Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
AMT
Articles | Volume 19, issue 15
Articles | Volume 19, issue 15
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-5157-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-5157-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 19, issue 15
Research article
 | 
10 Aug 2026
Research article |  | 10 Aug 2026

Measured methane emissions from a metropolitan wastewater treatment lagoon in Victoria Australia are substantially higher than report emissions based on emission factors

Mei Bai, Pieter de Jong, Ellen Tao, and Deli Chen

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Cited articles

Bai, M., Wang, Z., Lloyd, J., Seneviratne, D., Flesch, T., Yuan, Z., and Chen, D.: Long-term onsite monitoring of a sewage sludge drying pan finds methane emissions consistent with IPCC default emission factor, Water Res. X, 19, 100184, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wroa.2023.100184, 2023. 
Bai, M., Wang, Z., Seneviratne, D., Lloyd, J., De Jong, P., Ye, L., and Chen, D.: Substantial ammonia emissions from sludge drying pans in wastewater treatment plants, Nature Water, 3, 1125–1132, https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-025-00479-8, 2025. 
Bartram, D., Short, M. D., Ebie, Y., Farkaš, J., Gueguen, C., Peters, G. M., Zanzottera, N. M., and Karthik, M.: Wastewater Treatmnet and Discharge, in: 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. Vol. 5. Waste”, Chap. 6, National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme, International Panel on Climate Change, https://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2019rf/pdf/5_Volume5/19R_V5_6_Ch06_Wastewater.pdf (last access: 20 June 2026), 2019. 
Bühler, M., Häni, C., Ammann, C., Brönnimann, S., and Kupper, T.: Using the inverse dispersion method to determine methane emissions from biogas plants and wastewater treatment plants with complex source configurations, Atmos. Environ. X, 13, 100161, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeaoa.2022.100161, 2022. 
Czepiel, P. M., Crill, P. M., and Harriss, R. C.: Methane emissions from municipal wastewater treatment processes, Environ. Sci. Technol., 27, 2472–2477, https://doi.org/10.1021/es00048a025, 1993. 
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Short summary
For the first time, real-time methane (CH4) emissions from an open aerated sewage treatment lagoon were measured during winter and summer seasons in Australia. The study found that: 1. The emissions accounted for 25 % of CH4 production at the aeration digestion facilities. 2. The measured CH4 emissions were 2 times higher than estimates based on default emission factors. We recommend that urgent action is needed to mitigate CH4 emissions at wastewater treatment plants.
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