Sludges and liquids from wastewater stabilization ponds are cost effective by-products useful for agriculture, aquaculture and for manufacturing building materials. They represent valuable sustainable resources as raw materials to support fisheries for human consumption, to produce animal feed derived from single cell algal proteins and aquatic weeds. Biogas from waste fermentation represents a significant tertiary product.
Stabilization ponds are dynamic, low-cost waste recycling ecosystems comprising complex communities of algae, virus, protozoa, rotifers, insects, crustaceans and fungi. These organisms interact and modify the organic content of the waste to produce effluents which need little further investment in treatment.
The economic, societal and sustainable value of stabilization ponds is governed by the management regime and the use for which the sludge and effluent is intended. Fish, ducks, prawn and algal protein production rely upon adequately treated effluent. This is particularly valuable for irrigation in arid and semi-arid climates, where natural waters are insufficient and nutrient depleted. Oxidation ponds provide sustainable mechanisms for dealing with sewage and for reducing the risk of infection from parasites and the effects of toxins. The resulting sludges can be used as fertilizer or be composted with local vegetation. Aerobic and anaerobic digestion, lime treatment and pasteurisation are used to improve sludge acceptability and utility to enhance its value as a sustainable resource.