Site Selection for Land Application of Sludge Using a Geographic Information System

THE Virginia Geographic Information System (VirGIS) database and the Map Analysis Package (MAP) were used to select an appropriate land application site for sludge from a wastewater treatment facility. The procedure for site selection was based on criteria recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and combines the effects of land use, soil type, topography, and proximity to surface water bodies. Site selection results for a case study and a discussion of advantages of the proposed technique over manual site selection methods are presented.