Applying life cycle assessment to assess the environmental performance of decentralised versus centralised wastewater systems

Risch, Eva; Boutin, Catherine; Roux, Philippe

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2021.116991

Cited by 54 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Wastewater treatment needs and increasing water quality demands are global issues. Nowadays, water policies in most countries trend to centralized systems [21], but more recently, some studies have pointed the convenience of shifting back to decentralized designs [10,[88][89][90][91]. In either case, different scale of hydropower solutions could cover the full range of needs.…”

Section: Energy Self-sufficiency and Hydropower Contribution At Wwtps: Energy Profilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy Self-Sufficiency Aiming for Sustainable Wastewater Systems: Are All Options Being Explored?

2021

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In upcoming years, water demand is expected to boost worldwide, and with that, wastewater generation and the required energy for treatment. Provided that efficiency measures should be implemented at first instance, developments of renewable energy technologies are needed to improve sustainability at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Based on theoretical analyses of literature data, this article presents a novel perspective of the role that hydropower could play in that energy framework. This research applied a new approach compared to previous studies, considering the introduction of sustainability aspects in the decision-making process, other than economic feasibility. With that aim, a broad search of real case studies was conducted, and suitable Key Performance Indicators based on the energy self-sufficiency concept were selected and applied to the identified cases. The findings suggest that there is not a rule of thumb to determine feasibility for hydropower installation and this technology might deserve more attention. This new perspective can help to raise awareness among policy makers, decision managers, or plant operators, of the possibilities hydropower could offer to the wastewater industry in the pathway towards more sustainable systems.

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Section: Energy Self-sufficiency and Hydropower Contribution At Wwtps: Energy Profilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy Self-Sufficiency Aiming for Sustainable Wastewater Systems: Are All Options Being Explored?

2021

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“…Several LCA studies cover different aspects or stages of wastewater treatment, including nutrient removal, various tertiary processes, resource recovery, or water reuse opportunities (Canaj et al, 2021; Coats et al, 2011; Garfi et al, 2016; Hoibye et al, 2008; Lundie et al, 2004; Munoz et al, 2009; Rahman et al, 2016; Risch et al, 2021; Zhang et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

CO₂e footprint and eco‐impact of ultralow phosphorus removal by hydrous ferric oxide reactive filtration: A municipal wastewater LCA case study

Taslakyan

Baker

Shrestha

et al. 2022

Water Environment Research

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Dual upflow reactive filtration by a slowly moving sand bed with continuously renewed, hydrous ferric oxide‐coated sand is used for removing polluting substances and for meeting the ultralow 0.05 mg/l total phosphorus discharge permit limits at a 1.2 million liters per day (0.32 million gallons per day) water resource recovery facility in Plummer, Idaho, in the United States. A life cycle assessment (LCA) of this reactive filtration installation was carried out to assess the environmental hotspots in the system and analyze alternative system configurations with a focus on CO2 equivalent (CO2e) global warming potential, freshwater and marine eutrophication, and mineral resource scarcity. “What if” scenarios with alternative inputs for the energy, metal salts, and air compressor optimization show trade‐offs between the impact categories. Key results that show a comparative reduction of global warming potential include the use of Fe versus Al metal salts, the use of renewable energy, and the energy efficiency benefit of optimizing process inputs, such as compressor air pressure, to match operational demand. The LCA shows a 2 × 10−2 kg CO2e footprint per cubic meter of water, with 47% from housing concrete, and an overall freshwater eutrophication impact reduced by 99% versus no treatment. The use of renewable hydropower energy at this site isolates construction concrete as a target for lowering the CO2e footprint. Practitioner Points The main LCA eco‐impact hotspots in this dual reactive filtration tertiary treatment are construction concrete and the ferric sulfate used. Iron salts show smaller impact in global warming, freshwater eutrophication, and mineral resource scarcity than “what if scenario” aluminum salts. The energy mix for this site is predominantly hydropower; other energy mix “what if” scenarios show larger impacts. Operational energy efficiency and thermodynamic analysis show that fine tuning the air compressor helps reduce carbon footprint and energy use. LCA shows a favorable 2 x 10‐2 kg CO2e/m3 water impact with 99% reduction of freshwater eutrophication potential versus no treatment.

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“…Many of them will likely be located in rural areas, as in most countries existing wastewater treatment planning has focused on larger urban agglomerations first [4,26]. Possible trends to decentralized sanitation systems would also increase the proportion of smaller plants [28][29][30]. Thus, other renewable energy options should also be explored to provide simpler alternatives for small plants [31].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their potential and performance directly depend on the site, its surroundings and its climatic conditions. The main advantages of hydropower are simplicity, flexibility and universal application, without interfering in the treatment process or with the surrounding environment [28][29][30][31].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydropower Technology for Sustainable Energy Generation in Wastewater Systems: Learning from the Experience

Llácer-Iglesias

Jiménez

Sánchez

2021

Water

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Hydropower is a well-known technology, applied worldwide for electricity generation from renewable sources. Within the current framework, some studies have started to consider its application to existing urban water systems, to harness an excess of energy that otherwise would be wasted. This research sought to determine a methodology to assess the potential of hydropower application to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), regarding different aspects of sustainability. Firstly, previously developed methodologies for potential assessment in this sector at a country level were analyzed. Secondly, data from existing real case studies were gathered from publicly available documents and a theoretical analysis of their actual performance was conducted to validate assumptions made in the previous methodologies. As a result, the proposed new approach suggests adapting methodologies for potential assessment at a lower level, considering possible driving factors, other than economic feasibility. To define the study area, the management model scope should be considered. The power to determine the cut-off point for a WWTP to be considered as a potential site, is proposed to be lowered according to technical feasibility. Additionally, bearing in mind the sustainability concept, social or environmental factors should also be introduced in the methodology, tailored to the region being assessed. This novel perspective could provide a closer approach to the most likely decision-making level for these kinds of strategies in the wastewater industry.

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Applying life cycle assessment to assess the environmental performance of decentralised versus centralised wastewater systems

Cited by 54 publications

References 17 publications

Energy Self-Sufficiency Aiming for Sustainable Wastewater Systems: Are All Options Being Explored?

Energy Self-Sufficiency Aiming for Sustainable Wastewater Systems: Are All Options Being Explored?

CO₂e footprint and eco‐impact of ultralow phosphorus removal by hydrous ferric oxide reactive filtration: A municipal wastewater LCA case study

Hydropower Technology for Sustainable Energy Generation in Wastewater Systems: Learning from the Experience

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Applying life cycle assessment to assess the environmental performance of decentralised versus centralised wastewater systems

Cited by 54 publications

References 17 publications

Energy Self-Sufficiency Aiming for Sustainable Wastewater Systems: Are All Options Being Explored?

Energy Self-Sufficiency Aiming for Sustainable Wastewater Systems: Are All Options Being Explored?

CO2e footprint and eco‐impact of ultralow phosphorus removal by hydrous ferric oxide reactive filtration: A municipal wastewater LCA case study

Hydropower Technology for Sustainable Energy Generation in Wastewater Systems: Learning from the Experience

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CO₂e footprint and eco‐impact of ultralow phosphorus removal by hydrous ferric oxide reactive filtration: A municipal wastewater LCA case study