§ 503.31 Special definitions.

(a) Aerobic digestion is the biochemical decomposition of organic matter in sewage sludge into carbon dioxide and water by microorganisms in the presence of air. (b) Anaerobic digestion is the biochemical decomposition of organic matter in sewage sludge into methane gas and carbon dioxide by microorganisms in the absence of air. (c) Density of microorganisms is the number of microorganisms per unit mass of total solids (dry weight) in the sewage sludge. (d) Land with a high potential for public exposure is land that the public uses frequently. This includes, but is not limited to, a public contact site and a reclamation site located in a populated area (e.g, a construction site located in a city). (e) Land with a low potential for public exposure is land that the public uses infrequently. This includes, but is not limited to, agricultural land, forest, and a reclamation site located in an unpopulated area (e.g., a strip mine located in a rural area). (f) Pathogenic organisms are disease-causing organisms. These include, but are not limited to, certain bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and viable helminth ova. (g) pH means the logarithm of the reciprocal of the hydrogen ion concentration measured at 25 °Centigrade or measured at another temperature and then converted to an equivalent value at 25 °Centigrade. (h) Specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR) is the mass of oxygen consumed per unit time per unit mass of total solids (dry weight basis) in the sewage sludge. (i) Total solids are the materials in sewage sludge that remain as residue when the sewage sludge is dried at 103 to 105 degrees Celsius. (j) Unstabilized solids are organic materials in sewage sludge that have not been treated in either an aerobic or anaerobic treatment process. (k) Vector attraction is the characteristic of sewage sludge that attracts rodents, flies, mosquitos, or other organisms capable of transporting infectious agents. (l) Volatile solids is the amount of the total solids in sewage sludge lost when the sewage sludge is combusted at 550 degrees Celsius in the presence of excess air.