This guidance is for farmers who apply sewage sludge (biosolids) or septic tank sludge to agricultural land.
If you supply or spread sludge to agricultural land, you must meet the requirements of the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations.
You must comply with these regulations in order to meet the requirements of the cross compliance rules of the single farm payment scheme.
Cross compliance
What you must do
Check if you are in a nitrate vulnerable zone
In England, Scotland and Wales, you should find out whether you are in a nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ). If you are in an NVZ you will need to follow certain rules, such as limiting the amount of organic and inorganic nitrogen fertiliser you use and keeping records.
England and Wales: nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) rules
Scotland: nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs)
In Northern Ireland all farmers must comply with rules under the Nitrate Action Programme Regulations and the Phosphorous Regulations.
Northern Ireland: Nitrate Action Programme and Phosphorus Regulations
Use sewage sludge that has been tested
You must only use sewage sludge that has been tested according to the Sludge Regulations. You must check that you do not exceed the limit on the average annual rate of addition of metals in the sludge.
You must not spread sewage sludge on a field unless you have tested the soil according to the Sludge Regulations. This includes checking that the limit on the concentration of metals in the soil will not be exceeded by spreading the sludge.
You must not spread sludge on land that has a soil pH of less than five.
You must not use sewage sludge or septic tank sludge:
- when fruit, other than fruit trees, or vegetables are growing or are to be harvested in the soil
- without taking the nutrient needs of the plants into account
- if it will damage the quality of the soil, surface water or groundwater.
You must give a sewage sludge producer information about any past sludge use by a different producer. This should include details of where, when and how much sludge was used and who supplied it.
After sewage sludge or septic tank sludge has been applied, you must not:
- graze animals or harvest forage crops for at least three weeks
- harvest fruit and vegetable crops that are grown in direct contact with the soil, and that are normally eaten raw, for at least 10 months.
After sewage sludge or septic tank sludge has been applied, you must:
- Work untreated sludge into the soil as soon as possible. Untreated sludge is sludge or septic tank sludge that has not undergone biological, chemical or heat treatment, long-term storage or a process to reduce its fermentability and health hazards.
- Inform your environmental regulator immediately if sewage sludge enters a watercourse. Use the pollution hotline 0800 80 70 60.
Spreading sewage sludge on non-agricultural land
If you spread sewage sludge or septic tank sludge to non-agricultural land, you must:
- have an environmental permit (standard permit, reference SCR2010 No.6) in England and Wales
- register an exemption from waste management licensing in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
For more information read our guidance on landspreading waste.
Good practice
Water UK and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have developed the Safe Sludge Matrix. It consists of a table of crop types, together with clear guidance on the minimum acceptable level of treatment for any sewage sludge which may be applied to that crop or rotation. Please note that your environmental regulator does not enforce the Safe Sludge Matrix.
ADAS: Safe Sludge Matrix - Guidelines for the application of sewage sludge to agricultural land (Adobe PDF - 917KB)
Further information
The codes of good agricultural practice provide more advice on sludge spreading.
In England and Wales, see section 7 of the Defra Water Code.
Defra: Protecting our water, soil and air - A code of good agricultural practice for farmers, growers and land managers (Adobe PDF - 1.4MB)
In Northern Ireland, see section 4 of the DARD code of good agricultural practice for water, air and soil.
DARD: Code of good agricultural practice for the prevention of pollution of water, air and soil
In Scotland, see section 5 of the Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity (PEPFAA) Code.
Scottish Executive: Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity (PEPFAA Code) 2005 (Scotland) (Adobe PDF - 1.34MB)
