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Audit-Ready Carbon Reporting for Water Utilities

Track electricity for pumping and treatment, wastewater N2O and methane emissions, and embedded carbon in water supply—measuring the water-energy nexus.

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The Industry Hotspot: Electricity for Pumping and Treatment

60-70% from electricity

For water utilities, 60-70% of emissions are Scope 2 from electricity consumption (pumps, treatment, desalination). Energy intensity ranges from 0.4 kWh/m³ (gravity-fed system) to 4.0+ kWh/m³ (desalination). Wastewater treatment generates direct Scope 1 emissions: N2O from nitrification/denitrification (GWP = 265), CH4 from anaerobic digestion. A 100 million gallon/day utility consumes ~50 GWh/year electricity (30,000 tCO2e Scope 2 at 0.6 tCO2/MWh grid). NetNada tracks energy per m³ treated, calculates process emissions from wastewater treatment, and benchmarks against peer utilities.

SASB Industry Definition

The Water Utilities & Services industry consists of entities that provide water supply and wastewater treatment services through regulated utility infrastructure. Operations include water sourcing (surface water, groundwater, desalination), treatment to drinking standards, distribution via pipes, wastewater collection, and treatment before discharge. Revenue comes from regulated water and sewer rates. The industry is energy-intensive (pumping, treatment) and faces climate risks from drought, flooding, and aging infrastructure.

View SASB Standard →

Industry-Specific Carbon Accounting

No generic solutions. Metrics, data sources, and reporting aligned to Water Utilities & Services operations.

Energy Intensity per Cubic Meter

Calculate: Total electricity (kWh) ÷ Total water treated (m³) = Energy intensity. Benchmark: Groundwater pumping 0.3-0.6 kWh/m³, Surface water treatment 0.5-1.0 kWh/m³, Desalination 3.0-4.5 kWh/m³, Wastewater treatment 0.4-0.8 kWh/m³. Track by facility to identify high-consuming plants for efficiency upgrades.

kWh/m³ tracked

Wastewater Treatment Process Emissions

Nitrification/denitrification releases N2O (GWP 265). Emission factor: 0.005 kg N2O per kg nitrogen removed × 265 = 1.3 kgCO2e per kg N. Anaerobic digestion releases CH4 if not captured. Calculate: Nitrogen load (kg) × emission factor = Scope 1 N2O emissions. Add to electricity Scope 2 for total footprint.

Process emissions calculated

Biogas and Energy Recovery Tracking

Anaerobic digesters produce biogas (60% CH4, 40% CO2). If captured for energy: Biogas volume (m³) × 0.65 kgCO2e/m³ avoided methane × GWP 28 = Avoided emissions. Generate electricity: 1 m³ biogas → 2 kWh. Track % of facility electricity from biogas vs grid.

Biogas energy recovered

Water Distribution Pump Efficiency

Older pumps operate at 60-70% efficiency vs 85%+ for modern VFD (variable frequency drive) pumps. Identify pump stations with highest kWh/m³. Calculate upgrade ROI: New pump reduces energy 25%, $50k cost, $15k/year electricity savings = 3.3-year payback + carbon reduction.

Pump efficiency tracked

Embedded Carbon in Water Supply

Water has 'embedded energy' = Energy to extract, treat, distribute. Calculate: kWh/m³ × Grid emission factor = kgCO2/m³. Example: 0.6 kWh/m³ × 0.6 kgCO2/kWh = 0.36 kgCO2/m³. Large water users (data centers, industry) track embedded carbon in water procurement.

Embedded carbon per m³

SASB IF-WU Metrics Automation

Auto-generate disclosure: Total Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, energy intensity (kWh/m³), % water withdrawn from high-stress regions, system losses %, wastewater discharge violations. Footnotes cite EPA Clean Water Act compliance.

SASB IF-WU compliant

Product Features for Water Utilities & Services

Use Carbon Data Uploader to import electricity bills and water treatment volumes for automated energy intensity (kWh/m³) and emissions calculations. Learn more →

The Activity Calculator applies process emission factors for wastewater N2O and methane, plus electricity factors for pumping and treatment. Learn more →

Related Solutions

See our Carbon Accounting solution for end-to-end water utility emissions tracking from treatment plant processes through distribution energy.

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Water Utilities & Services Case Studies

How entities in this industry use NetNada to solve carbon accounting challenges.

Metropolitan Water District (500 MGD capacity, 12 treatment plants, 2,000 miles of pipe)

Challenge

State decarbonization mandate required 40% emission reduction by 2030. 85% of emissions were Scope 2 electricity (70 GWh/year, 42,000 tCO2e). Needed baseline energy intensity and facility-level benchmarking.

Solution

Deployed NetNada with monthly electricity and water flow data from SCADA. Calculated baseline: 0.52 kWh/m³ average across system. Identified 3 plants with 0.8+ kWh/m³ (aging equipment). Modeled pump upgrades, VFD installation, and solar PPA for 20% of electricity.

Result

Achieved 28% energy reduction in first 3 years: Replaced pumps at 3 plants (0.8 → 0.5 kWh/m³), installed 5 MW solar (offsetting 15% of electricity). Energy intensity: 0.52 → 0.38 kWh/m³. Emissions: 42,000 → 22,000 tCO2e (48% reduction, exceeding 2030 target early).

Coastal Utility with Desalination (50 MGD desal, 100 MGD conventional)

Challenge

Desalination plant consumed 60% of utility electricity (4.0 kWh/m³ vs 0.6 kWh/m³ for conventional). Customer complaints about high water rates driven by energy costs. Board required carbon footprint disclosure.

Solution

Used NetNada to calculate blended energy intensity: (50 MGD × 4.0 kWh/m³ + 100 MGD × 0.6 kWh/m³) ÷ 150 MGD = 1.7 kWh/m³ average. Tracked desal plant separately. Evaluated energy recovery devices (ERD) reducing desal to 2.8 kWh/m³.

Result

Installed ERDs at desal plant: Energy 4.0 → 2.8 kWh/m³ (30% reduction). Electricity savings $3M/year. Launched customer portal showing embedded carbon per gallon: Conventional water 0.22 kgCO2/m³, Desal water 1.68 kgCO2/m³. Customers could see energy intensity by source.

SASB Disclosure Topics for Water Utilities & Services

Material sustainability topics beyond emissions that investors and stakeholders expect disclosed per SASB standards.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

environment

Track Scope 1 emissions from wastewater treatment (N2O, CH4), backup generators, and fleet vehicles. Report Scope 2 from electricity for pumping, treatment, and distribution. Calculate energy intensity (kWh/m³).

Water Stress Management

environment

Disclose % of water supply from regions facing High or Extremely High baseline water stress (WRI Aqueduct). Report water withdrawal intensity and recycling rates.

Effluent Quality and Compliance

environment

Track wastewater discharge permit violations, BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), nitrogen, and phosphorus levels. Report treatment plant compliance with Clean Water Act standards.

Water Affordability

social

Disclose average residential water/sewer rates, % households spending >4% income on water, and assistance programs for low-income customers.

Infrastructure Resilience

business model

Report water main break rates, system losses (% of treated water lost to leaks), and capital expenditure on climate adaptation (flood protection, drought reserves).

Energy Recovery from Wastewater

business model

Track biogas production from anaerobic digestion, energy recovered (kWh), and % of utility electricity offset by on-site generation.

NetNada tracks all SASB material topics, not just emissions. Our platform supports disclosure across environmental, social, governance, and business model topics relevant to your industry.

Water Utilities & Services FAQs

Common questions about carbon accounting for this industry

How do you calculate Scope 1 emissions from wastewater treatment?
Two main sources: (1) N2O from nitrification/denitrification: Nitrogen load removed (kg) × 0.005 kg N2O/kg N × 265 GWP = kgCO2e. Example: Remove 1,000 kg nitrogen → 1,000 × 0.005 × 265 = 1,325 kgCO2e. (2) CH4 from anaerobic processes: If biogas captured and flared → minimal CH4 release. If untreated effluent → 0.25 kg CH4/kg BOD removed × 28 GWP. Sum N2O + CH4 for total Scope 1 process emissions.
Should we include emissions from customer water heating in our carbon footprint?
No. Customer water heating is Scope 3 Category 11 (Use of Sold Products) and optional to report. Calculation would be: m³ delivered × % heated (assume 30% for residential) × Energy to heat (4.2 kJ/L per °C rise) × Grid emission factor. This is outside your operational control. Focus on Scope 1 (treatment processes) and Scope 2 (utility electricity). Some progressive utilities report Scope 3 Category 11 to highlight water conservation = energy savings.
What's the carbon benefit of water leak reduction programs?
Reduced leaks = Less water treated and pumped = Lower electricity. Example: Reduce system losses from 20% to 10% (10% less water produced). If treating 100 million gallons/day (MGD) at 0.5 kWh/m³ → Produce 10 MGD less water → Save 10 MGD × 3.785 m³/MG × 0.5 kWh/m³ × 365 days = 6.9 GWh/year. At 0.6 tCO2/kWh → 4,140 tCO2/year avoided. Plus customer side: 10 MGD not heated = additional Scope 3 savings.
How energy-intensive is desalination compared to conventional water treatment?
Conventional surface water treatment: 0.5-1.0 kWh/m³. Groundwater pumping: 0.3-0.6 kWh/m³. Reverse osmosis (RO) desalination: 3.0-4.5 kWh/m³ (seawater), 1.5-2.5 kWh/m³ (brackish water). Thermal desalination (distillation): 10+ kWh/m³. Desalination is 5-10x more energy-intensive, making carbon footprint and cost significantly higher. Energy recovery devices (ERD) reduce RO by ~30%.
Can water utilities claim carbon benefits from biogas energy recovery?
Yes. Anaerobic digestion of wastewater sludge produces biogas (CH4). If biogas flared without energy recovery → GHG released. If biogas used to generate electricity → Displaces grid electricity (Scope 2 reduction). Calculation: Biogas kWh generated × Grid emission factor = tCO2 avoided. Some utilities achieve 20-40% electricity self-sufficiency from biogas. Report as: 'On-site renewable energy generation offsetting X% of utility electricity consumption'.

Track Water Treatment Energy and Wastewater Process Emissions

See how water utilities measure energy intensity (kWh/m³), calculate wastewater N2O emissions, and report SASB-compliant disclosures—automated from SCADA data.

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