Estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from natural lagoon wastewater treatment plant: Case of Ain Taoujdate-Morocco

^a Laboratory of Applied Geophysics, Geotechnics, Engineering Geology and Environment (L3GIE); Mohammadia School of Engineering; Mohammed V University of Rabat
^b Civil Engineering and Environment Laboratory (LGCE); Materials, Water and Environment Team Higher School of Technology of Salé; Mohammed V University of Rabat

Abstract

The process of removing organic components from wastewater as BOD₅ through wastewater treatment plants has been proven to be a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, mainly methane CH₄, carbon dioxide CO₂ and nitrous oxide N₂O. The reduction of these emissions has attracted more interest given their major contribution to global warming. This study was able to identify and estimate the amount of methane and CO₂ emissions on a monthly basis by a simple modeling approach and an empirical method (IPCC) for N₂O emissions, in the case of Ain-Taoujdate wastewater treatment plant, throughout the years 2013, 2018 and 2019. The results showed that anaerobic ponds were the main source of on-site emissions with 66% of total contribution and 33% for facultative ponds, followed by the energy consumption of the pumping station as off-site GHG emissions.