State Data
Confidence in data for this state:
HIGH
2018 data unless noted.
Click chart to download.
Definitions
Terms used on this website and in data sets are defined & discussed here.
Land application. Photo courtesy of DC Water
Blue Plains Water Resource Recovery Facility. Photo courtesy of DC Water
State Statistics Dashboard
DC Water’s expanding biosolids program demonstrates flexibility in the face of challenges - weather, logistics, markets, etc.
“Several extreme factors and evolving dynamics made 2018 [the year for NBDP data] a poor reflection of the state of the DC Water biosolids program. Class A EQ Distribution: Distribution quadrupled between 2018 and 2019, exceeding 40,000 wet tons in 2019 and 45,000 wet tons for 2020. Long Term Storage 2018 presented abnormal storage conditions for the DC, MD, and VA region. Land application was severely limited in summer/fall 2018 due to excessive rainfall creating an unprecedented challenge to find additional storage sites. Typical storage rates for end of year are less than half of what was experienced in 2018."
–J. Fotouhi, DC Water
State Summary
● DC Water provides wastewater treatment services for the nation’s capitol and surrounding Maryland and Virginia suburbs at the Blue Plains Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF).
● All of the biosolids produced are beneficially used as soil amendments and fertilizers that are marketed and distributed under the brand name “Bloom,” most to agricultural fields in neighboring states, predominantly Virginia.
Diagram courtesy of DC Water
Thermal hydrolysis system at Blue Plains WRRF, Washington DC. NEBRA photo