Research progress in carbon footprint management in urban water systems

Abstract:

Under the "dual-carbon" goals, urban water systems, characterized by substantial energy consumption, chemical dosage, and carbon emissions, have emerged as a critical field for carbon footprint management and control, urgently requiring the exploration of low-carbon development pathways and sustainable operation and maintenance strategies. This study focuses on the key infrastructures of urban water systems, including drinking water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, and water supply and drainage networks. The main sources, characteristics, and formation mechanisms of carbon footprints within urban water systems are systematically reviewed. The core approaches and feasible strategies for carbon mitigation across drinking water production, wastewater treatment, and water conveyance processes are summarized. Drinking water treatment plants should focus on controlling operational energy consumption and chemical consumption by advancing material development, optimizing treatment processes, implementing intelligent operation, and adopting clean energy alternatives. Wastewater treatment plants, in addition to these measures, are required to incorporate additional energy recovery and resource utilization modules, ensuring the implementation of carbon offset strategies. Water supply and drainage networks should be anchored in scientific planning and rational spatial layout, supplemented by source wastewater reduction, routine pipeline maintenance, and dynamic pressure regulation to limit pumping energy. In addition, an implementation framework and recommendations for coordinated carbon footprint management and control in urban water systems are proposed, providing theoretical and technical support for the low-carbon transition and sustainable development of urban water systems.