Methane emissions from wastewater treatment in the U.S. 1990-2022
Wastewater treatment in the United States produced around 21 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e) of methane (CH₄) in 2022. Domestic treatment accounted for the largest portion of CH₄ emissions that year, at nearly 12 MtCO₂e. Meanwhile, industrial wastewater treatment released 6.7 MtCO₂e.