Control of Methane Emissions from Anaerobic Digestion

Anaerobic digestion from septic tanks or other sources give off gases, a large part of which is methane that is a greenhouse gas (GHG) 21 times more damaging than carbon dioxide.  Municipal systems can trap and reuse the methane but this is not practical for smaller systems.  Injection of the gases into the soil through a subsurface drip system will convert the methane to carbon dioxide thereby reducing the GHG damage by 95%; and furthermore, if there is vegetation on the surface the carbon dioxide will be taken up by this vegetation resulting in increased growth.  Studies by U.C. Davis (funded by WERF) and the California State University at Fresno will be referenced.