Adoption of wastewater management technologies can deliver energy-efficiency, says study

Adoption of readily available wastewater management technologies can lead to increase in energy efficiency and reduce related emissions by almost 50%, according to a study report published by US based water technology firm Xylem.

The study indicates that the approach can lead to 95% of electricity-related emissions abatement at negative or neutral cost.

Titled as ‘Powering the Wastewater Renaissance’, the study analyses energy efficiency across the wastewater management industry and measures how the global water sector can reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions with existing technologies.

It was conducted across the wastewater sectors in the US, Europe and China and assessed 18 distinct abatement opportunities, including pumps used for water transportation and blowers used for aerating the water to the various filtration systems.

Xylem president and CEO Patrick Decker said: "Infrastructure investments today can have positive environmental and economic consequences for decades.

"Importantly, the pragmatic solutions identified in this report pay for themselves and, in many cases, unlock new capital that can be invested in additional infrastructure improvements.

"As we address the effects of a growing global population and its accompanying strain on natural resources, the public and private sectors must come together to identify and implement new ways to realise the full potential of a low-carbon economy."

Wastewater sector in China offered best investment return and emissions abatement opportunities where the government was found to be actively investing in water infrastructure.

The study was in line with Xylem’s strategy to advance sustainable solutions in the water sector. It has called for co-ordination among the industry leaders and stakeholders in the climate change agenda to overcome the barriers related to adoption of wastewater treatment technologies.