Local authorities across the UK are under increasing pressure to ensure that the land application of biosolids complies with strict regulatory requirements, including those set out by the Environment Agency, the Safe Sludge Matrix, and the Biosolids Assurance Scheme (BAS). Many councils and water management teams still rely on outdated, fragmented systems that hinder efficient compliance reporting, traceability, and operational oversight.
Biosolids Management Compliance
Manage
Biosolids are the residual material left over from sewage treatment processes and can be spread on land as a fertiliser for agriculture. BIO provides an end-to-end solution that helps you to control supply, delivery, spreading, sampling including field nutrient levels and customer and farm details.
Monitor
Tracsis Geo Intelligence has worked with several water authorities to develop a cloud-based tool (BIO) to replace legacy biosolids applications. It monitors the journey of biosolids from creation through to spreading on farmland. BIO uses GIS to assist generation and maintenance of accurate field data.
Compliance
BIO helps ensure that the movement and application of biosolids is compliant with UK & EU regulations, and adheres to the Biosolids Assurance Scheme standard.
Potential Use Case Scenario
Ensuring Safe and Compliant Biosolids Use on Land
A unitary local authority in the UK is responsible for overseeing environmental compliance and supporting local wastewater operations in partnership with their regional water company. They must track biosolids (treated sewage sludge) from treatment facilities to agricultural land, ensuring that applications are legal, documented, and safe for the environment.
Our Solution, Biosolids Management (Tracsis BIO)
Tracsis Geo Intelligence offers a configurable, cloud-ready Biosolids Management platform tailored for local government environments. It enables:
- End-to-End Biosolids Tracking
From treatment plant to farmland, the system logs every step in the biosolids journey, including transport routes, delivery confirmations, and spreading locations.
Regulatory Compliance
The system automates compliance with:
- Environment Agency regulations
- The Safe Sludge Matrix
- The Nitrate Regulations
- The Biosolids Assurance Scheme (BAS)
- The Nutrient Management Matrix
Real-Time Data Access & Reporting
Environmental officers and compliance teams can access data through a secure browser-based dashboard, enabling:
- On-demand soil sampling results
- Automated regulatory reporting
- Digital stockpile inspections
Documentation Automation
Automatically generates and archives all necessary documentation, including:
- Farmer delivery reports
- Waste transfer notes
- Regulatory submissions
System Integration
Seamless integration with third-party systems such as weighbridges and laboratory testing services for soil and sludge samples.
Key Features of the BIO Solution
The BIO solution offers flexible deployment with both on-premises and cloud hosting options, and includes built-in risk management through automated Spreading and Land Risk Assessments. Designed to ensure compliance with UK regulations such as BAS, the Safe Sludge Matrix, and the Code of Practice, BIO validates nutrient and metal limits, calculates compliant spread rates, manages S3 exemption documentation, and maintains a full audit trail.
BIO integrates with GIS for visual mapping of treatment centres, fields, and risks, and supports soil and nutrient reporting with automated post-spread customer letters. Additional features include detailed stockpile and field inspections, full delivery lifecycle tracking, and comprehensive contract management across farms, fields, and deliveries.
Benefits to Local Authorities
- Efficient End to End Workflow
Bio allows all processes to be completed and monitored from the single solution replacing the need for multiple platforms and time- consuming paperwork. Data is created and kept up to date in a single platform providing a clear overview. - Compliance and Audit
Be audit-ready and ensure consistent compliance with evolving UK legislation. Bio’s end to end solution allows utility companies to manage biosolids, samples, farms, fields, customers and deliveries. It’s easy to use with most requirements managed at admin level. - Operational Efficiency
Reduce manual processes and administrative burden by digitising paper-based tracking and approvals. - Public Assurance
Demonstrate environmental responsibility and safe land application practices to the public and stakeholders. - Integrated and Customisable
Reduce manual processes and administrative burden by digitising paper-based tracking and approvals.
A Proven Solution in Practice
The solution has been successfully implemented by Welsh Water, who manage services for over 3 million people. With BIO, they replaced legacy systems and achieved full regulatory compliance while improving traceability and reporting. Read full case study.
Interested in improving your biosolids management strategy?
Contact Tracsis Geo Intelligence to find out how this solution can be tailored for your local authority