The presence of heavy metals in dewatered sludge would cause the following concern?

• A. Binding excess water in the soil during winter months
• B. Poor dewatering characteristics leading to wet sludge
• C. Chemical reactions between the heavy metals in the soil
• D. Elimination of land application as a viable disposal alternative

Answer: (D)

The main issue is regulatory and environmental risk: heavy metals in sludge limit or prohibit land application because they can accumulate in soils and enter the food chain, potentially contaminating crops and groundwater. When metal concentrations exceed pollutant limits, land application is no longer a viable disposal option, pushing toward alternatives like other disposal methods or treatments before any reuse.

Other options aren’t the primary concern here. Binding excess water in soil or the dewatering characteristics of the sludge aren’t the central disposal issues once heavy metals are present; and chemical reactions between metals in soil aren’t the main reason land application becomes unviable.