Sampling campaign design and emission factor calculation

Summary

This chapter provides the methodology to calculate the nitrous oxide (N2O) emission factor (EF) that is representative for the monitoring campaign for any wastewater treatment plant performing biological nitrogen removal. It provides practical examples of what to measure, where to take measurements, and when, as well as guidance on how to report the resulting EF. Although a single standardized method does not yet exist, the recommendations aim to support as far as practicable, meaningful benchmarking between sites and future mitigation measures.

Once EF reporting is integrated into general operational datasets of the water resource recovery facility, influencing factors on N2O emissions can be identified which will inform the existing monitoring campaign. Lastly, a suite of methods such as visual patterns or more complex model-based solutions can inform how possible mitigation strategies would be implemented.