The Impact of Urban Wastewater Treatment on Carbon Emissions: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Volume 8, Issue 3, June 2024     |     PP. 83-103      |     PDF (200 K)    |     Pub. Date: November 18, 2024
DOI: 10.54647/environmental610411    27 Downloads     971 Views  

Author(s)

Xueyan Chen, Three Gorges Ecological Environment Investment Co.,Ltd.
Naifei Wang, Three Gorges Ecological Environment Investment Co.,Ltd.
Xiang Li, Three Gorges Ecological Environment Investment Co.,Ltd.
Mingqiu Wen, Three Gorges Ecological Environment Investment Co.,Ltd.
Shanshan Song, Three Gorges Ecological Environment Investment Co.,Ltd.
Xinkang Hou, Three Gorges Ecological Environment Investment Co.,Ltd.
Xuezhu Wang, Three Gorges Ecological Environment Investment Co.,Ltd.
Jie Gao, Three Gorges Ecological Environment Investment Co.,Ltd.

Abstract
Urban wastewater treatment is crucial for protecting public health and aquatic ecosystems, but its carbon footprint has raised concerns in the context of climate change mitigation. This study provides a comprehensive review of the current status of carbon emissions from urban wastewater treatment, identifies key challenges, and proposes future perspectives for sustainable wastewater management. A systematic literature review was conducted to collect data on the carbon footprints of various wastewater treatment technologies, which were analyzed using a life cycle assessment approach. Scenario analysis was performed to evaluate the mitigation potential of different strategies. The results reveal that the carbon footprints of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) vary significantly depending on the treatment technologies employed, with advanced treatment processes generally having higher carbon emissions. Key factors contributing to the carbon footprint include energy consumption, direct greenhouse gas emissions, and embedded emissions from chemical use. The scenario analysis indicates that a combination of energy efficiency measures, renewable energy integration, and process optimization can significantly reduce the carbon emissions from WWTPs. This study highlights the importance of considering carbon emissions in the design and operation of urban wastewater treatment systems and provides valuable insights for developing sustainable wastewater management strategies that balance environmental protection, public health, and climate change mitigation.

Keywords
Urban wastewater treatment, Carbon emissions, Carbon footprint, Greenhouse gases, Mitigation strategies

Cite this paper
Xueyan Chen, Naifei Wang, Xiang Li, Mingqiu Wen, Shanshan Song, Xinkang Hou, Xuezhu Wang, Jie Gao, The Impact of Urban Wastewater Treatment on Carbon Emissions: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Perspectives , SCIREA Journal of Environment. Volume 8, Issue 3, June 2024 | PP. 83-103. 10.54647/environmental610411

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