Assessing carbon flow in environmental sanitation systems in two communes, Vietnam | |
| Author | Ho Thi Thanh Tam |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-11-04 |
| Subject(s) | Greenhouse gases--Evaluation--Vietnam Sanitation, Household--Vietnam Carbon cycle (Biogeochemistry) |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This study determined the emission rates of greenhouse gases from onsite sanitation systems such as septic tank, pour-flush toilet, single vault latrine, double vault latrine and biogas latrine by a flow chamber method in investigating the rates of carbon dioxide and methane gases from four septic tanks and biogas latrine, but there is one unit of pour-flush toilet waste water discharge to drainage and pond system in peri-urban communes in Kim Bang district, Ha Nam province, Vietnam. Material Flow Analysis (MFA) was applied to determine mass flows of gases through the household drainage and vent or chamber of onsite sanitation system. Several emission sources including household, onsite sanitation system, livestock, and aquaculture and crop production were identified. The septic tank was considered as primary emission source of carbon dioxide and methane gases. The geometric mean and standard deviation of the total emission rates form septic tank are 0.15±0.13, single vault latrine at 0.26±0.23, double vault latrine at 0.04±0.04, and biogas latrine at 17.89±2.86 tonne methane per year, respectively. However septic tank are 1.37±1.27, single vault latrine at 2.53±1.37, double vault latrine at 0.83±0.38, and biogas latrine at 13.15±6.02 tonne carbon dioxide per year, respectively. Moreover, onsite sanitation system could release carbon dioxide and methane gases which were amounted to 17.91±6.45 and 18.35±2.85 tonne per year, respectively. So, the current emission results of MFA are 36.26 tonC/year of on-site sanitation, corresponding to total anthropogenic CO₂ equivalence (CO₂-eq) of GHG emission to the atmosphere of about 1,045.5 tonne CO₂-eq in year 2020 which is 6 times higher than that estimated by IPCC guidelines 2006. Therefore, these latrines contribute to an increase of carbon load in the environment. Additionally, the results estimate of MFA system in year 2020-Scenario 1 which could increase about 33,947.1 tons carbon per 20 year from onsite sanitation system into atmosphere, likely causing environmental impacts. However, Scenario 2 in year 2020 adding burning gas for onsite sanitation system which carbon emission reduced 2,103.6 tonne CO₂-eq year 2020. On the other hand, estimates of 93.8% from methane gas recovery carbon dioxide gas by burning for cooking at kitchen of the two communes in the study site compared 56:1 ratio tonne CO₂-eq in 20 year of emission from IPCC guidelines 2006. Therefore, the scenario 2 is apart of reduced GHGs of excreta human and animals of onsite sanitation systems in the study area. |
| Year | 2011 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Thammarat Koottatep; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Nguyen, Thi Kim Oanh;Visvanathan, C.;Nguyen, Viet Hung; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | International Fellowships Program;Ford Foundation, USA;Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2011 |