Microbial communities controlling methane and nutrient cycling in leach field soils.

Septic systems inherently rely on microbial communities in the septic tank and leach field to attenuate pollution from household sewage. Operating conditions of septic leach field systems, especially the degree of water saturation, are likely to impact microbial biogeochemical cycling, including carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere. To study the impact of flooding on microbial methane (CH) and nutrient cycling, two leach field soil columns were constructed.

Methane and nitrous oxide cycling microbial communities in soils above septic leach fields: Abundances with depth and correlations with net surface emissions.

Onsite septic systems use soil microbial communities to treat wastewater, in the process creating potent greenhouse gases (GHGs): methane (CH) and nitrous oxide (NO). Subsurface soil dispersal systems of septic tank overflow, known as leach fields, are an important part of wastewater treatment and have the potential to contribute significantly to GHG cycling. This study aimed to characterize soil microbial communities associated with leach field systems and quantify the abundance and distribution of microbial populations involved in CH and NO cycling.