The Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority is again burning off — instead of collecting and selling — excess gas generated from water treatment following a recent mechanical malfunction. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios
A biogas processing system that captures methane from the Des Moines metro's wastewater is broken.
Why it matters: It’s costing as much as $20,000 a day in lost revenue, not to mention the loss in environmental benefits.
Catch up fast: Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA) opened the $20 million biogas system in late 2020.
- Excess methane that previously could not be collected and was instead burned off with a large flare is now captured, cleaned and sold under contract.
- It generates the equivalent volume of gas used daily in 5,500 average U.S. homes, WRA estimates.
What's happening: A compressor broke about three weeks ago, forcing WRA to restart the flare, Larry Hare, the authority's treatment manager, tells Axios.
- A fix is in the works but it will probably take another two weeks, he said.
💩 Bottom line: The WRA is missing out on all those pretty pennies generated from our poops.
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