CEN/TR 13983:2003

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2003
Karakterizacija blata – Dobra praksa uporabe blata za pridobivanje zemlje
Characterizataion of sludges - Good practice for sludge utilisation in land reclamation
Charakterisierung von Sclämmen - Gute praxis des Sclammeinsatzes bei der
Rekultivierung
Caractérisation des boues - Bonnes pratiques pour la valorisation des boues pour
reconstitution de sol
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TR 13983:2003
ICS:
13.030.20 7HNRþLRGSDGNL%ODWR Liquid wastes. Sludge
13.080.99 Drugi standardi v zvezi s Other standards related to
kakovostjo tal soil quality
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

TECHNICAL REPORT
CEN/TR 13983
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE
TECHNISCHER BERICHT
July 2003
ICS 13.030.20; 13.080.99
English version
Characterizataion of sludges – Good practice for sludge
utilisation in land reclamation
Caractérisation des boues - Bonnes pratiques pour la Charakterisierung von Sclämmen - Gute praxis des
valorisation des boues pour reconstitution de sol Sclammeinsatzes bei der Rekultivierung
This Technical Report was approved by CEN on 22 December 2002. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 308.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United
Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36  B-1050 Brussels
© 2003 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TR 13983:2003 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents
Page
Foreword.3
1 Scope .4
2 References.4
3 Terms and definitions.4
4 General considerations .5
5 Preliminary procedures.8
6 Operational procedures .18
7 Monitoring.20
Annex A Typical municipal sewage sludge nutrient contents.22
Annex B Example of calculation of sludge application rates (single application) based on maximum
nutrient loads .23
Bibliography .24
Foreword
This document CEN/TR 13983:2003 has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 308 “Characterisation of
sludges”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
The status of this document as Technical Report has been chosen because the most of its content is not
completely in line with the practice and regulation in each member state. This document gives recommendations
for a good practice concerning sludges for utilisation in land reclamation.
1 Scope
This Technical Report gives indication on sludge utilisation within reclamation programmes of disturbed land.
This Technical Report is applicable to sludges described in the scope of CEN/TC 308; for example:
 storm water handling;
 urban wastewater collecting systems;
 urban wastewater treatment plants;
 treating industrial wastewater similar to urban wastewater (as defined in Directive 91/271/EEC [18]);
 water supply treatment plants;
 water distribution systems;
 sludge derived materials;
 but excluding hazardous sludges from industry.
NOTE Because of the wide range of reclamation sites where sludge use as a soil ameliorate or source of plant nutrients is
beneficial, and the different potential final uses of these sites, recommendations for application should be considered on a
site-by-site basis. It is far beyond the scope of these guidelines to describe all the possible situations and the individual ways in
which sludge could be used. The aim is to address, in a general qualitative way, the key issues which will determine in each
particular case whether, how much and which type of sludge can be used.
Planning considerations (clause 5) are emphasised due to the fact that a general scheme can be adopted as a
common procedure in nearly all situations.
2 References
EN 1085:1997, Wastewater treatment — Vocabulary.
EN 12832:1999, Characterisation of sludges — Utilisation and disposal of sludges — Vocabulary.
EN 12255-8, Wastewater treatment plants — Part 8: Sludge treatment and storage.
ISO 5667-13:1997, Water quality — Sampling — Part 13: Guidance on sampling of sludges from sewage and
water treatment works.
ISO 10381, Soil quality — Sampling.
CR 13097, Characterisation of sludges — Good practice for utilisation in agriculture.
CR 13714, Characterisation of sludges — Sludge management in relation to use or disposal.
CR 13846, Recommendations to preserve and extend sludge utilisation and disposal routes.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this Technical Report, the terms and definitions given in EN 12832 and EN 1085 and the
following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
sludge utilisation
beneficial and harmless use of sludge [based on 3.2 EN 12832:1999]
3.2
land reclamation
improvement or restoration of the natural soil functions of disturbed land e.g. by application of sludge or other
humus producing material [3.14 EN 12832:1999]
NOTE According to the ecological aim of the reclamation project, the final intended use can fit into three different
approaches:
1) restoration, when the closest reproduction of the previous ecosystem or land use (e.g. agriculture) is intended;
2) rehabilitation, if the aim is just to achieve an ecosystem/land use similar to the original one;
3) new assignment, when there is an attempt to achieve a different use or ecosystem to the one existing before land
disturbance.
3.3
disturbed land
land so damaged by human uses or natural causes that has the soil properties and functions drastically impaired
NOTE 1 Examples of disturbed land are given in 4.1.
NOTE 2 Natural soil functions are:
1) a basis for life and habitat for people, animals, plants and soil organisms;
2) part of natural systems, especially by means of its nutrient and water cycles;
3) a medium for decomposition, balance and restoration as a result of its filtering, buffering and substance conversion
properties.
4 General considerations
4.1 Properties of disturbed land
Under the general term of "disturbed land" where sludge might be beneficially used, it is possible to find sites of
very different origins. Examples of them (in a non-exhaustive list) are the following:
 deep mine spoils (particularly colliery spoils);
 strip mine spoils/open cast mine sites;
 sand and gravel excavation sites;
 construction sites and road verges;
 highly eroded areas and abandoned agricultural soils;
 disturbed urban sites;
 abandoned military areas;
 finished areas of landfill sites;
 former industrial sites;
 deposition sites of dredged materials.
Despite the wide range of situations, it is possible to define some common features, namely:
 they generally present a harsh environment to establish vegetation without treatment;
 topsoil, if present, is usually deficient in nutrients and lacks organic matter;
 poor physical properties are usually found.
In addition, disturbed sites can often be harmful to the surrounding environment due to their current status. They
can cause problems such as water pollution caused by high erosion rates, presence of toxic levels of trace metals,
acid leachate, aesthetic impact and other land degradation problems.
The reclamation of disturbed sites constitutes a need in any soil protection policy, interpreting soil protection in its
broader sense to include erosion control, avoidance of toxicity and improvement of soil capacity to support plant
growth.
The final goal of a reclamation programme is to re-establish the drastically disturbed soil functions of these sites in
such a way that the final intended use is possible (e.g. a self-sustaining and diverse vegetation in landscaping or a
productive soil for agricultural use). The rapid establishment of a vegetative layer is essential since soil cover is a
key element in initial site stabilisation. In this initial goal, sludge can be considered as a suitable product.
4.2 Value of sludge in land reclamation
The biological, chemical and physical qualities of different sludge types depend on the composition of water from
which they are derived and the extent of processing they receive during water and sludge treatment. The relative
importance of sludge quality criteria varies according to the utilisation option. In the case of its use as a material
which improves the natural soil functions or to create a topsoil substitute mixed with other materials in reclamation
of disturbed sites, the value of sludge rests on two main components:
• organic matter - Organic matter improves the poor physical conditions of disturbed soil by improving soil
structure and structural stability, permeability and water holding capacity. The high organic carbon content also
provides an energy source for stimulating functioning microbial communities, modulates the nutrient uptake
and acts as a pH buffer;
• Generally, the nutrient content of sludges is mainly in organic forms and are thus released
plant nutrients -
slowly providing a gradual supply of nutrients (e.g. nitrogen and phosphorus in sewage sludge). The organic
fertiliser characteristics of sludge are advantageous since a nutrient reserve for long-term plant growth can be
applied in one application, but account must be taken of the possible pollution due to nutrient losses.
Typical municipal sewage sludge nutrient contents are given in annex A.
The application of sewage sludge, or other sludges having similar properties, can "kick start" soil processes,
stabilise soil structure and provide the reserves of plant nutrients that are necessary for successful land
reclamation. Other kinds of sludges may not be able to achieve this effect without supplementing with plant
nutrients but can be valuable because of other properties, for example, their pH adjustment capabilities (e.g. lime
sludges from drinking waterworks) or their role as soil texture modifiers (e.g. adding silt to excessively drained
coarse textured soils).
Although sludge can be used at different stages (during site working and in site aftercare), sludge use in land
reclamation usually implies a single two step operation: application of a suitable amount of sludge and revegetation
of the treated area.
Despite the recognised beneficial role that sludge can play in reclamation projects, when it is properly managed,
and the numerous successful experiences reported in bibliography [3], [4], some potential environmental effects
should be taken into account when using sludge. Such effects, if appropriate measures are adopted, are usually
negligible when compared to those present on site prior to reclamation. The use of sludge in land reclamation
programmes can constitute in certain situations the best option from the environmental and economic point of view.
The beneficial use of sludges is a balance of benefit against risk. Therefore, the general principle that should
prevail is that the sludge utilisation in land reclamation should be compatible with any future land use.
Consequently a conservative approach in the application rates and sludge quality requirements should be adopted.
Land reclamation should be considered just like another outlet in sludge land application programmes and all the
environmental and public health issues, particularly those regarding soil and water protection, should be observed.
Disturbed sites for reclamation result from many former uses and may be restored for various future uses; which
will require appropriate standards to be adopted.
The aim of this guideline is to maximise benefits from recycling the valuable resources present in sludge or sludge
derived products, whilst reducing the potential for adverse environmental effects.
4.3 Legislation framework
There is a general lack of specific regulations in relation to the use of sludge in land reclamation at the European
and National levels.
However, different regulations can contain provisions applicable to certain aspects of sludge use for reclamation
purposes which should be consulted to achieve compliance. These regulations vary between countries but they are
usually within the legislation framework defined by:
 waste legislation;
 fertiliser legislation;
 environmental protection legislation;
 water legislation;
 soil protection legislation;
 mining legislation.
According to the criteria stated in these regulations, sludge use can be restricted in specific areas (e.g. because of
current metal concentrations in soil, nature reserves or nitrate vulnerable zones). It should be noted that, under this
framework, the legal status of differen
...