UKWIR – GHG Emissions Phase 1 Report

SEPTEMBER 2024 The objective of this project was to start the practical journey for the UK and Irish water industry in the understanding of their process emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) and fugitive emissions of methane (CH4) from wastewater treatment plants. The research project has reviewed global and UK based monitoring campaigns, highlighted methodological requirements and knowledge gaps and provided a design of a national monitoring programme. This is the phase 1 report.

UKWIR – GHG Emissions Phase 2 Report

SEPTEMBER 2024 The objective of this project was to start the practical journey for the UK and Irish water industry in the understanding of their process emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) and fugitive emissions of methane (CH4) from wastewater treatment plants. The research project has reviewed global and UK based monitoring campaigns, highlighted methodological requirements and knowledge gaps and provided a design of a national monitoring programme. This is the phase 2 report.

UKWIR – Whole of life carbon reduction

SEPTEMBER 2024 This report focuses on whole of life carbon reduction. This report aligns to PAS2080 and the UK Infrastructure Carbon Review.

UKWIR – GHG Emissions – Optimisation of existing processes

AUGUST 2024 The first phase of UKWIR’s research on process emissions from WWTWs suggested that they are currently underestimated, particularly in relation to nitrous oxide (N2O). Phase two tested this through UK-based monitoring, and the accumulating evidence is that process emissions are likely the largest part of water sector operational emissions. This publication focuses on the practical opportunities to reduce, control, and mitigate nitrous oxide and methane emissions at wastewater treatment works.

UKWIR – GHG Emissions Nature Based Solutions

AUGUST 2024 UKWIR provides a number of research papers. These are relevant across the water industry and include information on a range of relevant topics and new research. This publication highlights greenhouse gas emissions from nature based solutions such as wetlands, ponds / lagoons etc. It should be noted that this publication is largely based on a literature review.

Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

AUGUST 2024 This ground breaking policy is the first of its kind to develop limits for the various PFAS et al compounds. This presentation provides background as to the development of the limits and a set of limits. The document also includes implementation and monitoring recommendations.

Water Environment Federation

MAY 2024 The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a key source of information for water professionals. WEF is a not for profit organisation focusing on technical and educational information sharing amongst over 30,000 members and 75 affiliated member associations. This is a great source for the latest technical information across the water sector, including a key focus on sustainability and human health issues.

Low carbon concrete

MAY 2024 Laing O'Rourke are global leaders in developing sustainable construction methods. This article provides an overview of their development of low carbon technologies, much of this has been developed for the water industry in the UK, for projects such as the Daveyhulme WWTW upgrade where a large portion of the concrete was pre-fabricated and put together on site. This is a high level overview for people interested in innovative sustainable construction methods.

US Water Alliance climate change articles

MAY 2024 The US Water Alliance is a US National Water membership organisation. The Alliance publishes articles on all aspects of water and has a focus area on climate change. This provides articles on activities across the US including research, funding and policy.

GHG emissions monitoring in USA

MAY 2024 US Water Alliance has provided grant funding and selected partners to complete and document the research works. This is an exciting step in the US as it aligns with other countries in quantifying and mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from its wastewater treatment plants.

Net zero ideas in water – Podcast by Antoine Walter

MARCH 2024 This podcast outlines a set of ideas in the water sector to achieve net zero. The podcast starts with an outline of emissions in the water sector when compared to other sectors. This provides different examples across the water sector, water networks to wastewater treatment and provides tangible examples of efficiencies in terms of both cost savings and achieving net zero ambitions.

Maria Manidaki interview - Podcast by Antoine Walter

MARCH 2024 This interview with Maria Manidaki outlines examples around the world where best practice in the water sector is being achieved. Maria was an author of the Infrastructure carbon review, PAS 2080 and the UK Water Road to Net Zero and is a global thought leaders around reducing carbon across all parts of water infrastructure development. She highlights the need for leadership, future education and integration and more innovative procurement.

Global Change Data Lab

DECEMBER 2023 This site provides an excellent tracker of the SDG 6 goals. The tracker provides graphical summaries by region and by country in an easy to follow display. This is a great resource for tracking performance and financial flows by area.

Open source knowledge hub for water sustainability

DECEMBER 2023 This site presents an outline of water savings technologies and a number of excellent links to relevant publications. This is a valuable resource for all members working in water savings programs.

Singapore Green Plan

NOVEMBER 2023 The Singapore government is one of the most progressive governments in the world in adopting sustainable practices. This is a whole of nation plan to advance sustainable practices across Singapore.

Water stewardship and indigenous water inclusion

NOVEMBER 2023 Water Stewardship Asia Pacific is a not for profit organisation that has a mission is to protect and enhance the natural environment through water stewardship to achieve our vision of a water-secure world for all. Several prominent organisations began to form an international panel of experts responsible for developing a new standard for water stewardship. The website provides training links, the framework developed through the panel of experts and a set of articles and publications as well as news and is a useful source of information for people seeing to improve water management.

Quantifying, modelling and mitigating process emissions masterclasses

JUNE 2023 This material provides a series of master classes presenting the release of the International Water Association manual for the quantification and modelling of fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from Urban Water systems. This is important as it provides an overview including questions from the wider industry on findings as part of the development of the publication.

How can we solve water scarcity?

JUNE 2023 The droughts in Europe over the 2022 summer have put extra pressures on the food supply chain, this article from New Food reviews the problem and what we can do working in the industry to use water efficiently as we move towards summer 2023. The article provides the link of food systems and water and outlines sustainable agricultural innovation outlining a systems approach to reducing water scarcity.

Safe drinking water & sanitation

JUNE 2023 This link from the Institute for Water Education provides an outline on current water scarcity numbers around the world, latest research, a set of courses available to provide further learning and a number of articles written through Delft. This provides discussion of technical, social, economic and institutional aspects associated with the provision of safe drinking water and sanitation. There is also a link to the Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) approach developed through Delft. This provides a number of examples where this approach is used and also a link to key partnerships around the world.

Quantification and modelling of fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from urban water systems

SEPTEMBER 2022 IWA have released a novel publication focusing on emissions from wastewater networks and treatment plants for both nitrous oxide and methane emissions. The publication outlines the challenges associated with emissions as part of global net zero targets. The various models for quantification of emissions are tested against the latest research for both networks and treatment systems. There are case studies on measurement, quantification and mitigation measures developed around the world for you to explore.

Quantification and modelling of fugitive GHG emissions from urban water systems

JUNE 2022 The water sector and in particularly wastewater transfer and treatment are contributors to GHG emissions across the world. As increased pressure is felt in the water sector to transition to a low-carbon model, this digital publication focusses specifically on reducing nitrous oxide and methane emissions which occur mostly from the transfer and treatment of wastewater.

Tackling AMR in wastewater in a carbon neutral way

JUNE 2022 Anti-microbial resistance continues to be a major threat to the human race, with millions now dying from previously treatable illnesses. This webinar dives into AMR’s presence in wastewater, receiving water and how we can tackle this issue in a carbon friendly way.

Desalination in the EU

APRIL 2022 Desalination plants have been built to respond climate change and augment freshwater supply. This article link provides an overview and breakdown categories of varying aspects in desalination in Europe, particularly southern Europe. This report is part of climate-resilient Europe.

Resource recovery from wastewater in the USA

APRIL 2022 This article links to an initiative from the US Department of Energy (DOE) aiming to accelerate resource recovery from municipal wastewater across the USA. The outcomes include a fascinating range of technologies.

Water-Energy-Food Nexus

JANUARY 2022 Singapore’s National Water Agency (PUB) and National Environment Agency (NEA) have developed a world leading facility, a project that truly investigates the water-energy-food nexus

Net zero in water

JANUARY 2022 Many water companies and agencies around the world are now committing to net zero strategies, with all of the water companies in Victoria, Australia committed to net zero by 2030 and the UK producing a net zero road map in 2020

India-H2O project: Water supply and sanitation

JANUARY 2022 This link introduces you to the India-H2O project which covers a range of innovations in advanced membrane processes and in natural treatment systems. These developments contribute to the improvement of water and sanitation in their region.