2006 IPCC Guidelines

on Greenhouse Gas Inventory:

Concepts and Data Requirements for Wastewater Sub-
sector

Environmental Management Bureau

Department of Environment and Natural Resources
 Introduction

 Wastewater can be a source of methane (CH4) when treated or disposed anaerobically. It can also
be a source of nitrous oxide (N2O)emissions. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from wastewater are
not considered in the IPCC Guidelines because these are of biogenic origin and should not be
included in national total emissions.
 Wastewater originates from a variety of domestic, commercial and industrial sources and may be
treated on site(uncollected), sewered to a centralized plant (collected) or disposed untreated nearby
or via an outfall.
 The principal factor in determining the CH4 generation potential of wastewater is the amount of
degradable organic material in the wastewater. Common parameters used to measure the organic
component of the wastewater are the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen
Demand (COD).
Introduction
 BOD - The BOD concentration indicates only the amount of carbon that is aerobically
biodegradable. The standard measurement for BOD is a 5-day test, denoted as BOD5.
 COD - The COD measures the total material available for chemical oxidation (both
biodegradable and non-biodegradable).
 Since the BOD is an aerobic parameter, it may be less appropriate for determining the
organic components in anaerobic environments.
 Usually, BOD is more frequently reported for domestic wastewater, while COD is
predominantly used for industrial wastewater.
 in V o lu m e 4 o f th e A g ric u ltu re , F o re s try , a n d O th e r L a n d U s e (A F O L U ) S e c to r.

Wastewater treatment systems and discharge pathway

F ig u r e 6 .1 W a ste w a te r tr e a tm e n t sy s te m s a n d d isc h a r g e p a th w a y s

D o m e s tic /in d u s tria l w a s te w a te r

C o lle c te d U n c o lle c te d

U n tr e a te d T re a te d
T re a te d o n s ite
U n tr e a te d
D o m e s tic : la trin e , s e p tic ta n k
S ta g n a n t S e w e re d to In d u s tria l: o n s ite p la n t
R iv e rs , la k e s ,
e s tu a rie s , s e a sew er p la n t
R iv e rs , la k e s , T o
W e tla n d
e s tu a rie s , s e a g ro u n d

A e ro b ic tre a tm e n t A n a e ro b ic tre a tm e n t

S lu d g e R e a c to r L agoon

A n a e ro b ic L and L a n d fill o r
D ig e s tio n D is p o s a l In c in e ra tio n
Estimating CH4 Emission from Domestic Wastewater
Summary of Data Requirements: Domestic
Wastewater
DATA NEEDS UNIT

Population million

BOD per person g/person/day

Fraction of population per income Fraction

group
Degree of utilization of Percentage
treatment/discharge pathway per
income group
DENR-ADMU GHG-NGP Project, 2016
DENR-ADMU GHG-NGP Project, 2016
DENR-ADMU GHG-NGP Project, 2016
DENR-ADMU GHG-NGP Project, 2016
DENR-ADMU GHG-NGP Project, 2016
DENR-ADMU GHG-NGP Project, 2016
 Industrial Wastewater

 Industrial wastewater may be treated on site or released into domestic sewer systems. If it
is released into the domestic sewer system, the emissions are to be included with the
domestic wastewater emissions.
 This section deals with estimating CH4 emissions from on-site industrial wastewater
treatment. Only industrial wastewater with significant carbon loading that is treated under
intended or unintended anaerobic conditions will produce CH4.
 Organics in industrial wastewater are often expressed in terms of COD, which is used here.
Estimating CH4 Emissions from Industrial
Wastewater
 Organically Degradable Material in Wastewater(TOW)

This parameter is a function of industrial output (product) P (tons/yr), wastewater generation W (m3/ton
of product), and degradable organics concentration in the wastewater COD (kg COD/m3).
Default MCF Values
Summary of Data Requirements: Industrial
Wastewater
DATA NEEDS UNIT

Total industry product Tons/year

Wastewater generated m3/t product

COD per industry type kg COD/m3

Type of treatment or discharge aerobic/anaerobic/

pathway Untreated

Sludge removed kg COD/year

Recovered Methane kg CH4/year

 Chemical Oxygen Methane
Total Industry Product Wastewater Generated Sludge Remove
Demand (COD) Type of Treatment or Recovered
Industry Type
Discharge Pathway
tons/year m3/tons kg COD/m3 kg COD/year kg CH4/year
Alcohol Refining            
Beer & Malt            
Coffee            
Dairy Products            
Fish Processing            
Meat & Poultry            
Organic Chemicals            

Petroleum Refineries            
Plastics & Resins            
Pulp & Paper            
Soap & Detergents            

Starch Production            
Sugar Refining            
Vegetable Oils            
Vegetables, Fruits &
           
Juices
Wine & Vinegar            
Others            
Note: The above data requirements was based on the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (Volume 5, Chapter 6) specifically on Table 6.9. The table provides examples on
wastewater loading and chemical oxygen demand (COD) that could be used as default values if no data is available. Please refer to Table 6.8 for the type of treatment and discharge pathway. The
minimum data requirements are highlighted in red above which are the total industry product and type of treatment and discharge pathway. Also the IPCC provided default value for sludge removal
and methane recovery which is 0. For more information and guidance please refer to the IPCC Guideline for Industrial Wastewater.
Thank You!