Sludge Production & Disposal Cost Calculator - Dry Solids, Dewatering & Disposal Prompts

How It Works

1. Enter Plant Loading

   Input flow rate, influent and effluent TSS, influent and effluent BOD, and the closest local treatment prompt. Use measured plant records where available.

2. Select Dewatering Prompt

   Choose the closest equipment prompt and enter measured primary, WAS, and cake solids. Default solids rows are local prompts, not OEM or performance guarantees.

3. Enter Local Disposal Costs

   Replace default costs with current wet-ton or cubic-yard fees, hauler rates, trips, and current disposal-path facts.

4. Review Source Gaps

   Use the dry-solids, volume, and cost outputs as planning prompts while checking permit, Part 503, state/local, disposal-facility, and qualified-review gaps.

Built For

• Plant managers assembling a source-check list before annual biosolids budgeting
• Engineers screening dewatering volume sensitivity before detailed design review
• Operators comparing local disposal-cost inputs against plant records and scale tickets
• Finance staff checking which assumptions need current quotes before budget use
• Consultants organizing biosolids management alternatives before permit and regulatory review

Assumptions

• Dry solids loading uses lb/day = MGD x mg/L x 8.34 for local screening
• Primary capture, primary BOD removal, extended-aeration inert fraction, and WAS yield are local source-gap prompts
• Entered primary, WAS, and cake solids control the mass-balance volume screen
• Cubic-yard conversion and wet-ton output are local density prompts; scale tickets and measured cake density control real billing
• Disposal costs are user-entered prompts and must be replaced with current contracts, quotes, tipping fees, surcharges, and accepted disposal path
• Polymer, energy, labor, permit fees, lab testing, equipment maintenance, storage, contingency disposal, and rejected-load costs are not fully modeled

Limitations

• Does not model SRT, sludge age, MLSS/MLVSS, volatile solids destruction, digestion, stabilization, sidestreams, grit, scum, septage, industrial contributors, or chemical sludge
• Does not design thickening, storage, pumping, dewatering, polymer systems, odor control, truck loading, or disposal infrastructure
• Does not determine land application pollutant limits, agronomic rate, nutrient management, pathogen class, vector-attraction reduction, buffers, crop restrictions, public access, PFAS, or recordkeeping
• Does not determine landfill, surface-disposal, or incineration acceptance, permit status, liquids limits, air requirements, ash handling, leachate, methane, or facility capacity
• Hauling rows do not model truck payload, route, driver hours, loading time, storage, fuel surcharges, scale minimums, seasonal windows, or rejected loads
• Current federal, state, local, permit, hauler, receiving-facility, and qualified environmental/legal review controls actual use

References

1. ECFR-40CFR503-SEWAGE-SLUDGE-2026 - current Part 503 sewage sludge use/disposal source pointer
2. EPA-BIOSOLIDS-LAWS-REGS-2026 - EPA biosolids laws and regulations source pointer
3. EPA-BIOSOLIDS-TECHNICAL-RESOURCES-2026 - EPA sewage sludge manager technical resources source pointer
4. WEF-MOP8-7TH-SOURCE - WEF wastewater design reference source pointer
5. TEN-STATES-WASTEWATER-2014-SOURCE - Ten States wastewater facility source pointer
6. NIST-SP811-B8 - unit conversion source pointer

Frequently Asked Questions