MARCH 17, 2016 CWEA SPECIALTY WORKSHOP IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON CA WASTEWATER FACILITIES Managing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/1 Sarah A. Deslauriers, P.E. Senior Technologist Carollo Engineers, Inc.
California requires reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions statewide Assembly Bill 32 sets targets for GHG emissions: 1990 levels by 2020 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 Governor s 2015 Executive Order requires an interim target: 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/2
AB 32 Climate Change Scoping Plan outlines key strategies for reducing GHGs CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/3 Priorities for next 5 years Progress toward meeting 2020 goals 9 economic sectors for setting long term goals: transportation, energy, water, waste management, agriculture, natural and working lands, short-lived climate pollutants, green buildings, and cap-andtrade
POTWs can contribute toward statewide 2020 targets set for various sectors Increase renewable energy production (33%) Decrease carbon intensity of fuel (10%) Divert waste from landfill (75%) Reduce GHGs to 1990 levels CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/4
Governor s 2030 targets aim to reduce GHG emissions 40% below 1990 levels CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/5 50% renewable energy Reduce short-lived climate pollutants (e.g., methane) 50% reduction petroleum use in vehicles Double energy efficiency at existing buildings Increase carbon sequestration on farms, rangelands, forests and wetlands
POTWs may report GHGs, but are not a target for reducing GHGs CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/6 Mandatory reporting Stationary combustion units Electricity generating units Threshold: 10,000 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (mtco 2 e) emissions per calendar year Cap-and-trade Threshold: 25,000 fossil fuel based mtco 2 e emissions per calendar year Pay for allowances to emit Gradual decrease of allowances ARB is looking beyond stationary combustion sources
ARB wants to understand GHG emission sources and sinks at POTWs Wastewater Headworks Primary Treatment Secondary Treatment Tertiary/ Disinfection Recycled Water Electricity Thickening Effluent Use CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/7 Chemicals Fuel Organics/ Food Waste Anaerobic Digestion Dewatering Biogas Use Biosolids Use Electricity Fuel Soil Amendment
ARB & other state agencies are learning POTWs face conflicting objectives Headworks Primary Treatment Secondary Treatment Tertiary/ Disinfection Wastewater Discharge/Reuse SWRCB/RWQCB, CDPH Thickening Onsite Energy Generation ARB, Local AQMD, CEC, CPUC CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/8 Organics/ Food Waste SWRCB/RWQCB Anaerobic Digestion Dewatering Biogas Use Biosolids Use Pipeline Injection ARB, CPUC Transportation Fuel ARB, CEC Land Application EPA, County Ordinances Compost EPA Alternative Daily Cover ARB, CalRecycle Landfill ARB, CalRecycle
Water quality objective vs air quality objective Water Quality Objective: Nitrogen Removal Nitrification Denitrification Air Quality Objective: GHG Reduction Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O) CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/9 N 2 O varies diurnally, seasonally, geographically, and by treatment train: ph Nitrite concentration Temperature
ARB is looking at potential additional and uncertain sources of N 2 O Goal: Develop N 2 O emissions estimates and/or emission factors for liquids and solids treatment Provided ARB: Information on typical solids management strategies Draft survey (to characterize liquids treatment across CA) We will need your help responding to the survey! CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/10 Your feedback will also inform the CA Nitrogen Assessment by UC Davis and the Healthy Soils Initiative
Key strategy for meeting the 2030 target is reducing methane (CH 4 ) emissions! 50% of CA s CH 4 emissions come from organic waste streams 20% of CA s CH 4 emissions come from landfills CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/11 ARB, CalRecycle, & SWRCB: Co-digestion of wastewater solids with organic waste diverted from landfills is part of the solution! CASA estimates the wastewater sector has existing capacity to codigest up to 75% of food waste and FOG currently landfilled
Effective use of each product depends on the plant s operations & community s needs Electricity Generation Primary Treatment Thickening Secondary Treatment Biogas Transportation Fuel Pipeline Injection Flare Wasted Resource Organics/ Food Waste Anaerobic Digestion Biosolids/ Digestate Land Application Compost Dewatering Alternative Daily Cover CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/12 Landfill Wasted Resource
Biogas is a renewable byproduct that provides multiple uses and benefits CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/13 Offsets purchase of fossil fuel based electricity and transportation fuel Reliable, renewable energy/fuel source Biogenic source of GHG emissions (i.e., reduces fossil fuel based GHGs) Electricity Generation Biogas biomassmagazine Transportation Fuel
Land application of biosolids/compost provides multiple benefits as well Offsets inorganic fertilizer production/use Increases soil carbon content and stability Increases water retention capacity Increases nutrient use efficiency Sequesters carbon in the soil below Increase crop yield CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/14
Example comparison: Landfill vs Anaerobic Digestion/Land Application Thickening Landfill Dewatering Thickening Anaerobic Digestion Biogas Onsite Electricity Use Land Application CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/15 Dewatering Biosolids
Assumptions: Landfill vs Anaerobic Digestion/Land Application Landfill Dewatering (add polymer) Transport to landfill (25 miles) Anaerobic Digestion to Land Application Anaerobic digestion Biogas Onsite electricity generation CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/16 Landfill - methane capture & destruction (no beneficial use) Biosolids Dewatering (add polymer) Transport to land application site (25 miles) Land application
GHG emissions estimating terminology Scope 1 - direct emissions (onsite stationary combustion) Scope 2 - purchased electricity, heat, or steam Scope 3 - production of purchased materials and use of end products Comparison of 100-Year GWP Estimates Gas CO 2 equivalents (CO 2 e) Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) 1 CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/17 Methane (CH 4 ) 25 Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O) 298 Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report
Carbon (C) value estimate: Landfill Thickening GHG Emissions (CO 2, CH 4, N 2 O) Landfill Dewatering Electricity Polymer Fuel 12,140,000 MT CO 2 e CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/18 ~7,500,000 dry tons of solids are produced annually in the U.S. Dewatering Polymer Solids Hauling Landfill Equivalent to ~2,340,000 vehicles
C-value estimate: Anaerobic Digestion/Land Application Thickening GHG Emissions (CO 2, CH 4, N 2 O) Anaerobic Digestion Biogas Heat Biosolids Onsite Electricity Use Land Application Dewatering Electricity Polymer Fuel Fuel CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/19
Anaerobic Digestion/Land Application of biosolids is a net carbon sink! 4,780,000 MT CO 2 e -15,190,000 MT CO 2 e CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/20 Engine Dewatering + Digestion Polymer Solids Hauling/Spreading Renewable Electricity C-Sequestration Fertilizer Offset Equivalent to removing over 2,100,000 passenger vehicles from the roads for a year or ~1.2 billion gallons of gasoline
Anaerobic Digestion/Land Application of biosolids is a net carbon sink! 4,780,000 MT CO 2 e -15,200,000 MT CO 2 e CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/21 Engine Dewatering + Digestion Polymer Solids Hauling/Spreading Renewable Electricity C-Sequestration Fertilizer Offset Increase in carbon content of the soil below, 10-30% increase in water holding capacity, and increase in crop yields
Co-digesting additional organic feedstock increases the net carbon sink FOG Gas Production High Strength Organics Food Wastes Sludge CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/22 Feedstocks
Additional biogas can be conditioned for pipeline injection or vehicle use Avoids combustion onsite Extremely low carbon intensity fuel Eligible for funding incentives CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/23
CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/24 We live in a world of limited resources and changing environmental conditions
POTWs recover resources and generate renewable resources Generated renewable biogas replaces fossil fuel based electricity/fuel Recovered biosolids replaces synthetic fertilizer Recycled water replaces potable water use CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/25
While climate change is presenting challenges to the state and POTWs Headworks Primary Treatment Secondary Treatment Tertiary/ Disinfection Discharge/Reuse SWRCB/RWQCB Solids Anaerobic Digestion Biogas Onsite Energy Generation AB 32, SB 1122, Rule 1110.2 (SCAQMD) Pipeline Injection SB 1122, AB 1900 Organics/ Food Waste Transportation Fuel ARB LCFS CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/26 Digestate Land Application Compost Alternative Daily Cover AB 1594 Landfill AB 341, CalRecycle
While climate change is presenting challenges to the state and POTWs Headworks Primary Treatment Secondary Treatment Tertiary/ Disinfection Protecting public and environmental health Drought proof water supply Nutrient recovery Solids Anaerobic Digestion Biogas Renewable energy Low carbon fuel CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/27 Organics/ Food Waste ultimately POTWs are the backbone of resilient communities Digestate Reduce GHGs by offsetting fossil fuel purchase Immediate option for organic waste diversion Soil amending product for agriculture or reclaiming fireravaged land Reduce GHGs by offsetting synthetic fertilizer production/use
CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/28 Questions? Sarah Deslauriers sdeslauriers@carollo.com (925) 977-3148
CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/29 Goal: Define role of N in the global food supply (focus is CA) Study looks at drivers, mass balance, practices/ technologies, policies, etc. Pros Municipal wastewater management can play a critical role in the nitrogen cycle Land applying biosolids is an "important opportunity for recycling organic N back to soil systems. Cons References only one study on N 2 O process emissions 1990 census data to estimate WWTP and septic tank N impacts No coordination with ARB efforts yet, but is planned
Healthy Soils Initiative to increase carbon in CA soils Goal: Increase soil organic matter in California s agricultural lands, producing benefits for water retention, soil stability, nutrient use efficiency, and GHG reductions Short (within a year) and long (1-5 years) term goals CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/30
Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy - POTWs part of the solution!! Requires SLCP reduction: methane, black carbon, tropospheric ozone, etc. Implementation Strategy to be developed from this and adopted Spring 2016 http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/s hortlived/shortlived.htm CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/31
CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/32 Good news for POTWs in the SLCP Reduction Strategy Putting Organic Waste to its Most Beneficial Use highlights organic material from wastewater treatment ARB states wastewater contributes a small amount (4%) Minimize Fugitive Methane Emissions from all Infrastructure and Equipment suggests increasing capture and use of biogas at POTWs Maximize Resource Recovery from Wastewater Treatment Facilities states it will work with the SWRCB to identify ways to: Increase the role POTWs can play in reducing SLCPs Expand its role in diverting organic waste and putting it to beneficial use Focus not only on water quality, but also maximize resource recovery from a wide array of waste streams and potential end products
Bioenergy projects and biomethane production at POTWs encouraged CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/33 SB 1122 Bioenergy Projects Directs electrical corporations to procure 250 MW of generating capacity from bioenergy projects (110 MW to come from urban waste or wastewater digesters) AB 1900 Biomethane Requires CPUC to facilitate the injection of biomethane into the common carrier pipeline by establishing standards which will protect public health and pipeline integrity Phases of the proceedings examine: Pipeline Integrity Health Impacts Interconnection Costs
CO 2 emissions related to bioenergy and other biogenic sources Revised framework for assessing biogenic CO 2 emissions from stationary sources released November 2014 Being peer reviewed by Scientific Advisory Board Asst Administrator Janet McCabe issued memo to EPA s Regional Air Division Directors stating: CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/34 waste-derived feedstocks will likely have minimal or no net atmospheric contributions of biogenic CO 2 emissions http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/biogenicemissions.html Federal GHG Tailoring Rule is being modified GHG emissions alone cannot bring you into PSD and Title V permitting programs Only very large facilities already in a program may exceed GHG thresholds and bring GHGs into the programs
South Coast AQMD Rule 1110.2 limits on engines may discourage onsite use of biogas CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/35 Purpose: Reduce Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and Carbon Monoxide (CO) from all stationary and portable engines over 50 rated brake horsepower (bhp) Issue for POTWs: NOx limits are quite low and expensive to meet - may make flaring (wasting) biogas a competitive (more reliable and compliant) alternative
CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/36 Legislation in support of GHG reductions is calling for waste diversion from landfills AB 341 requires 75% of solid waste to be source reduced, recycled, or composted by year 2020 AB 32 Scoping Plan goal for Waste Management sector targets elimination of organic waste from landfills by 2025 AB 1594 requires green waste no longer qualify for diversion credit when used as alternative daily cover (ADC) at a landfill Benefit: POTWs are part of the solution for organic waste diversion Issue for POTWs: Future use of biosolids as ADC is uncertain
Governor s Draft FY 16/17 Budget: Cap-and-Trade Auction Proceeds ($3.1B) DRAFT Increase to $75M for POTWs Requested $40M for POTWs CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/37 1. Budget reflects balance of proceeds not used in FY 2015-16 2. Comment letter submitted January 28th Requested $200k for research
The Governor also addressed the need for adapting our state to climate change CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/38 Incorporate impacts into state's Five-Year Infrastructure Plan Update Safeguarding California plan identify how climate change will affect infrastructure and industry Identify actions to reduce risks Factor climate change into state agencies' planning and investment decisions Implement measures under existing agency/departmental authority to reduce GHGs
State is creating an online sea level rise planning database (per AB 2516) CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/39 Existing studies/data from state level public (RWQCBs and SWRCB) and private agencies Data collection by July 1, 2015 No $ allocated to Ocean Protection Council and CA Natural Resources Agency Information to feed into the 5- year Infrastructure Plan and Safeguarding California plan Database update every six months from January 1, 2016 through January 1, 2018
Use of these resources supports goals to increase a community s resilience CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/40 National Renewable Fuel Standard Clean Power Plan (on hold) State Renewable Portfolio Standards Low Carbon Fuel Standards Local/City Climate Action Plans Mayor s Climate Protection Agreement 100 Resilient Cities
Most states have renewable/alternative energy goals & 34 have climate plans CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/41 http://www.c2es.org/us-states-regions/policy-maps/renewable-energy-standards
Resources you can use to start estimating the C-value of your solids! CarolloTemplateWaterWave.pptx/42 Biosolids Emissions Assessment Model (BEAM) http://www.ccme.ca/en/resources/waste/biosolids.html EPA Waste Reduction Model (WARM) http://www3.epa.gov/warm/warm_form.html WERF Combined Heat Energy Assessment and Plant Emissions Tool (CHEApet) http://cheapet.werf.org/documentation/owso4r07c%20web.pdf Research at different Institutions/Agencies: Dr. Sally Brown, University of WA Guanglong Tian, MWRD of Greater Chicago Others