Using sewage sludge to fertilize crops

Discussion in 'Earth Science' started by Plazma Inferno!, Aug 16, 2016.

  1. timojin Valued Senior Member

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    Can we get back to sewage and sludge . From how deep does your city pumps the city water both of you ?
     
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  3. billvon Valued Senior Member

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    We get most of our water from the Colorado River and a desalination plant. We also use a lot of recycled water from sewage for irrigation.
     
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  5. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    This used to work when dealing with natural waste products. But todays sludge is so full with antibacterial substances that instead of replenishing the soil, is in fact poisoning it. Artificial cleaning substances are not easily broken down by natural organisms.

    An experiement in Japan showed that natural harvesting by crop rotation and using rotation fallowing is financially just as efficient over the long run as continual depleting the soil. The wanton disregard of any knowledge of soil chemistry may well be responsible for our increasing incidence of new diseases.
     
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  7. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    Public water supplies are subject to filtration an regular inspections for harmful substances. I live in a small town which has a single community well. Every so often we get a notice of the results of tests by an EPA licensed inspector.
     
  8. river

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    Define harmful substances .
     
  9. Daecon Kiwi fruit Valued Senior Member

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    What do you think "harmful substances" means?
     
  10. river

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    What ever it means .

    Hence I asked the question .
     
  11. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    Have you read the latest on GW?
     
  12. timojin Valued Senior Member

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    It depends on concentration . Water is a harmful substance . you can drown in it
     
  13. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    Even sharks (water dwellers) must keep moving to avoid drowning.

    OTOH, without intake of water humans would die within days.

    Only Tardigrades seem able to survive long durations of draught. They do in fact shrivel up but do not die. Add a little water and the Tardigrade swells back to its original size and goes merrily on its way.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade

    and another interesting article on tardigrades (water-bears)
    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/08/science/the-tardigrade-water-bear.html?_r=0_
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2016

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