USE OF GIS TECHNIQUES IN INVESTIGATING THE LANDS SUITABLE

FOR SEWAGE SLUDGE APPLICATION.

Assist.Prof. Radu Mudura1, Prof. Vasilica Stan1, Assoc.Prof. Doru Mihai1,

Assist.Prof. Nicoleta Sarbu1
1
University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine - Bucharest, ROMANIA

ABSTRACT
To draw the national maps showing the pH distribution and degree of soil heavy metal
load, I used the data included in "The soil monitoring system in Romania" conducted by
ICPA – the Research Institute for Soil Science and Agro chemistry of Bucharest. The
data interpolation in the 16x16 km grid at national level resulted in thematic maps
representing the pH distribution and soil heavy metal concentrations according to
applicable guidelines on permissible limits for sludge use on agricultural land. I also
drew a zoning map to highlight the areas with slope gradients lower than 5%. For this
purpose, I used the digital model SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) of the
terrain with a resolution of 90 m, produced by NASA. I also used other layers of
information, as follows: land use map from which I extracted agricultural areas, a map
of the irrigation systems in Romania, and a soil map. The intersection of all layers of
information revealed the suitability of the irrigation-improved lands for the use of the
sludge resulted from wastewater treatment.
Keywords: GIS, sludge, waste, arable land, irrigated areas

INTRODUCTION
Sludge management policy and the promotion of its use within the EU have developed,
the past 30 years resulting in the European Commission legislation that establishes
common standards across Europe. This policy is permanently developing both directly
and indirectly, through the European Commission's communication services, EC work
documents, action programmes for the environment and thematic strategies.
Recently, the sixth environmental action program (sixth EAP) includes the decision of
the European Parliament and the Council of Europe 1600/2002 / EC of 22 July 2002, an
EU programme for 10 years (2002-2012) focused on environmental issues defining four
key priorities. Of these, the following present implications for sludge treatment and use:
• Climate change: reaching the EU targett for gas emission limitation by 8%
between 2008 and 2012.
• Sustainable use of natural resources and waste management: increasing resource
efficiency and separating the resource use from economic increase, increased efficiency
of the recycling process and prevention of waste creation through the application of an
integrated product policy, encouraging measures to manage certain types of waste such
as hazardous waste, biodegradable waste and sludge.
Sludge use on agricultural land continues to be a controversial topic not only due to the
heavy metal content and potential long-term impact on soil quality but also due to the
potential presence of pathogens and organic pollutants. Since 1989, when the European
Directive 86/278/EEC was adopted, the following sectors were developed: scientific,
analytical capacity, provisions on chemicals, sludge processing technologies, public
awareness on environmental issues. At the same time, the following were determined
regarding the concentrations of contaminants and pathogens in sludge: a more rigorous
control of sewage discharges, the adoption of cleaner industrial processes, improvement
of public health, more effective treatment sludge.
In the future, the use of sludge on lands could be determined by a series of EU national
and local-regional legal provisions. Particular attention is given to the "Landfill
Directive" which will restrict the amount of sludge and organic waste sent to landfills
and the local control of pathogens content so that it becomes acceptable by the public.
Geographic Information Systems are now powerful software tools with complex
functionality, capable of providing informational support to a multitude of decisions in
all areas of human activity relating directly or indirectly to a location on the Earth's
surface.
Thus, literature emphasizes the possibilities offered by GIS and remote sensing in
agriculture, for the following purposes: qualitative and quantitative crop assessment,
soil salinity mapping, agricultural land productivity assessment, etc.[1], [5], [6] .
The key conditions imposed to arable land to use of sludge are: slope, pH and
concentration of heavy metals. The main values taken in account were: Slope <10%,
pH>6.5 and heavy metals (see Table No.1) [3].
Table No. 1. Limit values of concentrations of heavy metals in soil (mg/ kg dry matter in a
representative sample of soils with pH greater than 6.5)
Parameters Limit values
Cadmium 1– 3
Copper 50 – 100
Nikel 30 – 75
Lead 50 – 300
Zinck 150 – 300
Cromium 75 – 100

To draw the national maps showing the pH distribution and degree of soil heavy metal
load, I used the data included in "The soil monitoring system in Romania" conducted by
ICPA – the Research Institute for Soil Science and Agro chemistry of Bucharest. The
data interpolation in the 16x16 km grid at national level resulted in thematic maps
representing the pH distribution and soil heavy metal concentrations according to
applicable guidelines on permissible limits for sludge use on agricultural land.
 Fig.1 Monitoring Network – pH Fig.2 pH distribution
I also drew a zoning map to highlight the areas with slope gradients lower than 5%. For
this purpose, I used the digital model SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) of the
terrain with a resolution of 90 m, produced by NASA. I also used other layers of
information, as follows: land use map from which I extracted agricultural areas, a map
of the irrigation systems in Romania, and a soil map. The intersection of all layers of
information revealed the suitability of the irrigation-improved lands for the use of the
sludge resulted from wastewater treatment [2], [4].

Slope
< 10 %

> 10 %

Fig.3 SRTM – 2004 for Romania Fig.4 Slope zoning

Of interest to this study is arable land. To highlight arable land nationwide have used
maps with land use classification according to FAO - LCCS - Land Cover Classification
System (Fig.5 ). From this map I have extracted the arable land (Fig. No. 6)

Fig.5 Land cover clasification map Fig.6 Arable land

From the slope map and the arable land map, I crossed the two maps information having
as result the arable land map with slope less than 10%.

Fig.7 Arable land with less 10% slope

Next I have interpolated the values for heavy metals resultung the maps with their distribution.

pH
> 6,5

Fig.8 pH distribution Fig.9 Areas with pH greater than 6.5

Fig.10 Copper concentration distribution Fig.11 Total area with less 10 % slope, pH
greater than 6.5, and less 100 mg/kg Copper
concentration. Total area = 4012126.17 Ha
 Fig.12 Lead concentration distribution Fig.13 Total area with less 10 % slope, pH
greater than 6.5, and less 100 mg/kg Lead
concentration. Total area = 5280191.09 Ha

Fig.14 Zinc concentration distribution Fig.15 Total area with less 10 % slope, pH
greater than 6.5, and less 100 mg/kg Zinc
concentration. Totl area = 5307772.14 Ha

Fig.16 Cadmium concentration distribution Fig.17 Total area with less 10 % slope, pH
greater than 6.5, and less 3 mg/kg Cadmium
concentration. Total area = 4073837.75 Ha
 Fig.18 Nikel concentration distribution Fig.19 Total area with less 10 % slope, greater
than 6.5, and less 100 mg/kg Nickel
concentration. Total area = 5030988.59 Ha

Fig.20 Chromium concentration distribution Fig.21 bTotal area with less 10 % slope, pH
greater than 6.5, and less 100 mg/kg Chromium
concentration. Total area = 5229911.71 Ha
Finally I crossed all maps made:
• Slope less 10 %;
• pH greater than 6,5;
• Arable land;
• Cadmium concentration less than 3 mg/kg;
• Copper concentration less than 100 mg/kg;
• Nickel concentration less than 75 mg/kg;
• Lead concentration less than 300 mg/kg;
• Zinc concentration less than 300 mg/kg;
• Chromium concentration less than 100 mg/kg;
having as result the map of arable land satisfying all the conditions imposed.
 Fig.22 Compatible arable areas. Total area = 3704955,14 Ha

CONCLUSION
Analysis of land suitable to use sludge from wastewater treatment was carried out using
GIS technology, based on data provided by the monitoring system SOILS IN
ROMANIA - Level I (16 x 16 km grid) conducted by the Institute of Pedology and
Agro-chemistry - ICPA Bucharest, the data are collected on the grid of 16 x 16 km
nationally. Extrapolation of these data could provide an overview of the existence in
Romania of important areas of agricultural land suitable for the use of sludge from
wastewater treatment.
To obtain an overview at national level, the data density is sufficient. With the
development of national legislation (the process is in progress) on the use of sludge
from wastewater treatment, based on EC directives and legislation under the laws of
other member states of the European Union will bring improvements to the rules and
regulations that must be taken regard.
The resulting sludge from wastewater treatment is a product that accumulates
continuously and must find ways to exploit its to avoid the accumulation of deposits
that will be increasingly higher.
The use of sludge in agriculture is one way to recovery and analysis done on the
identification of areas of land shown on a first assessment, that in Romania there are
measures about 3,700,000.00 ha which qualifies morphological and chemical
characteristics.
Based on a sampling grid of a higher density will get a more accurate assessment of
these lands, done at the county level, resulting in a more judicious area, probably much
higher than that resulting from the analysis at the national level.
Using modern technologies for investigating land and air to establish the exact amount
of sludge that fits the proper slope. All this information can be obtained in the field
through GIS technology and process can be generated thematic maps and reports to
assist decision makers in making decisions about the best introduction of land area in
the sludge recovery circuit.
I think that the area obtained in this first evaluation is large enough to merit the
investment of significant resources to more precisely identify all areas of land to exploit
sewage sludge.
Modern technologies capture, management and data processing make their full
contribution to the development of large projects with short development time due to
rapid processing facilities of large data volumes.

REFERENCES
[1] F. Z. Pierce, D. Clay, Editors, GIS Applications in Agriculture, CRC Press, 2007;
[2] Benea Ionel – GIS spatial analysis and geographic space organization – Spiru Haret
University, Bucharest Romania, 1998.
[3] Develop a national policy for the management of sewage sludge. Guidance on the
use of alternatives for the disposal and use of sludge April 2011, Project Code:
POSM/6/AT/I.1.2010.
[4] Haidu I., Haidu C., SIG – Spatial Analysis, Editura H*G*A* Bucureşti, 1998
[5] Gatrell A., C., Concepts of Space and Geographical data. In Maguire, D.J.,
Goodchid, M., Rhind, D., (Editors), Geographical Information Systems. Principles and
Applications. Logman Scientific & Tehnical, New-York, 1991, pp. 119-134.
[6] Maguire D.J., M.F., Goodchid and D.W. Rhind (eds), 1991. Geographical
Information Systems. Logman, London, vol. 1., pp. 251-267.