Greenhouse gas emission inventory of drinking water treatment plants and case studies in China

Abstract

The Chinese government claimed to reach carbon dioxide emissions peaking by 2030 and achieve carbon neutralization by 2060. In this context, it's meaningful and urgent to estimate GHG emissions amount in every sectors. The growing concern about reducing GHG emissions has been shared by many water companies. This work aims to identify and estimate GHG emissions from the activities of drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). According to the GHG protocol, the GHG emission inventory of DWTPs covers the sources of fossil fuel combustion, reservoir emissions, electricity and heat supply, use of chemicals and additives, disposal of waste, transportation, operation and maintenance. The tool was tested by nine DWTPs, which had an average GHG emission intensity of 0.225 kg CO2-eq/m3. The GHG emission intensities range from 0.167 kg CO2-eq/m3 to 0.272 kg CO2-eq/m3. The main source of GHG emissions is electricity supply, followed by the use of chemicals and additives. According to the average emission intensity, the estimated total amount of GHG emissions from DWTPs in China is about 1.82 × 107 t/a, corresponding to 0.15 % of the total GHG emission in China. The proposed GHG sources and emissions help decision-makers and DWTPs companies estimate GHG emissions more accurately and undertake GHG reduction measures.