Yang Yuqi, Yuan Xin, Yu Longfei, Jong Mui-Choo, Pius Otwil, Zou Nan, Zuo Zhiqiang, Yang Jingyi, Zuo Jiane
Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Ecological Remediation and Carbon Sequestration, Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China.
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
Water Res X. 2025 Jan 25;28:100307. doi: 10.1016/j.wroa.2025.100307. eCollection 2025 Sep 1.
Sewer networks are essential components of urban infrastructure, yet their contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remains poorly understood. In this study, we deployed a new approach of measurements to assess methane (CH) and nitrous oxide (NO) emissions across an urban sewer network, which spans 4769.43 m and receives about 750 m of domestic sewage per day. By monitoring at 248 and 151 sites for concentrations and fluxes respectively, we confirmed local GHG hotspots. Overall, the sewer network's total GHG emissions were estimated to be 763.3 g COeq/h, with CH accounting for 99.4 % of the emissions. The mean emission factor was estimated to be 1.05 kg COeq/(m·yr). NO concentrations above the atmospheric background were detected in almost every manhole. Septic tanks ( = 19) were identified as the predominant sources, accounting for 92.5 % of emissions, while sewer pipes ( = 132) contributed the remaining 7.5 %. Emissions exhibited significant spatiotemporal variability, with daily fluctuations in CH and NO ranging from 17- to 138-fold and 3- to 5-fold, respectively. Additionally, strong correlations were observed between CH emissions and sewage temperature ( = 0.70, = 0.017), as well as manhole depth ( = 0.67, = 0.016). For NO, its emission strength was mostly related to the sewage temperature ( = 0.67, = 0.024). These findings indicate that sewage temperature and sewer ventilation are critical factors influencing non-CO GHG emissions. This study represents the first direct measurement of GHG emissions from an urban community sewer network in China, providing vital field evidence for regional GHG estimations and further management practices for GHG mitigation.
污水管网是城市基础设施的重要组成部分,但其对温室气体(GHG)排放的贡献仍知之甚少。在本研究中,我们采用了一种新的测量方法,以评估一个跨越4769.43米、日接纳约750立方米生活污水的城市污水管网中的甲烷(CH)和一氧化二氮(N₂O)排放。通过分别在248个和151个站点监测浓度和通量,我们确定了当地的温室气体热点区域。总体而言,该污水管网的温室气体总排放量估计为763.3克二氧化碳当量/小时,其中CH占排放量的99.4%。平均排放因子估计为1.05千克二氧化碳当量/(米·年)。几乎在每个检查井中都检测到高于大气背景的N₂O浓度。化粪池(n = 19)被确定为主要排放源,占排放量的92.5%,而污水管道(n = 132)贡献了其余的7.5%。排放表现出显著的时空变异性,CH和N₂O的日波动范围分别为17至138倍和3至5倍。此外,观察到CH排放与污水温度(r = 0.70,p = 0.017)以及检查井深度(r = 0.67,p = 0.016)之间存在强相关性。对于N₂O,其排放强度主要与污水温度相关(r = 0.67,p = 0.024)。这些发现表明,污水温度和污水管网通风是影响非二氧化碳温室气体排放的关键因素。本研究是中国城市社区污水管网温室气体排放的首次直接测量,为区域温室气体估算和进一步的温室气体减排管理实践提供了重要的实地证据。