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The anerobic decomposition of organic components of wastewater
produces methane and nitrous oxides. The carbon dioxide produced from aerobic decomposition and
from the incineration of sewage sludge is not included in the inventory,
because the carbon is wastewater is assumed to be produced sustainably, giving
a net zero emissions. Rhode
Island data on the total amount of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5)
produced in the state were not available, and so the Workbook default
of 0.136 lbs of BOD5 per day was used along with Rhode Island
population data to estimate total BOD5 production.
The default assumption that 15% of this material is decomposed
anerobically leads to an estimate of ca. 12,000 MTCE, a 0.3% contribution from
wastewater to the total greenhouse gas emissions, approximately one-third from
methane and two-thirds from nitrous oxide.
The calculation appears in the Wastewater appendix.
Note that the slight reduction in emissions between 1990 and 1996
results solely from a small decrease in the state’s population in this time
period.
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Greenhouse Gas Inventory for Rhode Island September 2000 Prepared by Brown University Center For Environmental Studies
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