Nitrous oxide and methane emissions from different treatment processes in full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plants

Urbanization and greenhouse gas emissions from municipal wastewater in coastal provinces of China: Spatiotemporal patterns, driving factors, and mitigation strategies

Coastal cities, as hubs of social and economic activity, have witnessed rapid urbanization and population growth. This study explores the transformative changes in urban municipal wastewater treatment practices and their profound implications for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Chinese coastal provinces. The approach employed in this study integrates comprehensive data analysis with statistical modeling to elucidate the complex interplay between urbanization, wastewater treatment practices, and GHG emissions. Results reveal a substantial surge in GHG emissions from coastal wastewater treatment, rising from 3367.1 Gg CO2e/yr in 1990-23644.8 Gg CO2e/yr in 2019. Spatially, the top 20 cities contribute 56.0% of emissions, with hotspots in the Bohai Sea Region, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta. Initially dominated by emissions from untreated wastewater, post-2004, GHG emissions from treatment processes became the primary source, tied to electricity use. Growing population and urbanization rates escalated wastewater discharge, intensifying GHG emissions. From 1990 to 2019, average GHG intensity ranged between 320.5 and 676.6 g CO2e/m3 wastewater, with an annual increase of 12.3 g CO2e/m3. GHG intensity variations relate to the wastewater treatment rate, impacting CH4, N2O, and CO2 emissions, underscoring the need for targeted strategies to mitigate environmental impact.

Novel extended hybrid tool for real time control and practically support decisions to reduce GHG emissions in full scale wastewater treatment plants

In this paper, a novel methodology and extended hybrid model for the real time control, prediction and reduction of direct emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is proposed to overcome the lack of long-term data availability in several full-scale case studies. A mechanistic model (MCM) and a machine learning (ML) model are combined to real time control, predict the emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) as well as effluent quality (COD - chemical oxygen demand, NH4-N - ammonia, NO3-N - nitrate) in activated sludge method. For methane (CH4), using the MCM model, predictions are performed on the input data (VFA, CODs for aerobic and anaerobic compartments) to the MLM model. Additionally, scenarios were analyzed to assess and reduce the GHGs emissions related to the biological processes. A real WWTP, with a population equivalent (PE) of 125,000, was studied for the validation of the hybrid model. A global sensitivity analysis (GSA) of the MCM and a ML model were implemented to assess GHGs emission mechanisms the biological reactor. Finally, an early warning tool for the prediction of GHGs errors was implemented to assess the accuracy and the reliability of the proposed algorithm. The results could support the wastewater treatment plant operators to evaluate possible mitigation scenarios (MS) that can reduce direct GHG emissions from WWTPs by up to 21%, while maintaining the final quality standard of the treated effluent.

More applicable quantification of non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment plants by on-site plant-integrated measurements

Wastewater treatment is an important source of non-CO2 greenhouse gases (GHGs). However, current quantification of these GHG emissions mainly employs unit-based measurements, where emissions from individual process units are identified, leading to large uncertainties of overall emissions. Here we introduce plant-integrated measurements, where emissions from the whole plant are measured through the off-gas pipelines of the enclosed facility, to quantify methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from an underground municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in southern China. Our results show that the primary oxic tank contributes the largest in total CH4 and N2O emissions, with an average fraction of over 80 % and over 90 %, respectively. This can be attributed to the vigorous aeration process, which facilitates the transfer of dissolved CH4 and N2O from the liquid phase to the atmosphere through intensive air stripping. The plant-integrated measurements yield around 3-9 times higher emission factors of CH4 and N2O than the unit-based measurements. This difference in emission accounting is attributed to both varying survey durations of the two approaches and the omission of uncertain emission sources during unit-based measurements. The comparison between these two approaches indicates that plant-integrated measurements are more applicable for emission quantification of the whole plant whereas unit-based measurements provide insights into the emission characteristics of individual process units. More plant-integrated measurements are needed in the future for more accurate emission accounting of WWTPs.

Quantifying Methane Influx from Sewer into Wastewater Treatment Processes

Wastewater treatment contributes substantially to methane (CH4) emissions, yet monitoring and tracing face challenges because the treatment processes are often treated as a "black box". Particularly, despite growing interest, the amount of CH4 carryover and influx from the sewer and its impacts on overall emissions remain unclear. This study quantified CH4 emissions from six wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across China, utilizing existing multizonal odor control systems, with a focus on Beijing and Guiyang WWTPs. In the Beijing WWTP, almost 90% of CH4 emissions from the wastewater treatment process were conveyed through sewer pipes, affecting emissions even in the aerobic zone of biological treatment. In the Guiyang WWTP, where most CH4 from the sewer was released at the inlet well, a 24 h online monitoring revealed CH4 fluctuations linked to neighborhood water consumption and a strong correlation to influent COD inputs. CH4 emission factors monitored in six WWTPs range from 1.5 to 13.4 gCH4/kgCODrem, higher than those observed in previous studies using A2O technology. This underscores the importance of considering CH4 influx from sewer systems to avoid underestimation. The odor control system in WWTPs demonstrates its potential as a cost-effective approach for tracing, monitoring, and mitigating CH4.

Methane Emissions from Municipal Wastewater Collection and Treatment Systems

Municipal wastewater collection and treatment systems are critical infrastructures, and they are also identified as major sources of anthropogenic CH₄ emissions that contribute to climate change. The actual CH₄ emissions at the plant- or regional level vary greatly due to site-specific conditions as well as high seasonal and diurnal variations. Here, we conducted the first quantitative analysis of CH₄ emissions from different types of sewers and water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). We examined variations in CH₄ emissions associated with methods applied in different monitoring campaigns, and identified main CH₄ sources and sinks to facilitate carbon emission reduction efforts in the wastewater sector. We found plant-wide CH₄ emissions vary by orders of magnitude, from 0.01 to 110 g CH₄/m³ with high emissions associated with plants equipped with anaerobic digestion or stabilization ponds. Rising mains show higher dissolved CH₄ concentrations than gravity sewers when transporting similar raw sewage under similar environmental conditions, but the latter dominates most collection systems around the world. Using the updated data sets, we estimated annual CH₄ emission from the U.S. centralized, municipal wastewater treatment to be approximately 10.9 ± 7.0 MMT CO₂-eq/year, which is about twice as the IPCC (2019) Tier 2 estimates (4.3-6.1 MMT CO₂-eq/year). Given CH₄ emission control will play a crucial role in achieving net zero carbon goals by the midcentury, more studies are needed to profile and mitigate CH₄ emissions from the wastewater sector.

Contribution of nitrous oxide to the carbon footprint of full-scale wastewater treatment plants and mitigation strategies- a critical review

Nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas, significantly contributes to the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and contributes significantly to global climate change and to the deterioration of the natural environment. Our understanding of N₂O generation mechanisms has significantly improved in the last decade, but the development of effective N₂O emission mitigation strategies has lagged owing to the complexity of parameter regulation, substandard monitoring activities, and inadequate policy criteria. Based on critically screened published studies on N₂O control in full-scale WWTPs, this review elucidates N₂O generation pathway identifications and emission mechanisms and summarizes the impact of N₂O on the total carbon footprint of WWTPs. In particular, a linear relationship was established between N₂O emission factors and total nitrogen removal efficiencies in WWTPs located in China. Promising N₂O mitigation options were proposed, which focus on optimizing operating conditions and implementation of innovative treatment processes. Furthermore, the sustainable operation of WWTPs has been anticipated to convert WWTPs into absolute greenhouse gas reducers as a result of the refinement and improvement of on-site monitoring activities, mitigation mechanisms, regulation of operational parameters, modeling, and policies.

Insight into Greenhouse Gases Emissions and Energy Consumption of Different Full-Scale Wastewater Treatment Plants via ECAM Tool

Greenhouse gas (GHG) production is one of the urgent problems to be solved in the wastewater treatment industry in the context of "carbon neutrality". In this study, the carbon emissions and energy consumption of typical wastewater treatment processes in China were evaluated, starting from different cities and water treatment plants. Tool of Energy Performance and Carbon Emission Assessment and Monitoring (ECAM) was used. By comparing the influent BOD₅, it was found that the energy consumption for wastewater treatment was positively correlated with the influent organic load. The annual CH₄ emission of Xi'an WWTP can reach 19,215 t CO₂eq. Moreover, GHGs are closely related to the wastewater treatment process chosen. WWTP B of Kunming used only an anaerobic process without continuous aeration, with an average monthly energy consumption of 8.63 × 10⁵ kW·h. The proportion of recoverable biogas was about 90% in the GHG discharged by the traditional process. However, the anaerobic digestion-thermoelectric cogeneration process can make the recovery of the biogas utilization ratio reach 100%. Compared to the Shuozhou WWTP and WWTP A of Kunming, the Strass WWTP served the smallest population and had the largest treatment capacity, reaching the lowest energy consumption, consuming only 23,670 kW·h per month. The evaluation and analysis of ECAM provide data support and research foundation for the wastewater treatment plants to improve energy utilization and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Application of Field Olfactometry to Monitor the Odour Impact of a Municipal Sewage System

Odorant emissions are associated with, among other things, wastewater transport in sewer networks; they contribute to air pollution and result in complaints from residents living close to emission sources. The critical location in terms of the formation of unpleasant odour compounds is the pressure line that connects the pumping station and the expansion well; this is where they are released into the atmosphere. This paper presents comprehensive results of olfactometric and chromatographic tests in the Polish city of Białystok using portable devices that allow for multiple determinations and instant results. The study attempts to investigate the relationship between odour and odorant concentrations and check the suitability of field olfactometry as a tool for the ongoing monitoring of the emission of noxious odours and for verifying complaints submitted by residents. Statistical analysis shows a very high correlation coefficient between cod and the concentrations of individual odorants, ranging from 0.82 to 0.91. This olfactometric research, mainly conducted in situ, can be an appropriate method for the ad hoc monitoring of processes in sewage networks. This method allows the detection of unwanted emissions of odours at individual points in the network in concentrations that are not detected by standard sensors but that nevertheless cause odour nuisances, complaints, and social conflict. The research results provide evidence in favour of the energetic usage of wastewater, which is in line with circular economy conception, since odour nuisance is one of its indicators.

Advancing greenhouse gas emission factors for municipal wastewater treatment plants in China

Estimations of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWTPs) remain significant uncertainties in China owing to a lack of reliable emission factors (EFs). This study developed a framework to obtain multi-level (technology, province, and nation) GHG EFs of MWTPs using a database containing 3107 MWTPs in China and published site-specific monitoring data. Results show that GHG EFs of different technologies range widely from 180.0 to 615.7 g CO₂-eq/t wastewater, and significant differences are also observed among different provinces in China (190.5-600.3 g CO₂-eq/t wastewater), which are generally lower than the previous estimates. It confirms the importance of more detailed technology classification and considering the technological disparity of different provinces in refining GHG estimations of MWTPs. To test the feasibility of the developed EFs, we compared GHG emissions from MWTPs based on multi-level EFs at different spatial and temporal scales. Similar estimation results imply that selecting corresponding EF depending on the availability of activity data would simplify GHG estimations of MWTPs without sacrificing much accuracy. This study contributes a set of well-developed EFs to improve the estimates of GHG emissions from MWTPs, and also offers a method to develop GHG EFs for other sectors.

The evaluation of GHG emissions from Shanghai municipal wastewater treatment plants based on IPCC and operational data integrated methods (ODIM)

Due to the rapid wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) development and the China's 2060 goal of carbon neutrality, the contribution of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from WWTPs should not be overlooked. Thus, the GHG accounting method, featured with site-specific and real operation data targeting city-level WWTPs, is scientifically and pragmatically called for. In this paper, we compared IPCC (IPCC 2006 and IPCC 2019), optimized IPCC and operational data integrated methods (ODIM) for the direct N₂O and CH₄ emissions for total 50 WWTPs in Shanghai. Data for all WWTPs were collected for ODIM and indirect GHG emissions evaluation, covering frequently used wastewater treatment processes in China such as anaerobic anoxic oxic, oxidation ditch, sequencing batch reactor, anoxic oxic, biofilm and membrane bio-reactor. The factors affecting the total GHG emissions intensity were also analyzed. The results showed that, in comparison with IPCC 2019, IPCC 2006 underestimated both direct N₂O and CH₄ emissions for a total percentage of 87%. What's more, IPCC 2019 overestimated by a percentage of 355% compared to ODIM due to the general default values. ODIM considered the significant differences in emission factor values of specific treatment process, making use of the local operational data to achieve more accurate city-level estimation with direct GHG emissions of 243,320 tCO₂-eq in 2016. While indirect emissions were 511,851 tCO₂-eq, accounting for 68% of total direct and indirect emissions. Average GHGs emission intensity for Shanghai WWTPs was evaluated as 0.290 kgCO₂-eq/m³ while the specific WWTP intensity varied between 0.268 and 0.738 kgCO₂-eq/m³. In detail, WWTPs with AAO process, large-scale (>100 k m³/day), high load rate (80%-100%), low theoretical oxygen consumption (0.2- 0.4 kgO₂/t), influent COD of 150- 250 mg/L, NH₃-N of 15- 25 mg/L and discharge limits B demonstrated lower amounts of total GHG emissions than other WWTPs. Shanghai cases in this study provided a reference for future city-level WWTPs GHG management in China.

Unaerated feeding alters the fate of dissolved methane during aerobic wastewater treatment

In municipal wastewater treatment plants, some dissolved methane can enter the aerobic bioreactors. This greenhouse gas originates from sewers and return flows from anaerobic sludge treatment. In well-mixed conventional activated sludge reactors, methane emissions are largely avoided because methane oxidizing bacteria consume a large fraction, even without optimizing for this purpose. In this work, the fate of dissolved methane is studied in aerobic granular sludge reactors, as they become increasingly popular. The influence of the characteristic design and operating conditions of these reactors are studied with a mathematical model with apparent conversion kinetics and stripping: the separation of feeding and aeration in time, a higher substrate transport resistance, a high retention time of granular biomass and a taller water column. Even for a best-case scenario combining an unrealistically low intragranule substrate transport resistance, a high retention time, a tall reactor, an extremely high influent methane concentration and no oxygen limitation, the methane conversion efficiency was only 12% when feeding and aeration were separated in time, which is lower than for continuous activated sludge reactors under typical conditions. A more rigorous model was used to confirm the limited conversion, considering the multi-species and multi-substrate biofilm kinetics, anoxic methane consumers and the high substrate concentration at the bottom during upward plug flow feeding. The observed limited methane conversion is mainly due to the high concentration that accumulates during unaerated feeding phases, which favours stripping more than conversion in the subsequent aeration phase. Based on these findings, strategies were proposed to mitigate methane emissions from wastewater treatment plants with sequentially operated reactors.

Removal of Heavy Metals during Primary Treatment of Municipal Wastewater and Possibilities of Enhanced Removal: A Review

Resource reuse has become an important aspect of wastewater management. At present, use of sludge in agriculture is one of the major reuse routes. Conventional municipal wastewater treatment does not involve any designated process for removal of heavy metals, and these distribute mainly between effluent and sludge. Enhanced removal of heavy metals during primary treatment may decrease the heavy metal concentrations in both effluent and sludge from secondary treatment and promote long-term reuse of secondary sludge. This review considers heavy metal occurrence and removal during primary settling, together with possible treatment technologies for heavy metal removal in primary settlers and their theoretical performance. The variation in total heavy metal concentrations and dissolved fraction in raw municipal wastewater points to a need for site-specific assessments of appropriate technologies for improved heavy metal removal. Studies examining the heavy metal speciation beyond dissolved/particulate are few. Missing or disparate information on process parameters such as hydraulic retention time, pH and composition of return flows makes it hard to generalize the findings from studies concerning heavy metal removal in primary settlers. Coagulation/flocculation and use of low-cost sorbents were identified as the most promising methods for enhancing heavy metal removal during primary settling. Based on the available data on heavy metal speciation and removal during primary settling, sorption technologies may be most effective for enhancing the removal of Cu and Ni, while coagulation may be efficient for Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn and Hg removal (but not as efficient for Ni removal).

Estimation of greenhouse gas and odour emissions from a cold region municipal biological nutrient removal wastewater treatment plant

Seasonal temperature variations in cold regions worldwide lead to variable gas emissions from municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWTPs) due to changing wastewater temperatures in open-to-air treatment processes. The objective of this study was to determine the greenhouse gas (including carbon dioxide, CO₂; methane, CH₄; and nitrous oxide, N₂O) and odour (including ammonia, NH₃; and hydrogen sulphide, H₂S) emission rate estimates (EREs) from the open-to-air processes of a biological nutrient removal (BNR) type MWTP in Saskatoon, SK, Canada. This MWTP experiences seasonal temperatures from -40 °C to 30 °C with the resultant wastewater temperatures considered herein of 13 °C and 17 °C being chosen based on monitoring data for winter and summer, respectively. Laboratory-scale reactors simulating anaerobic, anoxic, aerobic, and settling treatment processes were used to monitor gas EREs using wastewater samples taken from the analogous MWTP processes during the winter and summer seasons. Results indicated that the overall winter EREs for CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O were 45,129 kg CO₂/d, 21.9 kg CH₄/d, and 3.20 kg N₂O/d, respectively, while the H₂S EREs were insignificant. The higher temperature for the summer samples resulted in increased EREs for CH₄, N₂O, and H₂S EREs of 33.0 kg CH₄/d, 3.87 kg N₂O/d, and 2.29 kg H₂S/d, respectively. However, the CO₂ EREs were reduced to 37,794 kg CO₂/d. Overall, the aerobic reactor was the dominant source of the GHG emissions for both seasons. In addition, studied changes in the aerobic reactor aeration rates (in reactor) and BNR treatment configurations (from site) further impacted the EREs.

Analysis of nitrous oxide emissions from aerobic granular sludge treating high saline municipal wastewater

Conventional activated sludge (CAS)-based wastewater treatment processes have the potential to emit high concentrations of nitrous oxide (N₂O) during nitrification and denitrification, which can significantly impact the environmental performance and carbon footprint of wastewater treatment operations. While N₂O emissions from CAS have been extensively studied, there is little knowledge of N₂O emissions from aerobic granular sludge (AGS) which is now an increasingly popular secondary treatment alternative. The N₂O emissions performance of AGS needs to be investigated to ensure that the positive benefits of AGS, such as increased capacity and stable nutrient removal, are not offset by higher emissions. This study quantified N₂O emissions from a pilot-scale AGS reactor operated under a range of organic loading rates. A second CAS pilot plant was operated in parallel and under identical loading rates to allow for side-by-side comparison of N₂O emissions from floc-based activated sludge. Under low loadings of <0.6 kg COD/m³/d the N₂O emission factor from AGS and CAS were similar, at around 1.46 ± 0.1% g N₂Oemitted/g ammonium loaded. A step increase in the organic loading rate increased N₂O emissions from AGS more so than CAS which appeared to be attributed to the reactor feeding strategy that was required for AGS formation. The use of a separate anaerobic feeding phase which was followed by the aeration phase, resulted in extended periods of low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations combined with an initial high biomass ammonium loading rate, which favours N₂O production and was exacerbated at higher organic loads. Conversely, the combined feeding plus aeration operation (aerobic feed) employed by the CAS system enabled a more even biomass ammonium loading rate and DO supply. This work has shown that while AGS has many operational benefits, the impacts that aeration profile, loading rate and feeding strategy have on N₂O emissions must be considered.

Influence of ventilation in H2S exposure and emissions from a gravity sewer

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of natural ventilation and intermittent pumping events in hydrogen sulfide and methane dynamics, in terms of system operation and risk of gas exposure. Work was conducted in a full scale gravity sewer downstream of pumping stations, in Portugal. Different ventilation rates and locations were assessed, as well as H₂S removal rates and potential exposure risk, through the opening of distinct manhole covers. Increased ventilation, resulting from opening of one manhole cover, saw a 38% increase in average pipe air velocity peaks, doubling the estimated rate of air turnovers per day, accompanied by an increase of nearly 20% in H₂S average removal rate. Simultaneous opening of two manhole covers induced similar airflow rates through the vent stack, but different rates throughout the pipe. H₂S removal rates were also found to differ, according to location of open manholes, but also initial H₂S headspace concentration. Under more unfavourable conditions, natural ventilation did not suffice in attaining recommended safety concentrations, regardless of number and location of open manhole covers. H₂S concentrations above defined thresholds were verified for all studied setups. Headspace oxygen concentrations below an 18.5% asphyxiation threshold also occasionally occurred, even at manholes immediately downstream of ventilation point.

Role of sludge retention time in mitigation of nitrous oxide emission from a pilot-scale oxidation ditch

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has become a focus of attention due to its significant greenhouse effect. In this study, the role of sludge retention time (SRT) in mitigation of N₂O emission from a pilot-scale oxidation ditch was systematically investigated. The activated sludge system that operated at SRT of 25 days demonstrated significantly lower N₂O emission factor, higher resistance to ammonia overload and aeration failure shock than those obtained at SRT of 15 days no matter which hydraulic retention time (HRT) was adopted. Batch experiments revealed that nitrifier denitrification (ND) was the primary mechanism of N₂O generation. However, more microbes affiliated with Nitrospira genera were harbored in the system at SRT 25 d, which could effectively avoid nitrite accumulation, a key factor promoting N₂O generation by ND. PICRUSt results further suggested the system at SRT 25 d possessed higher genetic potential for N₂O reduction reflected by the more abundant nitrous-oxide reductase.

A decade of nitrous oxide (N2O) monitoring in full-scale wastewater treatment processes: A critical review

Direct nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions during the biological nitrogen removal (BNR) processes can significantly increase the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) operations. Recent onsite measurement of N₂O emissions at WWTPs have been used as an alternative to the controversial theoretical methods for the N₂O calculation. The full-scale N₂O monitoring campaigns help to expand our knowledge on the N₂O production pathways and the triggering operational conditions of processes. The accurate N₂O monitoring could help to find better process control solutions to mitigate N₂O emissions of wastewater treatment systems. However, quantifying the emissions and understanding the long-term behaviour of N₂O fluxes in WWTPs remains challenging and costly. A review of the recent full-scale N₂O monitoring campaigns is conducted. The analysis covers the quantification and mitigation of emissions for different process groups, focusing on techniques that have been applied for the identification of dominant N₂O pathways and triggering operational conditions, techniques using operational data and N₂O data to identify mitigation measures and mechanistic modelling. The analysis of various studies showed that there are still difficulties in the comparison of N₂O emissions and the development of emission factor (EF) databases; the N₂O fluxes reported in literature vary significantly even among groups of similar processes. The results indicated that the duration of the monitoring campaigns can impact the EF range. Most N₂O monitoring campaigns lasting less than one month, have reported N₂O EFs less than 0.3% of the N-load, whereas studies lasting over a year have a median EF equal to 1.7% of the N-load. The findings of the current study indicate that complex feature extraction and multivariate data mining methods can efficiently convert wastewater operational and N₂O data into information, determine complex relationships within the available datasets and boost the long-term understanding of the N₂O fluxes behaviour. The acquisition of reliable full-scale N₂O monitoring data is significant for the calibration and validation of the mechanistic models -describing the N₂O emission generation in WWTPs. They can be combined with the multivariate tools to further enhance the interpretation of the complicated full-scale N₂O emission patterns. Finally, a gap between the identification of effective N₂O mitigation strategies and their actual implementation within the monitoring and control of WWTPs has been identified. This study concludes that there is a further need for i) long-term N₂O monitoring studies, ii) development of data-driven methodological approaches for the analysis of WWTP operational and N₂O data, and iii) better understanding of the trade-offs among N₂O emissions, energy consumption and system performance to support the optimization of the WWTPs operation.

The link between nitrous oxide emissions, microbial community profile and function from three full-scale WWTPs

Few attempts have been made in previous studies to link the microbial community structure and function with nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions at full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In this work, high-throughput sequencing and reverse transcriptase-qPCR (RT-qPCR) was applied to activated sludge samples from three WWTPs for two seasonal periods (winter and summer) and linked with the N₂O emissions and wastewater characteristics. The total N₂O emissions ranged from 7.2 to 937.0 g N-N₂O/day, which corresponds to an emission factor of 0.001 to 0.280% of the influent NH₄-N being emitted as N₂O. Those emissions were related to the abundance of Nitrotoga, Candidatus Microthrix and Rhodobacter genera, which were favored by higher dissolved oxygen (DO) and nitrate (NO₃^-) concentrations in the activated sludge tanks. Furthermore, a relationship between the nirK gene expression and N₂O emissions was verified. Detected N₂O emission peaks were associated with different process events, related to aeration transition periods, that occurred during the regular operation of the plants, which could be potentially associated to increased emissions of the WWTP. The design of mitigation strategies, such as optimizing the aeration regime, is therefore important to avoid process events that lead to those N₂O emissions peaks. Furthermore, this study also demonstrates the importance of assessing the gene expression of nosZ clade II, since its high abundance in WWTPs could be an important key to reduce the N₂O emissions.

Understanding the effect of ventilation, intermittent pumping and seasonality in hydrogen sulfide and methane concentrations in a coastal sewerage system

Gas pollutants emitted during wastewater transport contribute to atmospheric pollution, aggravated risks for utility workers, infrastructure corrosion, and odour nuisance. Field studies have shown that is difficult to effectively obtain reliable correlations between in-sewer air movement and gas pollutant concentrations. This study aimed at investigating the influence of different ventilation and operating conditions in H₂S and CH₄ horizontal and vertical movement in a section of a gravity sewer, downstream of a pumping station. Relevant liquid and gas phase quality parameters were monitored, and significant H₂S concentrations were measured (with lower contents of CH₄). Results evidenced that headspace temperature and ventilation played a key effect when analysing H₂S and CH₄ dynamics. Setups with a similar content of sulfide and chemical oxygen demand resulted in different H₂S and CH₄ headspace concentrations. It was also observed that an increase in ventilation resulted in a decrease of average headspace relative humidity of over 70%, with clear implications in corrosion potential estimates. Another interesting observation was that the wastewater drag induced by intermittent pumping, in absence of ingassing, originated pressure differences of up to 0.2 Pa m^-1 between studied manholes. This differential originated a wave pattern of gas moving upstream and downstream, thus resulting in several gas peaks per pumping event, at the same sections. In addition, in confined setups, full mixing was not observed along the manholes.

Effect of trace elements on the development of co-cultured nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation and methanogenic bacteria consortium

The aim of this work was to study the effects of key trace elements (i.e., iron, copper and molybdenum) on the development of co-cultured n-damo and methanogenic bacteria consortium, which could realize in situ CH₄ production and utilization. The results showed that rational dosage, which was 50 mg/L of Fe, 1 mg/L of Cu and 5 mg/L of Mo, significantly stimulated the removal of NO₂^-. However, the activity of microbes was noticeably inhibited at 5 mg/L of Cu and 1 mg/L of Mo. Microbial community analysis indicated that the abundances of n-damo bacteria and methanogens showed a positive response to the rational dosage. Furthermore, the expression of key functional genes was enhanced under the rational dosage condition.

Methane correction factors for estimating emissions from aerobic wastewater treatment facilities based on field data in Mexico and on literature review

Wastewater treatment (WWT) may be an important source of methane (CH₄), a greenhouse gas with significant global warming potential. Sources of CH₄ emissions from WWT facilities can be found in the water and in the sludge process lines. Among the methodologies for estimating CH₄ emissions inventories from WWT, the more adopted are the guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which recommends default emission factors (Tier 1) depending on WWT systems. Recent published results show that well managed treatment facilities may emit CH₄, due to dissolved CH₄ in the influent wastewater; in addition, biological nutrient removal also will produce this gas in the anaerobic (or anoxic) steps. However, none of these elements is considered in the current IPCC guidelines. The aim of this work is to propose modified (and new) methane correction factors (MCF) regarding the current Tier 1 IPCC guidelines for CH₄ emissions from aerobic treatment systems, with and without anaerobic sludge digesters, focusing on intertropical countries. The modifications are supported on in situ assessment of fugitive CH₄ emissions in two facilities in Mexico and on relevant literature data. In the case of well-managed centralized aerobic treatment plant, a MCF of 0.06 (instead of the current 0.0) is proposed, considering that the assumption of a CH₄-neutral treatment facility, as established in the IPCC methodology, is not supported. Similarly, a MCF of 0.08 is proposed for biological nutrient removal processes, being a new entry in the guidelines. Finally, a one-step straightforward calculation is proposed for centralized aerobic treatment plants with anaerobic digesters that avoids confusion when selecting the appropriate default MCF based on the Tier 1 IPCC guidelines.

Optical technologies applied alongside on-site and remote approaches for climate gas emission quantification at a wastewater treatment plant

Plant-integrated and on-site gas emissions were quantified from a Swedish wastewater treatment plant by applying several optical analytical techniques and measurement methods. Plant-integrated CH₄ emission rates, measured using mobile ground-based remote sensing methods, varied between 28.5 and 33.5 kg CH₄ h^-1, corresponding to an average emission factor of 5.9% as kg CH₄ (kg CH_4production) ^-1, whereas N₂O emissions varied between 4.0 and 6.4 kg h^-1, corresponding to an average emission factor of 1.5% as kg N₂O-N (kg TN _influent) ^-1. Plant-integrated NH₃ emissions were around 0.4 kg h^-1, corresponding to an average emission factor of 0.11% as kg NH₃-N (kg TN _removed) ^-1. On-site emission measurements showed that the largest proportions of CH₄ (70%) and NH₃ (66%) were emitted from the sludge treatment line (mainly biosolid stockpiles and the thickening and dewatering units), while most of the N₂O (82%) was emitted from nitrifying trickling filters. In addition to being the most important CH₄ source, stockpiles of biosolids exhibited different emissions when the sludge digesters were operated in series compared to in parallel, thus slightly increasing substrate retention time in the digesters. Lower CH₄ emissions and generally higher N₂O and NH₃ emissions were observed when the digesters were operated in series. Loading biosolids onto trucks for off-site treatment generally resulted in higher CH₄, N₂O, and NH₃ emissions from the biosolid stockpiles. On-site CH₄ and N₂O emission quantifications were approximately two-thirds of the plant-integrated emission quantifications, which may be explained by the different timeframes of the approaches and that not all emission sources were identified during on-site investigation. Off-site gas emission quantifications, using ground-based remote sensing methods, thus seem to provide more comprehensive total plant emissions rates, whereas on-site measurements provide insights into emissions from individual sources.

Does carbon-nitrogen ratio affect nitrous oxide emission and spatial distribution in subsurface wastewater infiltration system?

In order to evaluate the effects of carbon-nitrogen ratio (CNR) on nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission and quantify N₂O spatial distribution in subsurface wastewater infiltration system (SWIS), layered sampling method was introduced. Results showed that low N₂O emission rate (1.43 mg/m²·h) and conversion rate (0.1% accounting for influent TN) were obtained when CNR increased up to as high as 10. The highest N₂O emission (3.14 mg/m²·h) was observed at CNR of 6. Instead, independent of CNR variations, 0-75 cm was the main contributor for N₂O emission. The results indicated that layered sampling method is necessary in revealing N₂O spatial distribution in soil layers. Carbon source availability and nitrogen load and their ratio (i.e. CNR) determined N₂O emission rate. CNR of medium level leads to an increase in N₂O emission rate.

Large-scale multi-stage constructed wetlands for secondary effluents treatment in northern China: Carbon dynamics

Multi-stage constructed wetlands (CWs) have been proved to be a cost-effective alternative in the treatment of various wastewaters for improving the treatment performance as compared with the conventional single-stage CWs. However, few long-term full-scale multi-stage CWs have been performed and evaluated for polishing effluents from domestic wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). This study investigated the seasonal and spatial dynamics of carbon and the effects of the key factors (input loading and temperature) in the large-scale seven-stage Wu River CW polishing domestic WWTP effluents in northern China. The results indicated a significant improvement in water quality. Significant seasonal and spatial variations of organics removal were observed in the Wu River CW with a higher COD removal efficiency of 64-66% in summer and fall. Obvious seasonal and spatial variations of CH₄ and CO₂ emissions were also found with the average CH₄ and CO₂ emission rates of 3.78-35.54 mg m^-2 d^-1 and 610.78-8992.71 mg m^-2 d^-1, respectively, while the higher CH₄ and CO₂ emission flux was obtained in spring and summer. Seasonal air temperatures and inflow COD loading rates significantly affected organics removal and CH₄ emission, but they appeared to have a weak influence on CO₂ emission. Overall, this study suggested that large-scale Wu River CW might be a potential source of GHG, but considering the sustainability of the multi-stage CW, the inflow COD loading rate of 1.8-2.0 g m^-2 d^-1 and temperature of 15-20 °C may be the suitable condition for achieving the higher organics removal efficiency and lower greenhouse gases (GHG) emission in polishing the domestic WWTP effluent. The obtained knowledge of the carbon dynamics in large-scale Wu River CW will be helpful for understanding the carbon cycles, but also can provide useful field experience for the design, operation and management of multi-stage CW treatments.

Greenhouse gas emission quantification from wastewater treatment plants, using a tracer gas dispersion method

Plant-integrated methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission quantifications were performed at five Scandinavian wastewater treatment plants, using a ground-based remote sensing approach that combines a controlled release of tracer gas from the plant with downwind concentration measurements. CH₄ emission factors were between 1 and 21% of CH₄ production, and between 0.2 and 3.2% of COD influent. The main CH₄ emitting sources at the five plants were sludge treatment and energy production units. The lowest CH₄ emission factors were obtained at plants with enclosed sludge treatment and storage units. N₂O emission factors ranged from <0.1 to 5.2% of TN influent, and from <0.1 to 5.9% of TN removed. In general, measurement-based, site-specific CH₄ and N₂O emission factors for the five studied plants were in the upper range of the literature values and default emission factors applied in international guidelines. This study showed that measured CH₄ and N₂O emission rates from wastewater treatment plants were plant-specific and that emission rates estimated using models in current guidelines, mainly meant for reporting emissions on the country scale, were unsuitable for Scandinavian plant-specific emission reporting.

Dissolved methane in the influent of three Australian wastewater treatment plants fed by gravity sewers

Methane (CH₄) is an important anthropogenic greenhouse gas and a by-product of urban sewage management. In recent years and contrary to international (IPCC) consensus, pressurised (anaerobic) sewers were identified as important CH₄ sources, yet relatively little remains known regarding the role of gravity sewers in CH₄ production and conveyance. Here we provide the results of a nine month study assessing dissolved CH₄ levels in the raw influent of three large Australian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) fed by gravity sewers. Similar to recent international research and contrary to IPCC guidance, results show that gravity sewered wastewater contains moderate levels of CH₄ (≈1mgL^-1). Dissolved CH₄ concentration correlated negatively with daily sewage flow rate (i.e. inversely proportional to sewer hydraulic residence time), with daily CH₄ mass loads on average some two-fold greater under low flow (dry weather) conditions. Along with sewage hydraulic residence time, sewer sediments are thought to interact with sewage flow rate and are considered to play a key role in gravity sewer CH₄ production. A per capita load of 78gCH₄person^-1y^-1 is offered for gravity sewered wastewater entering WWTPs, with a corresponding emission estimate of up to 62gCH₄person^-1y^-1, assuming 80% water-to-air transfer of inflowing CH₄ in WWTPs with combined preliminary-primary plus secondary treatment. Results here support the emerging consensus view that hydraulic operation (i.e. gravity versus pressurised, sewage flow rate) is a key factor in determining sewer CH₄ production, with gravity sewer segments likely to play a dominant role in total CH₄ production potential for large metropolitan sewer networks. Further work is warranted to assess the scale and temporal dynamics of CH₄ production in gravity sewers elsewhere, with more work needed to adequately capture and assess the scale of diffuse sewer network CH₄ emissions from sprawling urban settlements globally.

Reduction and prediction of N2O emission from an Anoxic/Oxic wastewater treatment plant upon DO control and model simulation

In order to make a better understanding of the characteristics of N₂O emission in A/O wastewater treatment plant, full-scale and pilot-scale experiments were carried out and a back propagation artificial neural network model based on the experimental data was constructed to make a precise prediction of N₂O emission. Results showed that, N₂O flux from different units followed a descending order: aerated grit tank>oxic zone≫anoxic zone>final clarifier>primary clarifier, but 99.4% of the total emission of N₂O (1.60% of N-load) was monitored from the oxic zone due to its big surface area. A proper DO control could reduce N₂O emission down to 0.21% of N-load in A/O process, and a two-hidden-layers back propagation model with an optimized structure of 4:3:9:1 could achieve a good simulation of N₂O emission, which provided a new method for the prediction of N₂O emission during wastewater treatment.

Monitoring the aeration efficiency and carbon footprint of a medium-sized WWTP: experimental results on oxidation tank and aerobic digester

The efficiency of aeration systems should be monitored to guarantee suitable biological processes. Among the available tools for evaluating the aeration efficiency, the off-gas method is one of the most useful. Increasing interest towards reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from biological processes has resulted in researchers using this method to quantify N₂O and CO₂ concentrations in the off-gas. Experimental measurements of direct GHG emissions from aerobic digesters (AeDs) are not available in literature yet. In this study, the floating hood technique was used for the first time to monitor AeDs. The floating hood technique was used to evaluate oxygen transfer rates in an activated sludge (AS) tank of a medium-sized municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Italy. Very low values of oxygen transfer efficiency were found, confirming that small-to-medium-sized plants are often scarcely monitored and wrongly managed. Average CO₂ and N₂O emissions from the AS tank were 0.14 kg_CO2/kg_bCOD and 0.007 kg_CO2,eq/kg_bCOD, respectively. For an AeD, 3 × 10^-10 kg_CO2/kg_bCOD direct CO₂ emissions were measured, while CO_2,eq emissions from N₂O were 4 × 10^-9 kg_CO2,eq/kg_bCOD. The results for the AS tank and the AeD were used to estimate the net carbon and energy footprint of the entire plant.

Toward better understanding and feasibility of controlling greenhouse gas emissions from treatment of industrial wastewater with activated sludge

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been recognized as important sources for anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. The objective of the study was to thoroughly investigate a typical industrial WWTP in southern Taiwan in winter and summer which possesses the emission factors close to those reported values, with the analyses of emission factors, mass fluxes, fugacity, lab-scale in situ experiments, and impact assessment. The activated sludge was the important source in winter and summer, and nitrous oxide (N₂O) was the main contributor (e.g., 57 to 91 % of total GHG emission in a unit of kg carbon dioxide-equivalent/kg chemical oxygen demand). Albeit important for the GHGs in the atmosphere, the fractional contribution of the GHG emission to the carbon or nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment was negligible (e.g., less than 1.5 %). In comparison with the sludge concentration or retention time, adjusting the aeration rate was more effective to diminish the GHG emission in the activated sludge without significantly affecting the treated water quality. When the aeration rate in the activated sludge simulation was reduced by 75 %, the mass flux of N₂O could be diminished by up to 53 % (from 9.6 to 4.5 mg/m²-day). The total emission in the WWTP (including carbon dioxide, methane, and N₂O) would decrease by 46 % (from 0.67 to 0.36 kg CO₂-equiv/kg COD). However, the more important benefit of changing the aeration rate was lowering the energy consumption in operation of the WWTP, as the fractional contribution of pumping to the total emission from the WWTP ranged from 46 to 93 % within the range of the aeration rate tested. Under the circumstance in which reducing the burden of climate change is a global campaign, the findings provide insight regarding the GHG emission from treatment of industrial wastewater and the associated impact on the treatment performance and possible mitigation strategies by operational modifications.

Community dynamics of denitrifying bacteria in full-scale wastewater treatment plants

Effective and stable nitrogen removal from wastewater requires abundant and active denitrifying populations. In this study, a one-year investigation of the population dynamics of phylogenetic groups known to harbor nitrate reducers was conducted in three municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The bacterial community composition was determined by amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, and putative nitrate reducers were identified by sequencing narG and napA genes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with oligonucleotide probes targeting known nitrate reducers in wastewater revealed that certain bacteria predominated in the WWTPs: Curvibacter-related bacteria, Comamonadaceae, Azoarcus, Thauera, Dechloromonas, and Candidatus Accumulibacter within Rhodocyclaceae. The data showed high diversity in the nitrate-reducing community and a large degree of redundancy, with a relatively stable core group of bacteria in each plant that ensured small yearly variation in nitrate reduction rates.

Identifying the limitations of conventional biofiltration of diffuse methane emissions at long-term operation

There is growing international concern about the increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, particularly CO2 and methane. The emissions of methane derived from human activities are associated with large flows and very low concentrations, such as those emitted from landfills and wastewater treatment plants, among others. The present work was focused on the biological methane degradation at diffuse concentrations (0.2% vv(-1)) in a conventional biofilter using a mixture of compost, perlite and bark chips as carrier. An extensive characterization of the process was carried out at long-term operation (250 days) in a fully monitored pilot plant, achieving stable conditions during the entire period. Operational parameters such as waterings, nitrogen addition and inlet loads and contact time influences were evaluated. Obtained results indicate that empty bed residence times within 4-8 min are crucial to maximize elimination rates. Waterings and the type of nitrogen supplied in the nutrient solution (ammonia or nitrate) have a strong impact on the biofilter performance. The better results compatible with a stable operation were achieved using nitrate, with elimination capacities up to 7.6 ± 1.1 g CH4 m(-3 )h(-1). The operation at low inlet concentrations (IC) implied that removal rates obtained were quite limited (ranging 3-8 g CH4 m(-3 )h(-1)); however, these results could be significantly increased (up to 20.6 g CH4 m(-3) h(-1)) at higher IC, which indicates that the mass transfer from the gas to the liquid layer surrounding the biofilm is a key limitation of the process.

Greenhouse gas emission and microbial community dynamics during simultaneous nitrification and denitrification process

This study evaluates greenhouse gas emission and the microbial community dynamics during simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) process. Based on CO2 equivalents, the SND reactor released 4.28g of greenhouse gases each cycle. 2.91% of the incoming nitrogen load was emitted as N2O. The CO2 and N2O emissions mainly occurred in the aerobic stage and CH4 emissions were consistently near zero. Extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) contents in activated sludge increased during start-up the SND process. High-throughput sequencing showed increases in bacterial species richness, leading to changes in EPS content and composition observed using 3D-EEM fluorescence spectra. For denitrifying bacteria, the relative abundance of Pseudomonas significantly increased during the SND process, while Paracoccus decreased significantly. For phosphorus-accumulating bacteria, the relative abundance of Rhodocyclaceae also significantly increased. The relative abundance of other functional microbes, such as Nitrosomonadaceae (ammonia oxidizer), Nitrospirales (nitrite oxidizer) and Planctomyces (anammox) decreased significantly during the SND process.

Direct emissions of N2O, CO 2, and CH 4 from A/A/O bioreactor systems: impact of influent C/N ratio

Direct emissions of N2O, CO2, and CH4, three important greenhouse gases (GHGs), from biological sewage treatment process have attracted increasing attention worldwide, due to the increasing concern about climate change. Despite the tremendous efforts devoted to understanding GHG emission from biological sewage treatment process, the impact of influent C/N ratios, in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD)/total nitrogen (TN), on an anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A/A/O) bioreactor system has not been investigated. In this work, the direct GHG emission from A/A/O bioreactor systems fed with actual sewage was analyzed under different influent C/N ratios over a 6-month period. The results showed that the variation in influent carbon (160 to 500 mg/L) and nitrogen load (35 to 95 mg/L) dramatically influenced pollutant removal efficiency and GHG production from this process. In the A/A/O bioreactor systems, the GHG production increased from 26-39 to 112-173 g CO2-equivalent as influent C/N ratios decreased from 10.3/10.7 to 3.5/3.8. Taking consideration of pollutant removal efficiency and direct biogenic GHG (N2O, CO2, and CH4) production, the optimum influent C/N ratio was determined to be 7.1/7.5, at which a relatively high pollutant removal efficiency and meanwhile a low level of GHG production (30.4 g CO2-equivalent) can be achieved. Besides, mechanical aeration turned out to be the most significant factor influencing GHG emission from the A/A/O bioreactor systems.

Sulfate reduction and mixotrophic sulfide-utilization denitrification integrated biofilm process for sulfate-laden wastewater treatment and sulfur recovery

A novel and integrated biofilm process--the sulfate reduction (SR) and mixotrophic (MR) sulfide-utilization denitrification process (SMSD)--was recently proposed for sulfate treatment and sulfur recovery. The process consisted of two bioreactors: a 5.1 L anaerobic upflow reactor for SR, and a 3.5 L anaerobic upflow reactor for MR desulfurization-denitrification. The experiment was conducted for 370 days to evaluate the performance of SMSD at various sulfate concentrations and hydraulic retention times. The process successfully achieved sulfate, organics and nitrogen compound removal efficiencies of 94.1, 97.7 and 99.1%, respectively. Sulfate was predominantly converted to element sulfur, while nitrate and nitrite were finally converted to nitrogen gas. In SR, with the help of high pH and sponge cubes with various bacteria, 97.5% of sulfide conversion efficiency and 540 mgS/L of sulfide were obtained. In MR, sulfide was removed up to 100% and was partially oxidized to sulfur. The extent of heterotrophic denitrification, which ranged from 35.8 to 59.8%, depended on the categories of electron acceptors.

Energy benchmarking in wastewater treatment plants: the importance of site operation and layout

Energy benchmarking is a powerful tool in the optimization of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in helping to reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Traditionally, energy benchmarking methods focused solely on reporting electricity consumption, however, recent developments in this area have led to the inclusion of other types of energy, including electrical, manual, chemical and mechanical consumptions that can be expressed in kWh/m3. In this study, two full-scale WWTPs were benchmarked, both incorporated preliminary, secondary (oxidation ditch) and tertiary treatment processes, Site 1 also had an additional primary treatment step. The results indicated that Site 1 required 2.32 kWh/m3 against 0.98 kWh/m3 for Site 2. Aeration presented the highest energy consumption for both sites with 2.08 kWh/m3 required for Site 1 and 0.91 kWh/m3 in Site 2. The mechanical energy represented the second biggest consumption for Site 1 (9%, 0.212 kWh/m3) and chemical input was significant in Site 2 (4.1%, 0.026 kWh/m3). The analysis of the results indicated that Site 2 could be optimized by constructing a primary settling tank that would reduce the biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids and NH4 loads to the oxidation ditch by 55%, 75% and 12%, respectively, and at the same time reduce the aeration requirements by 49%. This study demonstrated that the effectiveness of the energy benchmarking exercise in identifying the highest energy-consuming assets, nevertheless it points out the need to develop a holistic overview of the WWTP and the need to include parameters such as effluent quality, site operation and plant layout to allow adequate benchmarking.

Archaeal diversity in biofilm technologies applied to treat urban and industrial wastewater: recent advances and future prospects

Biological wastewater treatment (WWT) frequently relies on biofilms for the removal of anthropogenic contaminants. The use of inert carrier materials to support biofilm development is often required, although under certain operating conditions microorganisms yield structures called granules, dense aggregates of self-immobilized cells with the characteristics of biofilms maintained in suspension. Molecular techniques have been successfully applied in recent years to identify the prokaryotic communities inhabiting biofilms in WWT plants. Although methanogenic Archaea are widely acknowledged as key players for the degradation of organic matter in anaerobic bioreactors, other biotechnological functions fulfilled by Archaea are less explored, and research on their significance and potential for WWT is largely needed. In addition, the occurrence of biofilms in WWT plants can sometimes be a source of operational problems. This is the case for membrane bioreactors (MBR), an advanced technology that combines conventional biological treatment with membrane filtration, which is strongly limited by biofouling, defined as the undesirable accumulation of microbial biofilms and other materials on membrane surfaces. The prevalence and spatial distribution of archaeal communities in biofilm-based WWT as well as their role in biofouling are reviewed here, in order to illustrate the significance of this prokaryotic cellular lineage in engineered environments devoted to WWT.