Why is mitigating methane important and what does it have to do with wastewater? Come learn about municipal wastewater and methane emissions in India. We will explore the nexus of water, energy, and methane emissions
India, a nation with a population that has surged from around 683 million in 1981 to over 1.3 billion in 2021, faces an immense challenge in managing its wastewater. The daily generation of sewage is about 72,368 million liters (MLD). While the total sewage treatment capacity is 31,841 MLD spread across 1,469 sewage treatment plants (STPs), the operational capacity is only 26,869 MLD and over 1,093 STPs, indicating a significant gap. Wastewater treatment facilities represent a significant source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Tetra Tech and TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute, India) conducted a study in support of the Global Methane Initiative (GMI) focusing on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the municipal wastewater sector in India. The study analyzed secondary sources of information and compiled a comprehensive report providing national estimates of GHG emissions, specifically methane emissions.