§ 271.932. Pathogens.
(a) Sewage sludge other than residential septage—Class A.
(1) The requirement in paragraph (2) and the requirements in paragraph (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) or (8) shall be met for a sewage sludge to be classified Class A with respect to pathogens.
(2) The Class A pathogen requirements in paragraphs (3)—(8) shall be met either prior to meeting or at the same time the vector attraction reduction requirements in § 271.933 (relating to vector attraction reduction), except the vector attraction reduction requirements in § 271.933(b)(6)—(8), are met.
(3) Class A—Alternative 1.
(i) Either the density of fecal coliform in the sewage sludge shall be less than 1,000 most probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight basis), or the density of salmonella sp. bacteria in the sewage sludge shall be less than three most probable number per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other distribution, in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the requirements in § 271.911(b)(1) or (3) (relating to special requirements).
(ii) The temperature of the sewage sludge that is used shall be maintained at a specific value for a period of time.
(A) When the percent solids of the sewage sludge is 7% or higher, the temperature of the sewage sludge shall be 122°F (or 50°C) or higher; the time period shall be 20 minutes or longer; and the temperature and time period shall be determined using Equation (2), except when small particles of sewage sludge are heated by either warmed gases or an immiscible liquid.
Where,
D = Time in days
T = Temperatures in degrees Celsius
(B) When the percent solids of the sewage sludge is 7% or higher and small particles of sewage sludge are heated by either warmed gases or an immiscible liquid, the temperature of the sewage sludge shall be 122°F (or 50°C) or higher; the time period shall be 15 seconds or longer; and the temperature and time period shall be determined using Equation (2).
(C) When the percent solids of the sewage sludge is less than 7% and the time period is at least 15 seconds, but less than 30 minutes, the temperature and time period shall be determined using Equation (2).
(D) When the percent solids of the sewage sludge is less than 7%; the temperature of the sewage sludge is 122°F (or 50°C) or higher; and the time period is 30 minutes or longer, the temperature and time period shall be determined using Equation (3).
Where,
D = Time in days
T = Temperatures in degrees Celsius
(4) Class A—Alternative 2.
(i) Either the density of fecal coliform in the sewage sludge shall be less than 1,000 most probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight basis), or the density of salmonella sp. bacteria in the sewage sludge shall be less than three most probable number per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other distribution, in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the requirements in § 271.911(b)(1) or (3).
(ii) pH adjustment as follows:
(A) The pH of the sewage sludge that is used shall be raised to above 12 and shall remain above 12 for 72 hours.
(B) The temperature of the sewage sludge shall be above 125°F (or 52°C) for 12 hours or longer during the period that the pH of the sewage sludge is above 12.
(C) At the end of the 72-hour period during which the pH of the sewage sludge is above 12, the sewage sludge shall be air dried to achieve a percent solids in the sewage sludge greater than 50%.
(5) Class A—Alternative 3.
(i) Either the density of fecal coliform in the sewage sludge shall be less than 1,000 most probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight basis), or the density of salmonella sp. bacteria in sewage sludge shall be less than three most probable number per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other distribution, in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the requirements in § 271.911(b)(1) or (3).
(ii) Virus monitoring requirements are as follows:
(A) The sewage sludge shall be analyzed prior to pathogen treatment to determine whether the sewage sludge contains enteric viruses.
(B) When the density of enteric viruses in the sewage sludge prior to pathogen treatment is less than one plaque-forming unit per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis), the sewage sludge is Class A with respect to enteric viruses until the next monitoring episode for the sewage sludge.
(C) When the density of enteric viruses in the sewage sludge prior to pathogen treatment is equal to or greater than one plaque-forming unit per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis), the sewage sludge is Class A with respect to enteric viruses when the density of enteric viruses in the sewage sludge after pathogen treatment is less than one plaque-forming unit per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) and when the values or ranges of values for the operating parameters for the pathogen treatment process that produces the sewage sludge that meets the enteric virus density requirement are documented.
(D) After the enteric virus reduction in clause (C) is demonstrated for the pathogen treatment process, the sewage sludge continues to be Class A with respect to enteric viruses when the values for the pathogen treatment process operating parameters are consistent with the values or ranges of values documented in clause (C).
(iii) Helminth monitoring requirements are as follows:
(A) The sewage sludge shall be analyzed prior to pathogen treatment to determine whether the sewage sludge contains viable helminth ova.
(B) When the density of viable helminth ova in the sewage sludge prior to pathogen treatment is less than 1 per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis), the sewage sludge is Class A with respect to viable helminth ova until the next monitoring episode for the sewage sludge.
(C) When the density of viable helminth ova in the sewage sludge prior to pathogen treatment is equal to or greater than one per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis), the sewage sludge is Class A with respect to viable helminth ova when the density of viable helminth ova in the sewage sludge after pathogen treatment is less than 1 per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) and when the values or ranges of values for the operating parameters for the pathogen treatment process that produces the sewage sludge that meets the viable helminth ova density requirement are documented.
(D) After the viable helminth ova reduction in clause (C) is demonstrated for the pathogen treatment process, the sewage sludge continues to be Class A with respect to viable helminth ova when the values for the pathogen treatment process operating parameters are consistent with the values or ranges of values documented in clause (C).
(6) Class A—Alternative 4.
(i) Either the density of fecal coliform in the sewage sludge shall be less than 1,000 most probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight basis), or the density of salmonella sp. bacteria in the sewage sludge shall be less than three most probable number per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other distribution in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the requirements in § 271.911(b)(1) or (3).
(ii) The density of enteric viruses in the sewage sludge shall be less than one plaque-forming unit per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other distribution, in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the requirements in § 271.911(b)(1) or (3), unless otherwise specified by the Department.
(iii) The density of viable helminth ova in the sewage sludge shall be less than 1 per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other distribution, in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the requirements in § 271.911(b)(1) or (3), unless otherwise specified by the Department.
(7) Class A—Alternative 5.
(i) Either the density of fecal coliform in the sewage sludge shall be less than 1,000 most probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight basis), or the density of salmonella, sp. bacteria in the sewage sludge shall be less than three most probable number per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other distribution, in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the requirements in § 271.911(b)(1) or (3).
(ii) Sewage sludge that is used shall be treated in one of the processes to further reduce pathogens described in Appendix A.
(8) Class A—Alternative 6.
(i) Either the density of fecal coliform in the sewage sludge shall be less than 1,000 most probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight basis), or the density of salmonella, sp. bacteria in the sewage sludge shall be less than three most probable number per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other distribution, in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the requirements in § 271.911(b)(1) or (3).
(ii) Sewage sludge that is used shall be treated in a process that is equivalent to a process to further reduce pathogens, as determined by the EPA.
(b) Sewage sludge other than residential septage—Class B.
(1) Additional requirements.
(i) The requirements in subsection (b)(2), (3) or (4) shall be met for a sewage sludge to be classified Class B with respect to pathogens.
(ii) The site restrictions in subsection (b)(5) shall be met when sewage sludge that meets the Class B pathogen requirements in subsection (b)(2), (3) or (4) is applied to the land.
(2) Class B—Alternative 1.
(i) Seven samples of the sewage sludge shall be collected at the time the sewage sludge is used.
(ii) The geometric mean of the density of fecal coliform in the samples collected in subparagraph (i) shall be less than either 2 million most probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight basis) or 2 million colony forming units per gram of total solids (dry weight basis).
(3) Class B—Alternative 2. Sewage sludge that is used shall be treated in one of the processes to significantly reduce pathogens described in Appendix A.
(4) Class B—Alternative 3. Sewage sludge that is used shall be treated in a process that is equivalent to a process to significantly reduce pathogens, as determined by the EPA.
(5) Site restrictions.
(i) Food crops with harvested parts that touch the sewage sludge/soil mixture and are totally above the land surface may not be harvested for 14 months after application of sewage sludge.
(ii) Food crops with harvested parts below the surface of the land may not be harvested for 20 months after application of sewage sludge when the sewage sludge remains on the land surface for 4 months or longer prior to incorporation into the soil.
(iii) Food crops with harvested parts below the surface of the land may not be harvested for 38 months after application of sewage sludge when the sewage sludge remains on the land surface for less than 4 months prior to incorporation into the soil.
(iv) Food crops, feed crops and fiber crops may not be harvested for 30 days after application of sewage sludge.
(v) Animals may not be allowed to graze on the land for 30 days after application of sewage sludge.
(vi) Turf grown on land where sewage sludge is applied may not be harvested for 1 year after application of the sewage sludge when the harvested turf is placed on either land with a high potential for public exposure or a lawn, unless otherwise specified by the Department.
(vii) Public access to land with a high potential for public exposure shall be restricted for 1 year after application of sewage sludge.
(viii) Public access to land with a low potential for public exposure shall be restricted for 30 days after application of sewage sludge.
(c) Residential septage. Residential septage shall be stabilized to meet processes to significantly reduce pathogens or processes to further reduce pathogens prior to land application, and the site restrictions in subsection (b)(5)(i)—(iv) shall be met. For alkali stabilization, the pH of residential septage applied to agricultural land, forest or a reclamation site shall be raised to 12 or higher by alkali addition and, without the addition of more alkali, shall remain at 12 or higher for 30 minutes and the site restrictions in subsection (b)(5)(i)—(iv) shall be met.
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 271.281 (relating to application for general permit); 25 Pa. Code § 271.911 (relating to special requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 271.916 (relating to operational standards—pathogens and vector attraction reduction); 25 Pa. Code § 271.917 (relating to frequency of monitoring); 25 Pa. Code § 271.918 (relating to recordkeeping); and 25 Pa. Code § 271.931 (relating to special definitions).
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