Explaining the environmental efficiency of drinking water and wastewater utilities

Ananda, Jayanath

doi:10.1016/j.spc.2018.10.002

Cited by 41 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…In this case study, the main function of DWTPs was considered to be the production of drinking water that met the NCh 409 quality standards. Moreover, the energy consumed by DWPTs (in kWh/year) depends not only on the volume of drinking water produced, but also on the pollutants removed, i.e., on the quality of the raw water and drinking water produced [12]. Hence, following the approach applied in previous studies [24,25] four quality-adjusted outputs (QAOs) were considered to assess DWTP energy efficiency, defined as follows:…”

Section: Sample and Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, Ananda [11,12] computed the environmental efficiency and productivity change of a sample of 49 Australian urban water utilities using DEA, with a focus on economic issues, but integration of greenhouse gas emissions as undesirable outputs.These studies [9][10][11][12] contributed to the literature by providing estimated energy efficiency scores for DWTPs derived from the application of a holistic and integrated approach. However, they have ignored the deterministic nature of the DEA methodology; as statistical inferences cannot be drawn from conventional DEA (energy) efficiency scores [11] and regression analysis cannot be conducted to explore the determinants of previously estimated scores [12]. Moreover, conventional DEA models do not integrate data variability into the (energy) efficiency assessment, which negatively impacts the robustness and reliability of the results.In the framework of efficiency assessment, two main alternative methodological approaches have been proposed to explore the causality between factors and efficiency scores.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Applying the more advanced metafrontier DEA model, Molinos-Senante and Sala-Garrido [9] compared energy efficiency among DWTPs using different treatment technologies. Recently, Ananda [11,12] computed the environmental efficiency and productivity change of a sample of 49 Australian urban water utilities using DEA, with a focus on economic issues, but integration of greenhouse gas emissions as undesirable outputs.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These studies [9][10][11][12] contributed to the literature by providing estimated energy efficiency scores for DWTPs derived from the application of a holistic and integrated approach. However, they have ignored the deterministic nature of the DEA methodology; as statistical inferences cannot be drawn from conventional DEA (energy) efficiency scores [11] and regression analysis cannot be conducted to explore the determinants of previously estimated scores [12]. Moreover, conventional DEA models do not integrate data variability into the (energy) efficiency assessment, which negatively impacts the robustness and reliability of the results.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of Energy Efficiency and Its Determinants for Drinking Water Treatment Plants Using A Double-Bootstrap Approach

Molinos-Senante

Sala-Garrido

2019

Energies

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To achieve energy and climate goals, the energy performance of current and future drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) must be improved. A few studies have evaluated the energy efficiency of these facilities using data envelopment analysis (DEA), however, they have ignored the deterministic nature of the DEA method. To overcome this limitation, a double-bootstrap DEA approach was used in this study to estimate the energy efficiency of DWTPs. For a sample of Chilean DWTPs, bias-corrected energy efficiency scores were computed with consideration of data variability, and the determinants of DWTP energy efficiency were explored. Most DWTPs in the sample had much room for the improvement of energy efficiency. In the second stage of analysis, facility age, the volume of water treated, and the technology used for treatment were found to influence DWTP energy efficiency. These findings demonstrate the importance of using a reliable and robust method to evaluate the energy efficiency of DWTPs, which is essential to support decision making and to benchmark these facilities’ energy performance.

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Section: Sample and Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Assessment of Energy Efficiency and Its Determinants for Drinking Water Treatment Plants Using A Double-Bootstrap Approach

Molinos-Senante

Sala-Garrido

2019

Energies

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“…In addition, other aspects have been evaluated such as: The extent of SDGs at the local level [8], the problem of water scarcity in reference to SDGs [9], the analysis of a part of SDG-6 [10], the indicators for evaluating drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) related to SDG-6 [11], and the total service gap in reference to target two of SDG-6 [12]. Among them, our study focuses on the SDG-6 from the perspective of Spanish local governments, considering that access to drinking water represents a fundamental need for the citizens [13]. In this perspective, policymakers are responsible not only for the presence of water resources that can satisfy all citizens but also for the improvement of well-being concerning the use of these resources [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Efficiency in the Spanish Clean Water and Sanitation Sector

2020

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In recent years, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is becoming a major challenge for local governments. This research focuses on the role of Spanish local governments in the fulfillment of SDG-6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all citizens. Specifically, this study analyses the evolution of the efficiency of Spanish local governments, and its determining factors, in the achievement of the SDG-6. The results indicate that the taxes associated with water supply and sanitation services, the private management of these services, population density, local government budget revenues, the income of the inhabitants of the municipality and the fragmentation of local governments are factors that can improve the evolution of the efficiency of Spanish local governments in achieving the SDG-6.Sustainability 2020, 12, 3015 2 of 13 debate on the efficiency in the management of water resources, which has become even more relevant with Agenda 2030 and, in particular, in relation to SDG-6. In this regard, measuring the evolution of the efficiency in the provision of water supply and sanitation services, and identifying how it can be improved to achieve SDG-6, is a further step towards the prosperity of the planet and people. However, despite the relevance of the topic, previous studies have investigated the efficiency of local governments in the provision of drinking water through Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and regression models. These approaches do not allow the measurement of inter-annual efficiency. In light of this, there is a clear need for more advanced methodologies capable of enabling a better understanding of the phenomenon. In this regard, our study aims to fill this important gap by using a different approach, represented by the Malmquist index (inter-annual evolution of efficiency) and a truncated regression model. In fact, this methodology allows an assessment of the inter-annual evolution of the efficiency of Spanish local governments in relation to the resources used to achieve SDG-6.Regarding the analysis of the determinants, this study investigates the impact of the characteristics of the service and the demographic, economic, and political factors of the municipality represented by taxes, type of management, population density, level of tourism, citizens' income, political ideology and political strength of the government.The structure of this study is organized as follows. After this introduction, we review the literature analyzing the relevance of SDGs and the determinants of efficiency in water supply and sanitation. Section 3 presents the methodology, referring to the sample, variables, and econometric model. Section 4 presents the results and discussion. Finally, in Section 5, we draw the main conclusions and implications of our findings, the limitations of the study, and the directions for further research. Literature Review

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How ecoefficient is European food consumption? A frontier‐based multiregional input–output analysis

Bulak

Küçükvar

2021

Sustainable Development

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This paper presents an integrated approach combining the optimization‐based frontier model with a global multiregional input–output (MRIO) analysis for food consumption in Europe. The weighted and conventional data envelopment analysis models are coupled with production and consumption‐based environmental and economic footprint data obtained from the environmental footprint explorer database. Eco‐efficiency assessment is carried out using multiple undesirable environmental outputs such as carbon emission, total energy consumption, land use, material use, water use, and one desirable economic output, which is the gross value‐added (GVA). This assessment indicates an efficiency level of each economic activity associated with its environmental impacts and policies are made as a result of the efficiency level to propose an equilibrium between economic development and environmental impacts. Finally, a sensitivity analysis of each parameter, variability analysis between weighted and non‐weighted models, and performance improvement projections are presented. Based on the results, four countries become efficient when moving from production‐based accounting (PBA) to consumption‐based accounting (CBA). France, United Kingdom, Italy, and Sweden are efficient countries in both findings. Denmark caused the highest carbon emission from the production point of view. Germany is the largest importer in all environmental categories such as carbon emission, energy usage, material use, land use, and water use. Additionally, the weight‐restricted model indicated a noticeable difference concerning the eco‐efficiency scores under the PBA and CBA approach, where land use and material footprint categories were found to be the most sensitive parameters for eco‐efficiency scores. The authors believe that this integrated approach will aid in decision‐making and help build a composite eco‐efficiency score when comparing the performance of food consumption with multiple environmental and economic metrics.

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Explaining the environmental efficiency of drinking water and wastewater utilities

Cited by 41 publications

References 37 publications

Assessment of Energy Efficiency and Its Determinants for Drinking Water Treatment Plants Using A Double-Bootstrap Approach

Assessment of Energy Efficiency and Its Determinants for Drinking Water Treatment Plants Using A Double-Bootstrap Approach

Achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Efficiency in the Spanish Clean Water and Sanitation Sector

How ecoefficient is European food consumption? A frontier‐based multiregional input–output analysis

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