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<p>Conclusive evidence has emerged showing substantial methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) emissions from sewer systems, contradictory to the ‘zero emission’ assumption made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. However, the global magnitude of sewer CH<sub>4</sub> emissions remains unknown. By ingeniously integrating mechanistic and knowledge-supported data-driven modelling, we have derived from the relatively small datasets available a simple set of robust and interpretable equations to estimate CH<sub>4</sub> emissions from sewer networks based on readily available information such as sewer geometry, the design and actual dry weather flows, and wastewater temperature. With this tool, we estimate that, globally, sewers emit 1.18–1.95 Tg CH<sub>4</sub> yr<sup>−1</sup> (95% confidence interval), adding 15.7–37.6% to the currently estimated carbon footprint of wastewater management and 1.7–3.3% to the currently estimated global methane emissions by the waste sector. Our developed tool can reliably and efficiently estimate sewer methane emissions, supporting water authorities globally to establish emissions inventories and pursue carbon-neutral wastewater management.</p>

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Estimating methane emissions from global sewer networks

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月2日

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  • Keshab Sharma,
  • Jiuling Li,
  • Tao Liu,
  • John Willis,
  • Yiwen Liu,
  • Zhiyu Zhang,
  • Zhiguo Yuan

摘要

Conclusive evidence has emerged showing substantial methane (CH4) emissions from sewer systems, contradictory to the ‘zero emission’ assumption made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. However, the global magnitude of sewer CH4 emissions remains unknown. By ingeniously integrating mechanistic and knowledge-supported data-driven modelling, we have derived from the relatively small datasets available a simple set of robust and interpretable equations to estimate CH4 emissions from sewer networks based on readily available information such as sewer geometry, the design and actual dry weather flows, and wastewater temperature. With this tool, we estimate that, globally, sewers emit 1.18–1.95 Tg CH4 yr−1 (95% confidence interval), adding 15.7–37.6% to the currently estimated carbon footprint of wastewater management and 1.7–3.3% to the currently estimated global methane emissions by the waste sector. Our developed tool can reliably and efficiently estimate sewer methane emissions, supporting water authorities globally to establish emissions inventories and pursue carbon-neutral wastewater management.