Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) alleviate water pollution but also induce resource consumption and environmental impacts especially greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Wastewater treatment accounts for approximately 56% of the GHG. Energy consuming, wastewater treatment accounts for 3% of the global energy demand, a figure believed to double in the next decade. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on optimizing energy utilization in wastewater treatment facilities to mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions.

Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals for water and sanitation by 2030 urges for the integration of innovative technologies in wastewater treatment management.

With increasing demand for wastewater treatment and due to more stringent discharge regulation, the global water industry energy’s consumption is expected to double by 2040. Models predict that by 2040, worldwide wastewater treatment plants will require approximately 314 TWh of energy (see table 1).

Electric power is needed for aeration in the wastewater purification process. Aeration is necessary to help break down the organic pollution in the biological treatment process. The activated sludge process contributes for more than 50% of the total WWTP energy needs.

Committed to bringing down the operating cost of wastewater treatment, Waterleau has developed advanced technologies, increasing the aerobic treatment process efficiency and significantly reducing the energy consumption.