Getting to net zero: full steam ahead for energy generation at water utilities

摘要

For the first time, this year's COP gathering included a water pavilion, putting the water industry, and its emissions, in the spotlight. The carbon impact of transporting, treating and using water is estimated to represent up to 5% of global emissions. For drinking water utilities energy consumption is by far the largest source of operational emissions, but for wastewater treatment, the truck fleet and emissions of CO_2, methane and nitrous oxide from treatment processes can make up the largest share. As infrastructure builders, capital emissions are also a big challenge for the sector and, being harder to measure, it can often be difficult to assess their scope.