Can Your Septic Tank Become a
Power Plant Right in Your Own Back Yard?
It's not commonly appreciated that
septic tanks are actually a potential source of energy for a home. The
process of bacterial degradation of wastes produces methane gas, which
is flammable and can be burned for heat and/or electricity.
Since
a quarter of all homes in the United States, and uncounted millions in
other nations, use septic tanks, this may have a major effect on coal,
oil, natural gas and butane / propane / bottled gas usage patterns.
At present the septic-tank digestion process is not optimized for
methane, and that which is generated is not used. However, scientific
research by sustainability experts on this method is occuring. As
fossil energy becomes more costly and less available and technology
improves, it may
become economical for your house to derive a part of its energy needs
right from your septic tank.
Some
large-scale commercial facilities, including chicken processors and
municipal wastewater treatment facilities, already collect and use
methane gas from the wastewater digestion process.
Do you have additional information about this? Please email to
webmaster
-at- swopnet.com. Thank you.
Caveat: Check with your local authority before
using any of these ideas.
Return to
Septic Tank Page, which has lots more information.