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.
Methane (CH4) emissions from domestic and industrial wastewater treatment in the United States from 1990 to 2022
(in million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent)
* Industrial activity for CH₄ includes the pulp and paper manufacturing, meat and poultry processing, fruit and vegetable processing, starch-based ethanol production, petroleum refining, and breweries industries.
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Environmental Protection Agency. (April 11, 2024). Methane (CH4) emissions from domestic and industrial wastewater treatment in the United States from 1990 to 2022 (in million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/883247/wastewater-treatment-methane-emissions-us/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Environmental Protection Agency. "Methane (CH4) emissions from domestic and industrial wastewater treatment in the United States from 1990 to 2022 (in million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent)." Chart. April 11, 2024. Statista. Accessed February 17, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/883247/wastewater-treatment-methane-emissions-us/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Methane (CH4) emissions from domestic and industrial wastewater treatment in the United States from 1990 to 2022 (in million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 17, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/883247/wastewater-treatment-methane-emissions-us/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Environmental Protection Agency. "Methane (Ch4) Emissions from Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Treatment in The United States from 1990 to 2022 (in Million Metric Tons of Co₂ Equivalent)." Statista, Statista Inc., 11 Apr 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/883247/wastewater-treatment-methane-emissions-us/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed
Environmental Protection Agency, Methane (CH4) emissions from domestic and industrial wastewater treatment in the United States from 1990 to 2022 (in million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/883247/wastewater-treatment-methane-emissions-us/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed (last visited February 17, 2025)
Methane (CH4) emissions from domestic and industrial wastewater treatment in the United States from 1990 to 2022 (in million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent) [Graph], Environmental Protection Agency, April 11, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/883247/wastewater-treatment-methane-emissions-us/?__sso_cookie_checker=failed