Division of Water
Start Date: June 23, 2019
End Date: July 23, 2019

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) wastewater treatment facility, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, produces a “Class A” “Exceptional Quality” (EQ) biosolids product that is distributed throughout the United States.  The MMSD submitted a permit application to comply with the State of Delaware’s requirements to distribute and market their biosolids product in Delaware. 

The primary method of Class A biosolids production at the MMSD involves a stabilization process known as heat drying.  To achieve Class A biosolids certification, the biosolids are required to heated to at least 80^○ C (176^○ F) and the solids content be raised to at least 90% solids, or meet another Department approved Class A pathogen reduction process.  Class A pathogen reductions processes render biosolids products suitable for use as a fertilizer for agricultural, horticultural, and use for lawns and gardens.

To assure compliance with State and Federal regulatory requirements, finished biosolids product will be required to be sampled for specific bacterial, chemical, and nutrient parameters.  Additionally, the stabilization process and metal limits for the product will be required to meet or exceed both Federal and State requirements for production of a “Class A” “Exceptional Quality” biosolids product, approved for public use and contact. 

Part III, B., of the Department’s Guidance and Regulations Governing the Land Treatment of Wastes allows for the above activities pending public notice.

Copies of the permit application referenced above are available by contacting:

Brian Churchill
Surface Water Discharges Section
89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901
302-739-9946
Brian.Churchill@Delaware.gov

A public hearing on the above application will NOT be held unless the Secretary of DNREC determines that a public hearing is in the public interest or if a written meritorious objection to the application is received by 4:30 p.m. July 23, 2019.  A public hearing request shall be deemed meritorious if it exhibits a familiarity with the application and provides a reasoned statement of the action’s probable impact.