Bacteria and pathogens in biosolids tend to adhere to the biosolids amended soils because of the organic nature of biosolids. This clinging mechanisms prevents potentially disease causing organisms from entering the groundwater while keeping them near the surface where sunlight, temperature, dryness and naturally occurring organisms destroy them. Application rates generally equate to about one tractor trailer truckload per acre. Therefore a fifty-acre field could receive about 50 truckloads of biosolids resulting in heavy truck traffic during the spreading operation. Truckers are required to abide by Virginia Department of Transportation requirements.
Contractors designate haul routes which avoid residential roads whenever possible.
Also, land application operations usually occur during working hours when most people are at work and school to minimize inconvenience caused by the trucks.