Diamond grinding slurry (DGS) is a waste by-product of road resurfacing and maintenance operations. The state of North Carolina currently allows land application of this slurry with a permit. However, the most common disposal method is having the slurry hauled to a press plate system where the solids are removed and used as backfill or sent to a landfill, and the water is recycled into the grinding operation. Recently, sediment basins have emerged as a way to manage DGS onsite. Research supported by the NCDOT (RP 2023-06) is currently investigating the efficiency of these basins at separating DGS. With this research, a new area of interest has emerged: the wastewater generated from the basin after settling the solids.
The proposed project aims to investigate if using this wastewater on site is feasible, increasing the cost-effectiveness of the sediment basin separation. Through greenhouse and field trials, wastewater application as irrigation will be tested for its effect on vegetation establishment and
growth, as well as possible impacts on soil properties and the environment. The results of this research would allow the NCDOT and the NCDEQ to make informed decisions regarding the current permitting process for DGS sediment basins and the land application of the slurry or its wastewater.
