Biosolids Management Overview

Biosolids are the nutrient rich end product of wastewater treatment.  The JAMES Treatment Plant currently produces approximately 9,000 wet tonnes of Class “A” biosolids per year and this is expected to double over the next 25 years due to the increased equivalent service population load on the JAMES Treatment Plant.

Historically, 95% of the biosolids produced at the JAMES Treatment Plant has been utilized for mine reclamation purposes at Highland Valley Copper Mine (HVC) near Logan Lake in B.C.’s interior.  The remaining 5% has been used in other biosolids end-use initiatives like poplar tree farms, land fill closures and the production of a growing medium product called Val-E-Gro™.

Biosolids Production and Recycling

Please click here for an illistration of the biosolids processing path at the JAMES Treatment Plant.

In order to recycle the biosolids produced at the JAMES Treatment Plant, strict quality requirements must be met under the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation (OMRR).  OMRR is a regulation created under the provincial Environmental Management Act and applies to the construction and operation of composting facilities, and the production, distribution, storage, sale and use or land application of biosolids and compost.  OMRR also sets minimum standards for products based on criteria such as pathogen reduction, vector attraction reduction, pathogen limits and heavy metals limits.  In addition, depending on the class of biosolids produced and the final disposal location, there are other regulated parameters such as limiting the land application rate or limiting the concentration of organic matter in biosolids growing medium.

In 2009, 7,570 wet tonnes of Class “A” biosolids were trucked to HVC for mine reclamation and 697 wet tonnes were used in the production of Val-E-Gro™.

Biosolids Quality Data

As part of OMRR requirements, the biosolids produced at the JAMES Treatment Plant must be sampled and analyzed at least once every 5,000 wet tonnes of Class “A” biosolids produced.  This means that the biosolids produced at the  JAMES Treatment Plant should be sampled and analyzed approximately two times per year. 

To ensure the quality of biosolids produced at the JAMES Treatment Plant consistently meet Class “A” quality objectives, the City of Abbotsford has taken the initiative to sample above and beyond the OMRR requirements.  The biosolids produced at the JAMES Treatment Plant are sampled on a daily basis, with weekly and monthly composite samples being submitted to an external lab for analysis.  The extra sampling allows the City of Abbotsford to monitor the quality of the biosolids and to ensure the biosolids produced at the  JAMES Treatment Plant are consistently of exceptional quality.

See below for a summary of analytical results obtained from weekly biosolids composite samples collected in 2009 through 2011: