Wastewater alkalinity enhancement projects are a carbon-removal project type within the ocean & water segment of the carbon market. They are designed to use wastewater pathways to increase alkalinity and support durable carbon storage. The carbon benefit comes from enhanced carbon uptake and storage through alkalinity-managed wastewater pathways. Common project configurations include Wastewater treatment pathways that increase alkalinity under verified conditions.

Because wastewater systems are already managed industrial environments, they may offer a controlled test bed for some alkalinity-based pathways. Ocean-based pathways are developing quickly and can be scientifically compelling, but they generally require especially careful MRV, strong ecological safeguards, and a clear accounting framework for permanence and reversals. For buyers and program designers, the most important diligence questions are: Are wastewater chemistry, transport, environmental safeguards, and air-sea uptake assumptions robust?