The Characteristics and Estimation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Urban Sewer Systems in Southern China

Longjie Li, Yuou Sang, Xinyuan Wang, Tangfang Zhai, Chen Cai, Jilong Ren and Xiaona Ma ()
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Longjie Li: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
Yuou Sang: Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Xinyuan Wang: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
Tangfang Zhai: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
Chen Cai: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
Jilong Ren: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
Xiaona Ma: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: Carbon emission fluxes in urban sewer systems and the microbial community structure in sewer sediments remain unclear. In this study, a sewer system located in southern China was utilized to investigate the water quality characteristics. The results showed that the chemical oxygen demand loss rates in the branch pipe and sub-main pipe were 27.1% and 14.1%, respectively. The estimated carbon emission flux was estimated by the carbon emission factor method. The results revealed that the total carbon emission flux from the sewer system was 1.39 kg CO 2 -eq/m 3 and the emission fluxes of methane and carbon dioxide were 0.87 kg CO 2 -eq/m 3 and 0.51 kg CO 2 -eq/m 3 , accounting for 62% and 36.4%. The microbial community structure was analyzed by 16S rRNA. The results indicated that the methanogenic archaea in the sediments of the branch pipe and sub-main pipe were Methanobacterium , Methanosaeta , and Methanobrevibacter . The methanogenic activity of the sewer sediments was further assessed. This study further confirmed that the branch pipe and sub-main pipe were the main sources of carbon emissions and methane and carbon dioxide are the main greenhouse gases in the sewer system. This study furnishes novel insights for the control of carbon emissions in municipal sewage systems.

Keywords: sewer system; carbon emission flux; methane; sediment; microbial community (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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