Signing of Research Agreement between NWSDB and HORDI on “Use of lime sludge generated during production of hydrated lime using calcined dolomite in agriculture”
The Center for Innovation, the research and development division of cewas, has completed the research on “producing hydrated lime using calcined dolomite” and is currently in the stage of implementing it at six water treatment plants. The intention is to implement it at 30 more plants in the second stage. As a byproduct of the hydrated lime manufacturing process, around 60-70% of the residue by mass, known as calcined dolomite sludge, is produced.
The R&D team at Cewas has found that using this sludge in agriculture as a soil conditioner or a soil nutrient (Ca, Mg) fertilizer would be highly effective. Initial discussions with the Horticultural Research and Development Institute (HORDI) of the Department of Agriculture confirmed that this would be enormously beneficial to farming communities.
Subsequently, a research agreement was signed by NWSDB and HORDI to carry out research on using lime sludge in agriculture on May 30, 2024, at the Board Room, NWSDB. The event was attended by the Director and Principal Agriculture Scientist (Soil Science) from HORDI, the Chairman, GM, AddlGM (P&P), Board Member Dr. Wasantha Illangasinghe, Water Treatment Specialist, and other staffs from NWSDB.
