Prior to the installation of the anaerobic digesters, manure was managed through the use of open lagoons. Anaerobic bacteria found in the lagoons broke down the waste into hundreds of tons of methane gas that was freely released into the open atmosphere. Now, biogas digesters installed at the Whitesides and Westpoint dairies will instead capture and destroy the methane. Manure is collected from the freestall barns and open lots using a vacuum truck and offloaded into a central mixing tank. The manure is then homogenized and diluted to the proper solids content prior to entering the digester.

 

The Intrepid Digester technology processes the waste in 4-5 days as compared to 20-30 days for most commercially available manure digesters. Captured methane is processed using ITR’s proprietary scrubbing process into pipeline quality gas and sold to an industrial user whereupon it is combusted and destroyed.

Creating Community Benefits Through Emission Reduction Projects:
• Since installing the anaerobic digesters, air quality has improved substantially.
• The noxious odours that used to emanate from the treatment lagoons have been eliminated.
• Fewer toxic substances will leach into the soil and local ground water supply because the animal waste from the open lagoons has been removed.