Sewage sludge treatment for fertilizer production using biotechnologies: perspectives for the Bezludivka wastewater treatment plant, Kharkiv

Complex "Dikanivka" & "Bezludivka" wastewater treatment plant (WWTP, Kharkiv) is oneof the biggest in Ukraine. Mixture of industrial and domestic wastewater is treated on thestation. Great volume of sewage sludge has been produced and accumulated for forty years ofthe plant operation, Environment of the region has been affected rather seriously in result ofout-of-date sludge dewatering system exploitation and heaps of dewatered sludge on theterritory of the plant Environment stabilization in the area of sludge treatment is an urgentproblem of the region, Phytoremediation as a promising natural technology for the purpose isdiscussed in the article.Sewage sludge is rich in organic matter and nutrient elements (nitrogen and phosphates)therefore it could be applied for soil fertilization. On the other hand, due to high heavy metals(Cd, Ni, Cu, Cr) concentration in sludge, contamination with enteric parasites, pH less than5,5 there is restriction for sludge application in agricultural production,Willow (Salix spp,) is discussed as a plant for phytoremediation of the territory and forsubstratum properties melioration because of its availability to accumulate heavy metals,regulate concentration of nutrients, high biomass production and high environmentaltolerance.Experiment in situ has to be carried for the plant-remediater selection and for investigation ofsludge agricultural properties dynamic.