Bacteria play a vital role in converting waste to energy.
The same bacteria that produce methane at the landfill are used in the anaerobic treatment process to treat wastewater. Those that do are typically reducing their total wastewater treatment plant energy costs by one third to one half. But this only represents but the tip of the iceberg. The operation of anaerobic digesters requires very close attention as the continuing adjustment of pH and alkalinity is process demanding. This is because two independent biological steps, or phases, are occurring simultaneously within a single fermentation or digestion vessel.