Biosolids

In Calgary, a portion of the treated sewage sludge is disposed through de-watering and application as an agricultural fertilizer. Biosolids de-watering occurs in dedicated biosolids lagoons. Methane emissions come from this facility - but the processes, rates, and patterns are poorly understood.

Surveys with the University of Calgary PoMELO vehicle based methane monitoring system have shown methane emissions vary spatially and temporally. Our goals are to use the multi-path downwind plume measurements to isolate the high emitting locations and estimate emissions rates. This will greatly help operators understand and mitigate any emissions.

Together, the project sheds light and provides important information on a poorly understood source of methane in Calgary, while simultaneously providing a vital testbed for new algorithms to quantify spatially heterogeneous methane sources.