A Biosolids Environmental Management System (EMS) is a plan to document, monitor and optimize the management of biosolids to meet regulatory requirements, encourage public participation and increase communication. The National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) developed this program to improve the quality of biosolids management programs throughout the nation and to promote public acceptance of biosolids use and disposal practices.

In 2005, the NBP certified BCDES’s Biosolids EMS; BCDES was the first utility in the state of Ohio and the sixth in the nation to be certified.

Our wastewater and environmental operations staff are responsible for carrying out the EMS program. Team members constantly evaluate the effectiveness of the EMS. For example, the Regulatory Compliance Team meets on a monthly basis and regularly tracks progress. Similarly, the operations and environmental staff monitors the efficiency of the program and adjusts operations as needed, often to improve the quality of the end product and increase land application rates.

Public communication is an integral part of the EMS. Annual focus groups, farm field signage, newsletter articles and these web pages are part of our public outreach. We encourage feedback about the information you have seen here.

For more information, see:

• National Biosolids Partnership and EMS Program
• Benefits & Incentives for Implementing an EMS for Biosolids
• BCDES's Biosolids EMS informational brochure