A new paper on GHGs mitigation of urban sanitation with focus on septic tanks—widely used non-sewered sanitation systems in many low- and middle-income countries—has been published in Water Research, one of the top journals in our field. This is the third publication in our series, following earlier two papers in Environmental Science & Technology on quantifying greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions from septic tanks and on accurate estimation and influential factor of GHGs emission (showing that approaches based solely on BOD removal rates are not appropriate).
This latest study, based on work in Hanoi, Vietnam, demonstrates that poorly functioning septic tanks and sewer networks are currently major sources of GHGs emissions in the urban sanitation service chain. It also shows that improving septic tank operation can serve as an immediate and practical mitigation measure. Furthermore, the study highlights how different scenarios of septic tank management and sewer improvement shape the types, amounts, and sources of GHGs emissions in urban sanitation.
These findings provide an important foundation for rethinking GHG reduction strategies in Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS), particularly where non-sewered sanitation remains a key part of service provision.
