Net-zero and climate-neutrality goals have been set by more than 80 water and wastewater companies globally.
Through operational optimization and GHG emission reduction measures, these utilities are driving the decarbonization of the water industry.
In a recent report titled Net Zero: The Race We All Win, global water technology giant Xylem (NYSE: XYL) describes how water management is lowering their emissions and strengthening infrastructure against climate change.
“We have a chance to assist the water sector in reducing its carbon footprint the quickest.
The solution lies with utilities, which are already experiencing the effects of climate change and aging infrastructure, as well as committed public officials, according to Patrick Decker, president and CEO of Xylem.
This report and its accompanying actions demonstrate how top water utility managers are achieving net-zero targets in a meaningful way.
These instances demonstrate how they are able to achieve so fast and affordably while also streamlining their overall business procedures.
The moment to act is now because there is technology available to address these problems.
Similar to the worldwide shipping industry, water infrastructure is responsible for 2% of global GHG emissions.
The book Net Zero: The Race We All Win covers practical strategies and tried-and-true technologies that can cut water utility emissions to zero.
Pace-setting utilities employ a variety of techniques, such as:
1. Create a clever net-zero approach with attainable, quantifiable goals for emissions reduction.
2. Use cost-neutral techniques to reduce emissions while ensuring process stability by making the best use of energy and resources across a network.
3. Incorporate net-zero targets into capital planning, including net-zero standards into current procedures and the flow of routine decision-making
4. Transform wastewater from a byproduct that needs to be managed to a resource by moving from treatment to resource recovery.
South Bend, Indiana’s City is one of the success tales featured in the newspaper.
The volume of combined sewer overflow was reduced by the city by more than 70% thanks to technology.
This stopped the unnecessary building of new grey infrastructure and got rid of the embedded carbon that went along with it.
The city increased capacity utilization and system performance and produced environmental gains 10 to 15 years earlier than expected.
“While the city has saved almost $500 million in capital work savings as the headline figure of our efforts, the impact on our carbon footprint should not be ignored.”
We have significantly reduced our carbon footprint by averting a sizable building project and extending the lifespan of our infrastructure using smart technology, according to Kieran Fahey, Director, of the Long-Term Control Plan at the Department of Public Works, City of South Bend.
Another illustration is the energy use reduction of EWE WASSER GmbH (EWE), one of Germany’s leading wastewater firms, in Cuxhaven, which decreased energy consumption by 30% in some processes.
The reductions ensured high water quality while saving 1.1 million kWh annually, which is enough energy to power 275 homes for a year.
The plant has the capacity to treat wastewater for 400,000 people.
At WEFTEC 2022 and European Energy Efficiency Day this week, as well as at the COP27 climate change summit in Egypt next month, Xylem executives will be facilitating discussions on decarbonization.
The “Net Zero Carbon Champion” title was given to Xylem at the 2022 Global Water Awards.
This honor honored the company’s efforts to quicken the decarbonization of the water industry as well as its commitment to collaborate with utilities, companies and water management all around the world to lessen carbon emissions.
It also recognized the company’s dedication to sustainability, which has already resulted in a reduction of almost 1 million metric tonnes in the CO2 footprint of its water consumers over the past two years.
Source: Xylem
