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Treating wastewater and sewage sludge produces direct greenhouse gas emissions, including methane and nitrous oxide, which have far greater warming potential than carbon dioxide. As society increasingly adopts renewable energy sources over fossil fuels, these emissions are expected to become the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions for wastewater utilities.

This expert-led webcast series is designed for wastewater professionals looking to deepen their understanding of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wastewater treatment processes. Consisting of four 1-hour sessions, the series will cover the types and sources of GHGs from wastewater treatment, the process conditions and mechanisms that drive these emissions, real-world approaches to measuring, monitoring, and quantifying these emissions, and practical strategies for reducing them.

This third webcast will focus on nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in wastewater treatment with discussion of the production mechanism for N2O formation and the process conditions and operating practices that lead to high N2O emissions. Leading practice for the direct measurement and monitoring of N2O emissions and will feature a case study from a North America utility will also be discussed. The presenters will Identify and describe the formation mechanisms and conditions that enhance nitrous oxide emissions in wastewater treatment and explain direct measurement and monitoring techniques for nitrous oxide emissions, using insights from a North American utility case study.

Presenters:

  • Ruqiao (Emma) Shen, PhD, P.Eng., Global Principal, Wastewater Energy Optimization and Sector Decarbonization, Jacobs
  • Shannon Cavanaugh, Process Engineer, Brown and Caldwell
  • Eron Jacobson,  Principal Wastewater Engineer, King County

Moderator:

  • Harry Zhang, PhD, PE, Research Principal on Integrated Water and Stormwater, The Water Research Foundation

This series is organized by the US Water Alliance and Canadian Water Network, hosted by The Water Research Foundation, and presented in collaboration with the Danish Water Technology Alliance, Water Environment Federation, and the International Water Association.

Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Ross Douglas

Ross Douglas

Board Member

Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.

Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.

Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Brian Mergelas

Brian Mergelas, PhD, ICD.D

Board Member

Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market.   With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry. 

Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector. 

He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency. 

Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field. 

Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation.   As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.