Veolia Water Technologies in North America has developed a $15 million anaerobic digestion (AD) system for winery and vineyard waste in American Canyon, Calif.

The high-rate AD system can recycle 100 million gallons of wine-related waste for Napa Valley wineries and vineyards locally and daily if needed, according to a news release from the Napa Environmental Group. The AD system allows wineries and vineyards to avoid the effort and expense of onsite treatment, odors, septic tanks, leach fields or wastewater ponds.

An environmental investment group focusing on Napa Valley and its entrepreneurs is backing the project.

The biodigester uses anaerobic bacteria to break down grape skins and other matter within the wastewater, eliminating much of its waste in 24 hours. The treated water may be used in vineyard irrigation.

Items in the waste stream include wine and juice, barrel wash, wine lees, wastewater screenings, pond sludge, cooling tower blowdown, water softener concentrate, ion exchange rejects, boiler blowdown, acid caustic rise water and high salinity waste.