Eco-efficient Prototype of Wastewater Treatment Plant Applying Clean Development Mechanism Methodologies – Mediterranean Countries

Abstract

Municipal wastewater treatment is committed reducing greenhouse gases emissions in line with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) norms in order to preserve Earth's blanket and lower climate acute changes. Greenhouse gases emissions reduction is the avant-garde of municipal wastewater treatment technologies; however, the process requires particular segmentation of all phases to contain the excessive energy required for treatment. Consequently, Energy analysis is endorsed as essential to sustain a thermodynamic equilibrium of the treatment plant with its environment. Decarbonization, denitrification & phosphorus removal urge the exploitation of sustainable energy whether recovered or renewable to engine the treatment facility. This literature values compile the eco-design of wastewater treatment plant with the avant-garde technologies of greenhouse gases emissions reduction, considering environmental aspects at all stages of treatment process, targeting the lowest possible environmental impact throughout the plant life cycle to create a CO₂-free facility prototype. UNFCCC introduced the greenhouse gases emissions definition in wastewater plants as a project design document for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project AM00801 activity. The literature adopted this project and submitted it as a friendly user interface or a Software to model an Eco-efficient management strategy for wastewater treatment plant aerobic activated sludge type with the offset of environmental footprint measures based on decision making analysis, Input-output analysis, benchmarking and energy balance, net negative emissions including environmental declaration assessing the life cycle from costing, management, and sustainability perspectives.