Advancing carbon accounting methods in the water and wastewater sector

The world is moving towards carbon neutrality and with it so is water and wastewater treatment. The English Water sector is a leader in NetZero with the first global sector-wide NetZero commitment. However, this company led target cannot be justified without accurate, relevant, complete, consistent and transparent carbon accounting. This study focuses on the unique position of the Water Sector, utilising the Carbon Accounting Workbook as a leading sector-wide emissions accounting tool. With a NetZero operational target approaching, the study, initiated by collaborators at Northumbrian Water Limited, challenges the current reporting process. A Red Amber Green assessment exposes 18% of emission factors in the CAW with medium to high inaccuracies. The paper delves into misclassified scopes, identifies emission hotspots, and assesses the costs of abatement strategies. Overall, it calls for improved data reliability and aligning practices with evolving emission reduction goals.