Water Research Australia is excited to announce the launch of a major international collaboration to tackle one of the water industry’s biggest net-zero challenges: nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from wastewater treatment plants.
N₂O, a potent greenhouse gas, accounts for 80% of direct emissions from these facilities, making its reduction critical for utilities aiming to meet climate targets. Current barriers, such as inconsistent monitoring methods, have hindered progress. This collaboration, supported by the Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC) and Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), brings together 13 global partners and experts to develop a standardised methodology for monitoring and reducing N₂O emissions. WaterRA is coordinating the research effort to ensure utilities worldwide can implement best practices for more accurate and consistent emissions data collection.
“The methodology developed through this project will provide the foundation for utilities to gather reliable and comparable data on N₂O emissions, allowing for more consistent monitoring practices across the sector,” WaterRA Research Manager Vincent Bianchini said. While the project itself focuses on creating the methodology for quantification and monitoring, the data collected using this approach can later be used to identify the least emitting processes, laying the groundwork for emissions reduction.
“This global collaboration, led by WaterRA, is a crucial step toward adopting best practices across the sector and unlocking significant benefits for the global water industry. It emphasises the importance of international coordination in addressing complex challenges and reinforces WaterRA’s leadership in advancing critical research for a sustainable future.”
WaterRA also recognises the valuable support from GWRC and WSAA in establishing this project, which is essential for aligning the global water sector with net-zero goals.