Background: Everyday considerable amount of wastewater is produced by each one of us. Developed country produce more wastewater than developing country. But disposing this wastewater into the environment is an expensive task and need heavy initial investment for that reason developing country only focus on water supply not on wastewater treatment considering it’s a burden and threatening the human health environment and climate change. Research shows that wastewater contain considerable amount kinetic and biochemical energy. But tapping energy from wastewater, proper inventory of national wastewater including type and characteristics of both industrial and municipal wastewater is essential which is presently absent in Bangladesh. In this paper, efforts have been taken firstly to estimate yearly total domestic as well as industrial wastewater production in Bangladesh based on reliable secondary data and monthly per capita income. Secondly, common, and emerging energy recovery technologies ideal for tapping energy from wastewater have been reviewed systematically and identified which are anaerobic digestion (AD) micro hydro powerplant (MHP), microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) and microbial fuel cell (MFC). Finally, energy potential has been estimated basing on previous research outputs and with empirical formula. At the end barrier and overcoming strategy with important recommendation has been proposed for researchers and decision makers.
Results: Estimated yearly domestic and industrial wastewater is 4.874 billion and 0.452 billion tons respectively. For energy estimation,10%-50% total wastewater has been considered. Calculation shows that, 10% wastewater can produce 2.41, 1829.09 and 1.97 GW energy yearly through AD, MHP, MEC and MFC technologies, respectively whereas 50% total wastewater can generate 9145.94 GW energy yearly by MHP only.
Conclusion: Estimated quantity of produced wastewater and energy potentials from wastewater is based on secondary data. For more reliable estimation feasibility study may be conducted by the researchers supported by stakeholders. Both wastewater producers and treatment plant owners should have noble desire backed by governmental organizations will facilitate the process. Outcomes are very significant and optimistic and it is expected that this findings not only inspired researcher, wastewater operators and policy makers of Bangladesh but also other developing countries around the globe.