gallons
applied x 103
0
3571
478
0
2052
6101
%
Solids
3.88
2.17
3.03
Total dry tons
applied
0
577
43
0
311
931
Plot size
(acres)
18.90
17.80
1.75
3.07
20.04
61.56
Dry tons
per acre
0.0
32.4
24.6
0.0
15.5
23.5 T/A
Cave.)
The total acreage was 61.56 but the acreage used for application was
39.59. The total gallons applied was 6,101,000, while the average gallons
per acre applied was 154,105. The total dry tons applied was 931 while the
average dry tons per acre applied was 23.5. The solids percent ranged from
2.17 to 3.88.
During the 4 years, the total gallons applied to Nl was 1,281,00. The
total dry ton equivalent applied was 154.4"which was 8.18 dry tons per acre.
The total gallons applied to N2 was 9,353,000. The total dry ton equivalent
applied was 1,472.9 which is 82.7 dry tons per acre. The total gallons
applied to N3 was 478,000. The total dry ton equivalent applied was 43 or
24.6 dry tons per acre. The total gallons applied to SI was 1,420,000, the
total dry ton equivalent was 149 or 49.5 dry tons per acre. The total
gallons applied to S2 was 18,800,00. The total dry ton equivalent was
2539.1 or 129 dry tons per acre.
21
-------
M
A
BITCHES TO
_F>UK-orr TO THE
Figure 12. Calumet land reclamation site.
22
-------
SECTION 6
CROP PRODUCTION
The planting of winter wheat during October of 1969, with a grain drill
on plot A, followed the application of 68.8 dry tons per acre and incorpo-
ration of the liquid fertilizer into the soil with a disk. This wheat germi-
nated and attained about six inches of growth before winter.
During the spring and summer of 1970, this wheat developed, matured,
and yielded 42 bushels per acre as shown by harvesting 15 random samples.
Figure 13 shows the method of wheat harvest. Plot A received an additional
51.5 dry tons of solids per acre as liquid fertilizer, after the wheat harvest
in 1970.
Figure 13. Harvesting wheat for yeild determination.
23
-------
During 1970, plot C and plots 11 through 20 grew com. During 1969,
plot C received 38.3 dry tons of solids per acre while during 1970 this
plot received 22.9 dry tons solids per acre. Farming operations on plot C
included debris removal, potash application (165 Ibs. of 1^0 per acre, as
275 Ibs. per acre of muriate of potash, 0-0-60), plowing six inches deep,
ridging and furrowing, corn planting, and spraying five pounds of herbicide
per acre in 20 gallons of water. During corn planting, the planter also
applied five pounds of soil insecticide per acre to control soil insects,
particularly corn root worm. The corn was planted one inch deep in rows 40
inches apart. The planter planted 18,000 seeds per acre.
During October, the Purdue method (see appendix) for yield determination
showed that plot C yielded 64 bushels of corn per acre.
Following the same farming operations, plots 11 thru 20 on the north end
of the farm produced corn stalks. However, these plots received no liquid
fertilizer, thus the corn failed to produce harvestable ears. Figure 14
shows corn treated with liquid fertilizer while Figure 15 shows corn not
treated with liquid fertilizer.
Figure 14. Corn fertilized with liquid fertilizer.
24
-------
Figure 15. Corn not fertilized with liquid fertilizer.
In August of 1971, the interior berms were removed, forming the three
plots on the north end and two plots on the south end of the farm. The
three plots on the north end, designated Ml, N2, and N3 contained 19, 18 and
acres, while the two plots on the south end, SI and S2, contained 2 and 20
acres, respectively. Disking plots SI and S2 to incorporate the solids with
the soil preceded planting 75 pounds per acre of wheat during September 23 and
This wheat, a hard read winter variety, attained a height of 10 inches
before frost. The appearance of this wheat looked excellent. These plots
were not fertilized after seeding in 1971. Figure 16 shows the wheat.
25
-------
Figure 16. Wheat fertilized with liquid fertilizer.
During 1972, this wheat attained a height of about 30 inches. Harvest-
ing 15 random samples showed a wheat yield of 44 bushels per acre which was
an average hard red winter wheat yield in Illinois in 1972. This wheat
was not fertilized in 1972.
Debris in the soil matrix did not permit actual harvest of the crops
j debris caused numerous flat tires on the tractor while pulling the farm
inplements. In addition, the debris, consisting of tires, iron bars,
concrete test cores, pieces of concrete foundations, broken bottles,'etc,,
hampered the use of the moldboard plow and the lister which formed the
ridges and furrows. The debris also prevented the use of the rubble rake,
the disk, and cultivator, and limited the ground speed of the corn planter,
the sprayer, and the grain drill. The possibility of either the corn head,'
a reel and sickle bar mounted on a combine, picking up small rocks, pieces
of concrete, tires, glass, or iron bars also prevented harvest of the'crop.
:igure 17 shows the type of soil surface encountered.
26
-------
4?-~
f
*L'*
si
•^*«*. .^-— ^
Figure 17. Soil surface, Calumet land reclamation.
27
-------
SECTION 7
FARM EQUIPMENT USED ON THE CALUMET PROJECT
TRACTOR
The tractor used to pull the farm equipment was a 95-hp John Deere 4020
diesel four plow farm tractor (Figure 18) equipped with an Ansel Cab. The
tractor performed satisfactorily. The only problem with using this tractor
was that the debris caused numerous flat tires, sometimes two at a time.
The reason Crawler tractors or tractors with steel wheels were not used was
that the liquid fertilizer application site was more than a mile from the
wastewater treatment plant and the only access was on hard surface public
Figure 18. Tractor used on the Calumet land reclamation project,
28
-------
roads. The use of either crawler tractor or a tractor with steel wheels
would have required hauling the tractor and the farm equipment each day.
Because of vandalism, it was unsafe to leave equipment in the field overnite,
LANDSCAPE RAKE, MODEL 250
The John Deere Landscape rake proved too light to rake the debris into
windrows for removal. It could not move larger debris and was constantly
entangled with the iron bars protruding just slightly above the soil.
Figure 19 shows the rake mounted on the tractor.
Figure 19. Landscape rake.
PLOW, MODEL F145H
The John Deere, 4-bottom, 16-inch plow failed to till the soil because
of the incorporated debris. The plow bottoms tripped and folded back when
they struck an obstruction. It was often necessary to reverse the direction
of travel of the tractor and plow to reposition the bottoms. However, the
moldboard plow rolling coulters were equipped with spring tensions so when
the coulter struck an obstruction, it rolled over instead of breaking.
Figure 20 shows the moldboard plow mounted on the tractor. Each moldboard
was equipped with a trashboard attachment. The attachment was a projection
29
-------
on the top and leading edge of the moldboard, and it's purpose was to in-
crease the plow's effectiveness in covering trash. However, the trashboards
failed to receive a fair test because of the soil debris.
Figure 20. Moldboard plow.
LISTER
The five lister bottoms, model SB-5A, mounted on a 96-inch real tool
bar, model 23B, proved unsuccessful for ridging and furrowing because of the
soil debris. Each lister bottom had shear bolts to prevent breakage. How-
ever, the shear bolts broke every few feet. The lister also came equipped
with depth gauge wheels which prevented deep soil penetration. When func-
tioning, the lister formed ridges and furrows on 40-inch centers. Figure 21
shows the lister.
CORN PLANTER
The John Deere corn planter consisted on four model 44 planter units
on a tool bar. Each unit, operating independently, planted one row. This
corn planter worked successfully in the debris-ridden soil because of the
independence of each planting unit. This unit planted corn in rows 40 inches
apart, the distance from the centers of the ridges formed by the lister.
30
-------
•
Figure 21. Lister.
Planting the corn on the ridges instead of in the furrows allowed placement
of liquid fertilizer in the furrows. In the recently tilled soil, the
planting units easily shoved aside any debris in the path of the planter.
The planter also contained soil inseticide 'applicators, a lift to aid the
tractor hydraulic system to raise and lower the planting units, and a press
tire to compact the soil. Figure 22 shows the com planter.
SPRAYER
A John Deere Sprayer, model 32B, successfully sprayed herbicide on the
weeds in the corn field during the early stages of crop growth. This sprayer
had a 200-gallon capacity tank and sprayed a swath 24 feet wide. A pump
operated by the tractor power takeoff provided the pressure for herbicide
application. Figure 23 shows the sprayer. 'This sprayer also had, attached
to the pump, a long hose and spray gun for spraying small patches of weeds
within 30 feet of the sprayer.
31
-------
Figure 22. Four-row corn planter.
Figure 23. Sprayer.
32
-------
DISK HARROW
A 12-foot John Deere disk harrow, model BWF, proved to be too light for
tilling this debris-ridden soil. Figure 24 shows this disk, equipped with
blades 20 inches in diameter. The tractor's three-point hitch raised,
lowered, and controlled the depth of tillage.
HEAVY DUTY DISK HARROW
This 11.5 foot model TWA John Deere heavy duty disk harrow, with notched
blades 22 inches in diameter, was the most effective implement for tilling
the debris-ridden soil. The heavy notched disk blades and the heavy frame
did not bend or break during tilling operations. The depth of tilling was
controlled by the hydraulic system. Figure 25 shows the disk.
BERM DISK
A model Tk34412K John Deere berm disk, successfully formed the berms for
the plot borders. These berms 18 inches high, contained the liquid fertil-
izer within each plot. The three-point hitch and the hydraulic system on the
tractor raised, lowered, and controlled the height of this berm disk, shown
mounted on the tractor in Figure 26.
•" •
Figure 24. Twelve-foot disk harrow.
33
-------
Figure 25. Heavy duty disk harrow.
Figure 26. Berm disk,
34
-------
DITCHER
The John Deere ditcher, model E050M, successfully formed ditches for
storm water drainage. The ditcher was used only around the periphery of the
site. The three-point hitch and the hydraulic system on the tractor con-
trolled the depth of operation of this ditcher, shown in Figure 27.
GRAIN DRILL
A John Deere, 11-foot grain drill, model B, successfully planted the
winter wheat. Each furrow opener was spring loaded, allowing the necessary
flexibility to roll over instead of breaking against the obstructions.
Figure 28 shows this grain drill.
MOWERS
Two mowers were used. The John Deere Model 50 sickle bar mower cut the
weeds on the periphery of the plots. The John Deere Gyromore Mower, equipped
with a slip clutch and suction-type blades, cut the weeds when debris made it
impractical to use the sickle bar mower. Figure 29 shows the sickle bar
mower while Figure 30 shows the Gyromor.
Figure 27. Ditcher.
35
-------
•
"•b- I Sfefer
I <•
Figure 28. Grain drill
Figure 29. Sickle bar mower
36
-------
;
Figure 30. Rotary Mower
Equipment purchased for the land reclamation project was as follows
4020 tractor, diesel
Landscape rake
Plow, 4 bottom
Lister, 5 bottom
Corn planter, 4 row
Sprayer
Disk harrow, 12 foot
Disk harrow, 11.5 foot, heavy duty
Berm disk
Ditcher
Grain drill
Sickle bar mower
37
-------
Equipment purchased but not shown in the report includes:
Tilt bed trailer
Land plane
Snowplow
Cultivator, 4 row
Disk harrow, 16.5 foot
The District purchased two complete sets of this equipment. One set was
delivered to the Calumet plant while the other set was delivered to the West-
Southwest Plant. One set of this equipment is still used at the Calumet
farm while the other set is used on the Fulton County project.
38
-------
SECTION 8
SOIL, PLANT, AND WATER RESPONSES
This report describes the effects of liquid fertilizer on a landfill
east of the Calumet Sewage Treatment Plant for 1969 through 1972. Responses
were noted for soil, groundwater, and plant tissues.
Soil samples were taken in February and May of 1969, in 1970, and 1972.
Samples were composites of surface 6-inch plugs taken at random in Plot A
(Figure 2). The 1969 soil samples were analyzed by a commercial laboratory.
The other soil samples were crushed to pass a 2-mm sieve and analyzed by MSD
laboratory for the following constituents: pH (Peech, 1965) and electrical
conductivity (Bower and Wilcox, 1965) measured using a 1:1 soil to water
ratio; available p (Olsen and Dean, 1965): total Kjeldahl nitrogen (Bremmer,
1965a); N02 + N03 - N and exchangeable NH4 - N (Bremmer, 1965a); organic car-
bon, determined by Walkley-Black titration (Allison, 1965); cation exchange
capacity (CEC), measured by ammonium acetate-sodium chloride method (Chapman,
1965); exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, Na, determined by atomic absorption analysis
of ammonium acetate extract used in CEC determination (Chapman, 1965); 0.1N
HC1 extractable Zn, Mn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr, and Cd, analysis by atomic absorption;
total sulfur by Leco induction furnace; and field moisture capacity by 1/3
bar pressure plate extraction (Peters, 1965).
Accumulative liquid fertilizer application were shown in Tables 5 and 6,
and the annual mean analysis of liquid fertilizer applied in 1969 through
1972 is reported in Table 7. Analysis of the soil samples is shown in Table
8. The addition of liquid fertilizer to landfill soil resulted in increases
in the soil of available phosphorus; cation exchange capacity (CEC); ex-
changeable Ca, Mg, K: and 0.1N HC1 extractable Zn, Mn, Cu, and Pb. Decreases
were noted for Ni, Cr, exchangeable Na, and exchangeable Al. Most of these
changes were agronomically beneficial.
At the May 1970 soil sampling winter wheat tissue samples were also
collected. Visually, at sampling the south half of the field had better
growth than the north half, so composite samples of the above ground portion
of plants in the boot stage of development from the north and south sections
were taken. Chemical analysis of north and south plant composites is shown
in Table 9. These data showed that wheat tissue from the north section of
the field generally contained lower concentrations of the 14 elements
determined than wheat tissue from the south section of the field. The
availability of essential plant nutrients appeared adquate. However, the
zinc concentration was regarded as higher than that required for maximum crop
production but not at a toxic level. There was no crop in 1971.
39
-------
TABLE 7. ANALYSIS OF LIQUID FERTILIZER APPLIED AT CALUMET FARM
FROM 1969 to 1972 (Ib/dry ton)
Date*
1969
1970
1971
1972
Total Solids
Tot. Vol. Sol.
Total P
N-Kjeldahl
N-NH3
Alk. as CaC03
Fe
Zn
Cu
Ni
MN
K
Na
Mg
Ca
Pb
Cr
Cd
Al
Hg
2000
932
55
103
46
N.A.*
88
7.9
2.1
0.3
2.7
11.0
N.A.
12
84
4.8
3.3
0.2
N.A.
N.A.
2000
950
32
74
19
75
81
7.6
2.3
0.4
N.A.
1.6
3.9
17
56
4.2
3.2
0.3
18
.0125
2000
1045
80
90
38
146
72
7.2
2.3
0.5
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
2.4
1.5
0.3
23
0.006
2000
1026
59
85
24
132
69
6.2
1.5
0.9
0.8
5.8
10.1
23
79
2.4
3.5
0.4
21
0.006
*N.A. - No analysis
Groundwater leachate samples were collected weekly from three piezo-
meters (Figure 2) for three and one half years. The piezometers, approxi-
mately twenty feet deep, are made of perforated stainless steel pipe and
screened at the bottom. Chemical analysis and fecal coliform (FC) density
were conducted on all samples. Tables 10, 11, 12, and 13 show the annual
mean of 23 chemical constituents and the geometric mean of FC density for
each of the piezometers from May 1969 through June 1972.
Table 13 shows the mean chemical concentrations of the groundwater
leachate for the first six months of 1972 from the three piezometers and one
monitoring well. The monitoring well was drilled into the strata underlying
the landfill material. This well is 130 feet deep, with a screen on the
last 10 feet, and monitors leachate percolating into the nearest natural
aquifer. Figure 31 shows the well and Figure 32 is a schematic of the well
construction.
In 1969 only plots A through E (Figure 1) were fertilized. Therefore,
piezometers 1 and 2 were in the liquid fertilizer treated area and piezometer
3 was approximately 1000 feet from the liquid fertilizer treated area.
40
-------
TABLE 8. SUMMARY OF SOIL CHARACTERISTICS (0-6" DEPTH) OF PLOT A,
CALUMET FARM, BEFORE AND THREE DATES AFTER THE APPLICATION
OF LIQUID FERTILIZER
Sampling data ~
Characteristic Unit 2-69 5-69 5-70 5-72
pH
p-Total
p-Avail.
N-Kjeldahl
N-N02+N03
Organic Carbon
CEC meg/100 g
Exchangeable
Ca
Mg
K
Na
NH4-N
AL
Zn
Mn
Cu
Ni
Pb
Cr
Cd
S-Total
B-H20 soluble
E.G.
Bulk density
Field moisture capacity
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
%
ppm
-
-
-
-
-
-
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
mmhos/cm
g/cc
%
7.5
-
12.
-
_
-
-
2450
150
90
560
-
46
575
46
82
100-200
-
-
-
-
-
3.2
-
34 .
7.6
70.
47
4283
11
7
11.
1783
209
153
217
1420
30
71
79
50
123
123
321
72
-
4.5
1.4
0.9
42.
7.5
-
22.
-
-
8.6
20.4
6115
565
178
295
-
2.5
1807
370
383
50
450
14
34
4198
-
2.4
-
~
6.7
-
-
-
_
-
35.1
3673
550
205.
204.
-
-
2683
335.
476
43.7
465.
56.4
71.9
4274
-
1.12
-
43.7
In 1970, water samples were collected weekly from September through
December. Mean chemical concentrations (Table II), except N02 + N03 - N for
piezometer 1 leachate, were lower in 1970 than in 1969. The leachate from
piezometer 2 had higher average Kjeldahl-, N03-, and N02 + N03 - N con-
centrations and a general decrease in heavy metal concentration in 1970
compared to 1969.
In 1971, leachate chemical concentration of piezometer 1 showed in-
creases in P, NH3 - N, N02 + N03 - N, Mn, Cr, Cd, and Fe compared to 1970.
This may be in part due to the lack of a growing crop in 1971 on Plot A.
The yearly summary of chemical concentration in the groundwater
leachate is presented in Table 14. The general trends show annual increases
Kjeldahl-, N03-, and N02 + N03 - N and decreases in P, S04, electrical
conductivity, Zn, and Na.
41
-------
That these piezometers were constructed of perforated pipe their full
length, from the soil surface downward, was the cause of much of the
pollution in the leachate taken from them. During rainfall or liquid fertil-
izer application, water containing solids entered the perforated pipe
polluting the water in the piezometer.
To determine if this pollution reached the groundwater aquifer a deep
well was constructed of solid wall pipe to within ten feet of the bottom of
the well. Also this well has a concrete slab, four feet square, surrounding
the top of the well. Table 13 shows that, with the exception of N, Na, Cr,
and Al, the water from this monitoring well contained lower concentrations
of all the parameters tested than the groundwater leachate from the piezo-
meters .
TABLE 9. CHEMICAL CONTENT OF WINTER WHEAT TISSUE* FROM A
LIQUID-FERTILIZER-TREATED LANDFILL AT THE CALUMET
FARMT (yg/g, OVEN DRY BASIS)
Element
Sampling Site
North half
South half
N-Kjeldahl
P
Ca
Mg
K
Na
Zn
Fe
Mn
Cu
Ni
Pb
Cr
Cd
19200
3900
4011
1719
28914
260
61.71
114.6
28.2
5.73
0.44
6.17
6.61
0.44
23800
4198
5520
1694
39080
301
81.99
147.6
67.8
9.84
0.00
10.38
7.65
0.55
JThe plants were sampled at the boot stage of development.
TCollected May 28, 1970
42
-------
TABLE 10. CALUMET LAND RECLAMATION SITE MEAN CHEMICAL CONCENTRATIONS (PPM)
FOR LEACHATE COLLECTED MONTHLY FROM THREE PIEZOMETERS DURING
MAY THROUGH DECEMBER, 1969 (mg/1)
Constituent
Total P
Cl
S04
N-Kjeldahl
N-Organic
N-NH
N-N02 + N03
Alkalinity as Ca.CO^
Conductivity umhos/cm
Zn
Cu
Ni
Mn
Mg
K
Na
Ca
Pb
Cr
Cd
Fe
FC/100 ml (geometric mean)
(pH 6.2-7.1)
1.2
1790
3224
9.8
3.2
6.7
0.67
577
10,106
514
0.48
0.03
1.06
279.7
52.6
1473
401
0.77
0.03
0.02
21.99
10
Piezometer*
(pH 6.5-7.4)
6.9
2767
2254
33.8
7.8
26.0
0.16
1477
16,500
64.12
0.85
0.17
6.58
369.0
145.7
1434.6
566.3
2.68
0.08
0.02
62.87
13
(pH 6.3-6.9)
0.8
160
1070
13.6
1.7
11.9
0.15
345
2,931
297
0.21
0.004
0.68
123.9
55.73
103.04
258.8
0.43
0.00
0.00
12.49
10
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TABLE 11. CALUMET SANITARY LANDFILL SITE MEAN CHEMICAL CONCENTRATIONS
FOR LEACHATE COLLECTED WEEKLY FROM THREE PIEZOMETERS FROM
SEPTEMBER THROUGH DECEMBER 1970 (mg/1)
Constituent
Total P
Cl
S04
N-Kjeldahl
N-Organic
N-NH3
N-N02 + N03
Alkalinity as CaCO,
Conductivity umhos/cm
Zn
Cu
Ni
Mn
Mg
K
Na
Ca
Pb
Cr
Cd
Fe
Hg ug/1 (4 samples)
FC/100 ml (geometric mean)*
(pH 6.7-8.2)
0.35
95.4
821.4
6.22
2.25
3.97
0.68
438.1
3641.1
56.1
0.28
0.046
0.76
88.9
32.5
243.2
291.3
0.526
0.005
0.006
21.7
1.25
15
Piezometer
(pH 6.9-8.4)
5.26
464
1064
104.6
5.2
99.4
6.7
863
3882
22.2
0.182
0.096
1.42
120
60.5
758
289.5
0.376
0.018
0.038
36.4
1.85
102
(pH 6.8-8.1)
1.44
363.9
1496.5
24.5
7.0
17.5
2.05
933.1
2114.2
18.1
0.127
0.09
2.64
153.6
56.8
854.3
443.1
0.426
0.006
0.019
44.9
1.55
90
* Fecal Coliform determined weekly from January through December 1970.
-------
en
TABLE 12. CALUMET SANITARY LANDFILL SITE MEAN CHEMICAL CONCENTRATION
FOR LEACHATE COLLECTED WEEKLY FROM THREE PIEZOMETERS FOR
THE YEAR 1971 [mg/1)
Constituent
Total P
Cl
S04
N-Kjeldahl
N-Organic
N-NH2
N-N02 + NO-
Alkalinity as CaC03
Conductivity umhos/cm
Zn
Cu
Ni
Mn
Mg
K
Na
Ca
Pb
Cr
Cd
Fe
Al
Hg ug/1 (4 samples)
FC/100 ml (geometric mean)
(pH 6.5-7.8)
1.1
82
537
7.8
1.7
6.1
4.38
111
1150
26.2
0.23
0.06
2.30
93.8
33.1
74.8
294.4
0.43
0.4
0.01
57.5
6.1
1.69
19
Piezometer
(pH 6.8-8.8)
2.3
714
747
132.3
25.5
93.5
11.2
850
4225
27.3
0.26
0.09
0.92
180.5
57.1
668.9
280.8
0.45
0.04
0.02
53.4
5.1
1.40
266
(pH 6.8-7.8)
1.0
404
885
38.6
8.0
30.6
14.7
845
3914
18.0
0.23
0.17
2.07
190.2
64.3
541.0
438.0
0.75
0.04
0.04
80.1
4.9
2.02
106
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TABLE 13. CALUMET SANITARY LANDFILL SITE MEAN CHEMICAL CONCENTRATIONS
FOR LEACHATE COLLECTED MONTHLY FROM ^JANUARY 25, 1971 TO
JUNE 23, 1972, FROM THREE PIEZOMETERS AND A MONITORING
WELL Crag/1)
Constituent
Total P
Cl
so4
N-Kjeldahl
N-NH,
N-NO, +N03
Alkalinity as CaC03
Conductivity, umhos/cra
Zn
Cu
Ni
Mn
Mg
K
Na
Ca
Pb
Cr
Cd
Fe
Al
Hg, ug/1
FC/100 ml (geometric mean)
1
CpH 7.2-7.7)
0.69
60
451
3.0
1.9
1.49
760
2250
42.1
0.24
0.01
0.42
102
20.5
54
262.1
0.69
0.01
0.01
90.6
4.2
2.1
31
Piezometer
2
CpH 7.9-8.3)
0.59
881
619
44.8
39.6
1.63
1143
4300
15.7
0.14
0.04
0.33
351
47.9
1001
79.4
0.37
0.01
0.02
38.1
3.8
0.6
20
3
(pH 6.6-7.5)
0.45
255
532
7.1
4.1
2.15
765
2087
35
0.15
0.2
1.75
92
24.6
249
376
0.36
0.02
0.01
76.5
1.1
0.7
28
Well
4*
(pH 8.5-9.8)
0.39
50
29
0.9
0.7
0.07
808
568
0.04
0.03
0.04
0.09
4
3.3
136
6.0
0.04
0.01
0.002
2.9
5.4
0.4
N.A
*New well.
-------
TABLE 14. CALUMET SANITARY LANDFILL SITE ANNUAL MEAN CHEMICAL
CONCENTRATIONS FOR LEACHATE FROM 1969 TO 1971 (mg/1)
Yearly average of 3 piezometers
Constituent
Total P
Cl
S04
N-Kjeldahl
N-Organic
N-NH3
N-N02 + N03
Alkalinity as CaC03
E. C. umhos/cm
Zn
Cu
Ni
Mn
Mg
K
Na
Ca
Pb
Cr
Cd
Fe
Hg, yg/1
Al
1969
3.0
1572
2182
19.0
4.2
14.8
0.32
799
9845
308.8
0.51
0.068
2.77
257.5
84.60
1547.2
408.7
1.35
0.04
0.01
32.4
-
-
1970
2.4
364.0
1127.3
45.10
4.81
40.29
3.14
744.7
3879.1
32.1
0.299
0.077
1.60
120.8
49.9
618.5
341.3
0.442
0.010
0.021
34.3
1.55
-
1971
1.46
400
723
59.5
11.7
43.4
10.9
602
3096
23.8
0.24
0.11
1.76
154.8
41.57
428.2
337.7
0.54
0.16
0.02
63.6
1.70
5.3
47
-------
~,"
;
Figure 31. Monitoring Well, Calumet Farm.
48
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Figure 32. Drawing of Monitoring Well, Calumet Farm
49
-------
REFERENCES
Allison, L. E. Organic Carbon. In: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2,
C. A. Black ed. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, 1965.
pp 1372-1376.
Bower, C. A. and Wilcox, L. V. Soluble Salts. In: Methods of Soil Analysis,
Part 2, C. A. Black ed. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin,
1965. pp 952-958.
Bremner, J. M. Total Nitrogen. In: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2,
C. A. Black ed. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, 1965a.
pp 1149-1178.
Bremner, J. M. Inorganic Forms of Nitrogen. In: Methods of Soil Analysis,
Part 2, C. A. Black ed. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin,
1965a. pp 1179-1237.
Chapman, H. D. Cation Exchange Capcity. In: Methods of Soil Analysis,
Part 2, C. A. Black ed. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin,
1965. pp 891-901.
Chapman, H. D. Total Exchangeable Bases. In: Methods of Soil Analysis,
Part 2, C. A. Black ed. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin,
1965. pp 902-904.
Olson, S. R. and Dean, L. A. Phosphorus. In: Methods of Soil Analysis,
Part 2, C. A. Black ed. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin,
1965. pp 1035-1048.
Peech, M. Hydrogen Ion Activity. In: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2,
C. A. Black ed. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsis, 1965.
pp 914-925.
Peters, D. B. Water Availability. In: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1.
C. A. Black ed. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, 1965.
pp 279-285.
50
-------
TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read Instructions on the reverse before completing)
1. REPORT NO.
EPA-600/2-78-120
3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION-NO.
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
RECLAMATION OF A LANDFILL WITH DIGESTED SEWAGE SLUDGE
5. REPORT DATE
August 1978
(Issuing Date)
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(S)
Raymond R. Rimkus, Robert 0. Carlson, and
Donald B. Wunderlich
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
9. PERFORMING ORG \NIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago
100 East Erie Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
1BC611
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
11010 DPW
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory--Cin, OH
Office of Research and Development
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Final
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
EPA-600-14
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
Project Officer: G. Kenneth Dotson,
(513) 684-7661
16. ABSTRACT
The objective was to demonstrate the fertilizer and soil conditioning qualities
of liquid digested sewage sludge in renovation of a landfill consisting of ash, con-
crete, metals, glass, etc. Liquid digested sludge applied in furrows at a rate of
50 metric tons per hectare in 1970, after having been applied at a rate of 85.8
metric tons per hectare in 1969, increased corn yields significantly. Wheat yields
on sludge-treated plots yielded 2822 and 2957 kg/Ha in 1970 and 1972, respectively.
17.
KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTORS
b.lDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
c. COSATI Field/Group
* Sludge disposal
* Land reclamation
Water quality
Sludge
Ashes
Residues
Environmental Effects
Soil conditioners
Crop response
Sludge handling
Landspreading
Sludge application rate
Sludge characteristics
13B
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
RELEASE TO PUBLIC
19. SECURITY CLASS (ThisReport)
UNCLASSIFIED
21. NO. OF PAGES
59
20. SECURITY
Is page)
22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220-1 (9-73)
51
oUSGPOt 1978-757-140/1371 Region 5-11
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