Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Wastewater Treatment

Treating wastewater and sewage sludge produces direct greenhouse gas emissions, including methane and nitrous oxide, which have far greater warming potential than carbon dioxide. As society increasingly adopts renewable energy sources over fossil fuels, these emissions are expected to become the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions for wastewater utilities.

This expert-led webcast series is designed for wastewater professionals looking to deepen their understanding of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wastewater treatment processes. Consisting of four 1-hour sessions, the series will cover the types and sources of GHGs from wastewater treatment, the process conditions and mechanisms that drive these emissions, real-world approaches to measuring, monitoring, and quantifying these emissions, and practical strategies for reducing them.

This third webcast will focus on nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in wastewater treatment with discussion of the production mechanism for N2O formation and the process conditions and operating practices that lead to high N2O emissions. Leading practice for the direct measurement and monitoring of N2O emissions and will feature a case study from a North America utility will also be discussed. The presenters will Identify and describe the formation mechanisms and conditions that enhance nitrous oxide emissions in wastewater treatment and explain direct measurement and monitoring techniques for nitrous oxide emissions, using insights from a North American utility case study.

Presenters:

• Ruqiao (Emma) Shen, PhD, P.Eng., Global Principal, Wastewater Energy Optimization and Sector Decarbonization, Jacobs
• Shannon Cavanaugh, Process Engineer, Brown and Caldwell
• Eron Jacobson,  Principal Wastewater Engineer, King County

Moderator:

• Harry Zhang, PhD, PE, Research Principal on Integrated Water and Stormwater, The Water Research Foundation

This series is organized by the US Water Alliance and Canadian Water Network, hosted by The Water Research Foundation, and presented in collaboration with the Danish Water Technology Alliance, Water Environment Federation, and the International Water Association.