Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Blackwater Septic Systems

Septic systems are potentially a significant source of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The present study investigated GHGs from the blackwater septic systems that are widely used especially in low- and middle-income countries. Ten blackwater septic tanks in Hanoi, Vietnam, were investigated using the floating chamber method. The average methane and carbon dioxide emission rates measured at the first compartment (65% of total capacity) of the septic tanks were 11.92 and 20.24 g/cap/day, respectively, whereas nitrous oxide emission was negligible. Methane emission rate was significantly correlated with septage oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) (R = -0.67, p = 0.034), chemical oxygen demand mass (R = 0.78, p = 0.007), and biochemical oxygen demand mass (R = 0.78, p = 0.008), whereas it was not significantly correlated with water temperature (R = 0.26, p = 0.47) and dissolved oxygen (R = -0.59, p = 0.075) within the limited range: 30.6-31.7 °C and 0.03-0.34 mg-O₂/L. The methane emission rates from septic tanks accumulating septage for >5 years were significantly higher than those at 0-5 years (p = 0.016). These results suggest that lower ORP and higher biodegradable carbon mass, in association with longer septage storage periods are key conditions for methane emissions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize GHG emissions from septic systems.