Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have released a new report assessing the potential and benefits of wastewater treatment facilities recapturing resources from the material they produce, which could be used to create renewable natural gas or generate renewable electricity for the plant’s on-site energy needs.

Methane, nitrogen, and phosphorus are included in the materials that that wastewater facilities can reclaim and, in the case of methane, recapturing them before they enter the atmosphere can help reduce one of the drivers behind climate change. This could reduce the facilities’ operating costs and allow them to meet their sustainability goals. Additionally, wastewater contains valuable nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that can be captured and recycled as fertilizer. The water itself can be treated and reused as fresh water. “Argonne’s unique contribution was to develop a comprehensive data set of wastewater treatment facilities and apply these recovery technologies to each facility to assess the potential for recovering resources,” said Troy Hawkins, Argonne’s group manager, Fuels and Products Group. Accordingly, the report breaks down the potential for wastewater reclamation for treatment facilities by region and potential market. Access the full report here or read more at Argonne National Laboratory.