No abstract

Protection of water resources implies the responsible consumption, and the return of this resource with the best physicochemical conditions. In organizations, water is consumed both directly in their facilities and indirectly in the products or services acquired for their operation, requiring a water accounting based on the life cycle perspective. This study aims to assess the comprehensive water footprint of the main campus of the Technological University of Pereira (Colombia), based on the ISO 14046:2014 standard, and analyze the influence of wastewater treatment. Impacts on water scarcity were evaluated using the AWARE method, while the impacts on human health and ecosystems were evaluated using the ReCiPe method. Specific modeling of the wastewater treatment plants on campus was conducted. A total of 102,670 m3.y−1 of water scarcity was accounted for. Water consumption per person was 17.8 m3 of which 86.2% corresponded to indirect activities. Similarly, indirect activities were responsible for more than 98% of the impacts on human health and ecosystems, where more than 95% were due to infrastructure construction and 2% due to electricity consumption. Although the wastewater treatment on campus reduced the impact on ecosystems by 14%, if a tertiary treatment was added, these impacts would have a 40% of additional reduction. Efforts in recycling programs were also quantified in 712 m3 of avoided water scarcity for secondary users. The findings suggest focusing actions on sustainable construction and purchases to improve water management in organizations.

En este estudio se caracterizan los impactos ambientales asociados al ciclo de vida de 1 m3 de agua potable en Pereira, Colombia. Se analizaron cuatro escenarios: un escenario base y tres escenarios ambientales hipotéticos. Se describió el ciclo de vida, se hizo el inventario de flujos de materia y energía y se establecieron los impactos ambientales de punto medio y punto final del escenario base mediante la aplicación del método Impact 2002+, asimismo, se definieron los impactos ambientales de tres escenarios hipotéticos. Los resultados determinaron que los procesos relacionados con la producción de agua potable generaron la mayor cantidad de impactos negativos del ciclo (75-100 %) en 12 de las 15 categorías de punto medio en el escenario base. Asimismo, en dicho escenario el agua potable contribuyó al 56 % del impacto de punto final. Por otra parte, impulsar la reducción del 20 % en el consumo de agua junto con el tratamiento de las aguas residuales sería el mejor escenario futuro, tanto para reducir impactos de punto medio, como para reducir los de punto final.