Systems and methods for ballasting covers for gas-holding sludge digestors

A method of ballasting a cover of a sludge digester that is comprised of a storage tank and the cover, the method comprising:

• placing a ballast into the storage tank in a first predetermined position;
• placing the cover onto the storage tank;
• lowering a lifting member of a lifting device through an access port in the cover and into the storage tank;
• securing the lifting member to the ballast;
• using the lifting device to lift the lifting member and the ballast until the ballast is in a second predetermined position that is substantially above the first predetermined position;
• engaging a support bracket attached to the cover with a support member;
• and
• securing the ballast to the cover by at least partially wrapping the support member around a bottom portion of the ballast while the ballast is in a third predetermined position that is substantially below the second predetermined position.