Evolutionary Analysis of Sustainable Water Treatment in the City of Querétaro, Mexico

Abstract-This study analyzes the evolution of water treatment practices in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico, from 2013 to 2022, focusing on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy consumption, financial costs, and contaminant reduction. Using methodologies from the IPCC and other sources, we estimated CO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf>, CH<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</inf>, and N<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf>O emissions from local wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The findings indicate significant reductions in GHG emissions due to advanced treatment processes, with a $\mathbf{3 0 \%}$ decrease in CO<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> emissions over the study period. Additionally, energy consumption was optimized through the implementation of more efficient technologies, resulting in a $25 \%$ reduction in overall energy use. Financial analysis revealed that despite initial higher costs, the long-term savings and environmental benefits justify the investment in sustainable technologies. Contaminant reduction was also substantial, with a $40 \%$ decrease in the concentration of harmful pollutants in treated water. The study underscores the importance of sustainable water treatment in mitigating climate change, enhancing public health, and improving environmental outcomes.