Greenhouse gas emissions from stabilization ponds in subtropical climate

Abstract

Waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) are a cost-efficient method to treat municipal and non-toxic industrial effluents. Numerous studies have shown that WSPs are a source of greenhouse gas (GHG). However, most reports concerned anaerobic ponds (AP) and few have addressed GHG emissions from facultative (FP) and aerobic/maturation ponds (MPs). In this paper, GHG emissions from three WSP in series are presented. These WSPs were designed as anaerobic, facultative and aerobic/maturation and were treating agricultural wastewater. CH4 fluxes from 0.6 +/- 0.4 g CH4 m(-2) d(-1) in the MP, to 7.0 +/- 1.0 g CH4 m(-2) d(-1) in the (AP), were measured. A linear correlation was found between the loading rates of the ponds and CH4 emissions. Relatively low CO2 fluxes (0.2 +/- 0.1 to 1.0 +/- 0.8 g CO2 m(-2) d(-1)) were found, which suggest that carbonate/bicarbonate formation is caused by alkaline pH. A mass balance performed showed that 30% of the total chemical oxygen demand removed was converted to CH4. It has been concluded that the WSP system studied emits at least three times more GHG than aerobic activated sludge systems and that the surface loading rate is the most important design parameter for CH4 emissions.

Oxidation pond for municipal wastewater treatment

“…In general, wastewater treatment processes contribute to 5 % of the greenhouse gas production in the world, where anaerobic treatment methods are the most responsible (Cakir and Stenstrom 2005). According to Hernandez- Paniagua et al (2014), stabilization ponds typically emit 85 g/m 2 day of CO 2 and 86 g/m 2 day of CH 4 , with nitrous oxide levels significantly lower. In fact, methane emissions in a waste stabilization pond were reported to be twice as high compared to activated sludge systems (HernandezPaniagua et al 2014).…”

Methane emissions from stabilization ponds for municipal wastewater treatment in Mexico

“…SP are considered by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a source of CH 4 emissions (Todd et al 2011); anaerobic pons are responsible for most of the GHG production in a pond system, with more than 90% of its total emission (Hernandez-Paniagua et al 2013). …”

Research hotspots and current challenges of lakes and reservoirs: a bibliometric analysis

“…In contrast to limited concern about GHG emissions from lakes and reservoirs, their GHG emissions have recently become a research hotspot thanks to growing recognition of their roles in global processes and cycles (Bartosiewicz et al 2015;Wang et al 2017). Plus, it was found that, together with hydropower reservoirs, WSPs produced significantly GHGs as a result of their high inputs of organic matter and nutrients, leading to the elevated emissions (Hernandez-Paniagua et al 2014;Glaz et al 2016).…”