Comparison of treatment process sustainability at water plants in the Sacramento region

摘要

With greenhouse gas (GHG) a suspected contributor to climate change and poor air quality, drinking water utilities are becoming more concerned about reducing GHG emissions. This study compares the total emissions of equivalent carbon, i.e., carbon footprint, for different processes used at 11 facilities in the Sacramento, Calif., region. Conventional treatment, microfiltration, pressure filtration, slow sand filtration, and ballasted floccula-tion were considered in terms of the environmental effects of construction, staff transportation, chemical consumption, energy consumption, and sludge production.