Carbon footprint assessment of Western Australian Groundwater Recycling Scheme

Abstract

This research has determined the carbon footprint or the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO eq) of potable water production from a groundwater recycling scheme, consisting of the Beenyup wastewater treatment plant, the Beenyup groundwater replenishment trial plant and the Wanneroo groundwater treatment plant in Western Australia, using a life cycle assessment approach. It was found that the scheme produces 1300 tonnes of CO eq per gigalitre (GL) of water produced, which is 933 tonnes of CO eq higher than the desalination plant at Binningup in Western Australia powered by 100% renewable energy generated electricity. A Monte Carlo Simulation uncertainty analysis calculated a Coefficient of Variation value of 5.4%, thus confirming the accuracy of the simulation. Electricity input accounts for 83% of the carbon dioxide equivalent produced during the production of potable water. The chosen mitigation strategy was to consider the use of renewable energy to generate electricity for carbon intensive groundwater replenishment trial plant. Depending on the local situation, a maximum of 93% and a minimum of 21% greenhouse gas saving from electricity use can be attained at groundwater replenishment trial plant by replacing grid electricity with renewable electricity. In addition, the consideration of vibrational separation (V-Sep) that helps reduce wastes generation and chemical use resulted in a 4.03 tonne of CO eq saving per GL of water produced by the plant.

Archives of Environmental Protection

“…In general, the results of the study confi rm the fi ndings in different studies that showed the biggest share of electricity and chemicals as far as environmental impact in disinfection process is concerned (Raghuvanshi et al 2017, Simms et al 2017. As opposed to this, while environmental impacts are concerned, the substances persisting in water after the process have very little impact on environment.…”

“…Simms et al take similar approach to the assessment of water recycling schemes that are introduced in Western Australia. The difference is related to the disinfection process that in this case is not solely chlorination but a combined process of UV disinfection and fl uoride and chlorine additives at the fi nal stage (Simms et al 2017). Both of the studies agree on the major impact factor in water treatment plant that is electricity used and both show that the chemicals used in the treatment process are the second biggest impact factor (Raghuvanshi et al 2017, Simms et al 2017.…”

“…In the last few years, not-surprisingly, LCA methodology is developed with regard to water resources (Garfi et al 2016, Jones et al 2018. Nowadays, LCA methods are commonly used in the context of assessment of water treatment environmental impacts (Bajdur et al 2016, Bortolini et al 2017, Boulay et al 2013, Opher and Friedler 2016, Raghuvanshi et al 2017, Simms et al 2017, Slagstad and Brattebø 2014. The methods catalogue has been recently updated concerning the water related impact categories.…”

“…The difference is related to the disinfection process that in this case is not solely chlorination but a combined process of UV disinfection and fl uoride and chlorine additives at the fi nal stage (Simms et al 2017). Both of the studies agree on the major impact factor in water treatment plant that is electricity used and both show that the chemicals used in the treatment process are the second biggest impact factor (Raghuvanshi et al 2017, Simms et al 2017. Bortolini et al present the assessment from the perspective of water treatment plant use in food & beverage industry.…”

Water Flourishing in the Anthropocene

“…At present, the Perth scheme exceeds the carbon footprint of the city's desalination plants, which are powered by renewable energy . 41 At time of writing, the state government is building a renewable energy generator to supply the needs of an expanded wastewater recycling scheme. 42 Perth's water flourishing, therefore, is dependent on reconciling the tensions between energy, ecology, and consumption.…”