How do biosolids affect groundwater and surface water?

Research shows that land application of biosolids poses little or no risk to groundwater. The organic forms of nutrients in biosolids are less water soluble than chemical fertilizers and less likely to leach into groundwater or run off into surface water. Furthermore, potential impacts to water sources are minimized by proper management practices, including not over applying biosolids, maintaining buffer zones between application areas and surface water bodies, and following soil conservation practices.