Proceedings

With the implementation of the Water Framework Directive there is likely to be a necessity for
tighter effluent consent standards and more extensive wastewater treatment. With the pursuit
of environmental targets such as higher final effluent quality there may be adverse impacts on
other important aspects of the environment, such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy
consumption, material and chemical use and waste. WRc were commissioned by UKWIR to
develop a spreadsheet tool that water companies could use to determine the effect of
wastewater treatment process changes on a suite of key sustainability indicators. The model
was run to meet a suite of consent standards to be met by a water company. The results
provided a quantified estimate of the increase in greenhouse gas emissions to the company’s
baseline of these changes.

KEY WORDS
Carbon, Greenhouse Gas, Sustainability, Wastewater, Water Framework Directive