Environmental Impact Analysis and Carbon Emission Reduction Pathways by Upgrading Wastewater Treatment Plant: A Case Study of Upgrading Project at a Wastewater Treatment Plant in Dongguan, China

Abstract

The potential environmental impact and increased operational costs associated with the upgrading and renovation of sewage treatment plants are acknowledged. This study employs the upgrading and expansion project of a municipal sewage plant in Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, as a case study. Utilizing the principles and methods of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a comprehensive assessment of the environmental benefits during the upgrading and renovation process of the sewage treatment plant, is conducted and targeted solutions are proposed. The research findings indicate that upgrading and renovating sewage treatment plants can significantly augment the adverse environmental effects of such facilities. Therefore, this study strategically proposes measures such as the utilization of clean energy, sludge resource utilization, and recycled water use as carbon emission reduction pathways. Through calculations, it is demonstrated that the utilization of clean energy and sludge resource can respectively reduce electricity consumption by 12.41% and 59.06%. Concurrently, recycled water use can lead to a reduction of 68.65% in carbon emissions, thereby markedly enhancing positive environmental outcomes.